Steelers Need Major Changes in the Secondary

Something has to give with the Steelers pass defense. Somewhat overshadowed by a hot and cold run defense so far this season, Pittsburgh’s secondary has allowed gaping yardage in man and zone coverage. Some of it is not related to the scheme but to personnel, but it is becoming more apparent that the team needs to make some level of change in that room, whether it is schematic, personnel, or both.

Pittsburgh has let top receivers go off in all four games they have played. Nico Collins had a career day against the Steelers, and every top receiver seems to be having a considerable day regardless of scheme. He is the fourth receiver to torch Pittsburgh’s back half this season.

Top WRs vs the Steelers this year:

Week 1: Brandon Aiyuk 8 rec. 129 yds, 2 TD
Week 2: Amari Cooper 7 rec. 90 yds
Week 3: Davante Adams 13 rec. 172 yds, 2 TD
Week 4: Nico Collins 6 rec. 116 yds, TD

It's a clear pattern.

— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) October 1, 2023

If Tomlin talks about changes, this might be the area to do it. Move Minkah Fitzpatrick to his free safety role full-time. Start playing Joey Porter Jr. outside of sub-packages. Get Desmond King ready to go. The Steelers were torched through the air on Sunday, and their cornerbacks were a massive part of their run defense struggles when the Texans ran outside the edge rushers. The secondary is a place that needs serious contemplation from Tomlin moving forward. Whatever they are doing is not working.

That’s not all the team needs. They must focus on fundamentals and get the group back to a playable level. These many veterans in the secondary should not have so many miscommunications to start the season. I sound like a broken record in the season, but the group has to batten down the hatches and communicate at a high level. That alone will allow the team to stop many of the free runners in the secondary. But it does feel like if the pass rush does not get home or cause a poor pass, Pittsburgh’s defense is hapless to stop opposing offenses. It’s not sustainable on a down-to-down basis. Something has to change on the back-end to get the group to a serviceable level. To steal a Tomlinism, this group is playing junior varsity.