The Pittsburgh Steelers spent a good chunk of the 2023 NFL Draft bolstering the trenches. They selected both offensive and defensive linemen multiple times during this draft. This sends a clear message - Pittsburgh wants to protect their quarterback, Kenny Pickett, stop the run, and ensure they have adequate coverage in case of injury. One of those selections was Keeanu Benton, a defensive tackle out of the University of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin athletics
The Pittsburgh Steelers select Keeanu Benton with a second-round pick.
After drafting Benton, Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, sat down with the media to answer some questions on why they chose him in the second round.
The Steelers Do Not Want To Repeat Past Mistakes
During free agency, they focused on the concept of depth in the trenches on both sides of the ball. They added several players to the defense including tackle Armon Watts, safety Keanu Neal, and nose tackle Breiden Fehoko. Given all of the additions, Austin was asked how much of an agenda was it for the Steelers to build depth in the trenches both through free agency and the draft and how important was it to have quality players to spell vets Larry Ogunjobi and Cam Heyward?
"I think you always have to make sure you bolster the trenches, as you say, because the games are won up front. The DB's and receivers only play as well as the guys in front of them. As far as we look at it, the games are won by the 'bigs.'"
Austin goes on to say that having depth is critical. You cannot guarantee that no one will get injured and you have to ensure you are covered. As the Steelers saw last season when TJ Watt went down with a pectoral injury, solid depth is a necessity.
"You have to have depth, it can't just be your front guys, your front guys get hurt you have to have some people who can step up. I think we've added really good depth, really good competition, in the room - in both rooms I'm assuming - the offensive line as well, the defensive line for sure. That's good for us as a team because that makes everybody practice a little harder, play a little harder, get a little better as football players and then it's our job just to make sure the best players are out there."
The Steelers are no strangers to what happens when you lack depth and your team gets beat up. Not only when Watt got hurt in 2022, but in other years as well. For example, in 2019 when Austin joined the team as the senior defensive assistant and secondary coach, the team was plagued with injuries.
Don Wright / AP
Steelers' TJ Watt (#90) celebrates a turnover against the Miami Dolphins in Pittsburgh, PA in 2019.
Austin doesn't name a specific season, but he does address that this has been an issue in the past.
"I think you want to make sure you have that quality depth because the games are won up front. I remember a couple of years ago when we weren't very good up front. We got guys hurt and beat up and we weren't very good up front. We struggled to stay in games and so I think that's a real thing, to make sure that we have quality depth, good guys. We know who our front-line guys are, who are the guys that are going to be playing a lot of snaps when those guys aren't available? I think again it makes us a better team, it makes us a stronger team. I like that, I think everybody likes that."
Benton may be just the person to provide that depth. The young tackle out of Wisconsin cuts a big figure on the field. At 6-foot-4 inches and 315 pounds, he presents a formidable obstacle. Austin credited Benton for having a good "motor" and for being in excellent shape. Austin is excited to see what Benton can contribute to the team and so is the rest of Steeler Nation.
What do you think about drafting Benton? How critical is it to add depth to those "trench" positions? Do you agree that depth was the team's biggest area of need this offseason? Click to comment below.
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