Improving Steelers secondary at full strength
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers rank 27 in pass defense and are seemingly front and center of every rumored defensive back on the market.
But a deeper dive reveals a unit that’s improved each week since the Kansas City Chiefs torched them in Week 2, and is finally back to full health with the return of Morgan Burnett.
The Steelers put up their best defensive performance in the soggy opener in Cleveland. The Tyrod Taylor-led Browns managed only 21 points in five full periods in spite of six Steelers turnovers.
The rain helped, and so did Taylor, who misfired enough that day (15-for-40), and the next two, to lose his job to rookie Baker Mayfield.
The Browns seek revenge Sunday at Heinz Field with an offense finding its legs under a talented and spunky rookie quarterback against a Steelers pass defense that’s feeling the same way.
“I think we have improved,” said cornerback Joe Haden. “We started off behind the eight ball. We had some bad games early, gave up a lot of yards. The Kansas City game didn’t help us, as far as numbers, but I think the last two weeks we’ve been doing better just trying to keep the ball in front of us. I know we’re trending in the right direction. We might’ve started bad but I feel we’re playing better.”
Keeping the ball in front of them has been key. After allowing 14 yards per completion against the Chiefs, the Steelers have improved every week: 13.1 vs. Tampa Bay, 12.7 vs. Baltimore, 8.5 versus Atlanta and 8.2 against Cincinnati.
For the season, the Steelers allow 12 yards per catch to rank 21st, but the 8.3 yards per catch average in the last two games would rank first in the NFL if that were the season’s average. And it was accomplished against receivers named Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Calvin Ridley, A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd.
Iron has apparently sharpened iron because the Steelers have improved against a battery of once and future Pro Bowlers all season long.
Will they fear anyone in the near future?
“No, not at all,” Haden said. “You go against these passing offenses, and you know it’s an offensive league, so the trick is just understanding that it is what it is. They’re going to catch the ball. There’s no such thing as shutting everybody completely down. But you’ve got to be able to keep them out of the end zone and win on third-and-longs. Situational football is really big now in the secondary. If you can get off the field, you can have a good day.”
Another reason for the steady improvement in the secondary: cohesion.
“I think our whole unit has grown closer together,” said cornerback Coty Sensabaugh. “We’ve got some new guys. This is my second year here. It’s Cam (Sutton) and (Brian Allen)’s second year here. It’s Joe’s second year here. We have a lot of new guys who haven’t been here that long. I think probably the longest tenured guy in the secondary is Jordan Dangerfield, along with Artie and (Sean Davis), and those guys are young. It’s just a gelling process that we’re going through, and still going through. But I think we’re starting to reap the benefits and I think we’re starting to play better as a whole. When you win, there’s enough for everybody.”
And the Steelers have won, specifically since they started rotating Sensabaugh with Burns opposite Haden. Sensabaugh is more experienced and stout, and thus a more effective zone tackler. While Burns, in his third season, brings the continued hope of first-round length and speed.
Since the loss to the Chiefs, Burns has played 147 snaps and Sensabaugh 144. Burns was once again victimized for an easy touchdown in Cincinnati, but coaches remain in his corner and believe he only needs to regain his confidence. It helps to have a good friend in his corner, such as Sensabaugh.
“I remember my third year in Tennessee,” Sensabaugh said. “Me and Blidi Wreh-Wilson were competing in training camp and every day we rotated. That brought us closer, and me and him are super tight now. I think in competition you respect what the other person is going through because you’re going through it, too, and you’re together every day, all day. I think it has to bring you closer. And I think it keeps you motivated to play the best you possibly can and put your best stuff out there on tape. We’ve been doing it since the Tampa game and we’re 3-1 since then. So I think it’s been working.”
The cohesion of the unit will only improve as it plays together, and the return of dime backer Burnett allows the Steelers to play as many as seven DBs at a time.
“Morgan gives us a little bit more opportunity to do some things that maybe we haven’t done,” said coordinator Keith Butler. “I think he’ll help us. Getting L.J. (Fort) back will help us. So we feel good going into this game. We’re excited about playing the Browns. It should be a tough one.”
The improvement should continue against the Browns, who rank 23rd in pass yards per game, 29th in pass yards per attempt, 30th in QB rating, and 31st in sacks allowed. They’ve also lost, in Josh Gordon, one of the best receivers to play for Cleveland since Paul Warfield.
“I think that we have so much talent, it’s just communication and busts that beat us,” said Haden. “As long as we’re on the same page, that helps us out. If we have a body on a body and then somebody beats us, they made a play and you acknowledge that. But I think if we just keep taking away – what we’ve been doing lately – just keep taking away all their big plays, and if they make a play, we have somebody on them so they have to make a combat catch. So I think just tightening up our coverages and making sure everybody’s on someone is the important thing.”
NOTES: RT Marcus Gilbert (knee) missed his second practice of the week, and it took linemate, neighbor and close friend Maurkice Pouncey by surprise. “We just found out today. … He ran in the pool and stuff. Maybe they’re just giving him an extra day. If not, Matt (Feiler) will do a really great job.” … LG Ramon Foster (coach’s decision) was the only other player to miss practice.