Steelers Beat Writer Strongly Approved Of Report That Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin Is Getting An Extension

The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly bringing Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin back for the 2024 season. In his second season, Austin's group dealt with an avalanche of injuries to key players, but still managed to finish the season as a Top 10 unit in points allowed and turnovers. Steelers beat writer Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thinks bringing back the veteran coach is the right move for the franchise. There will still be staff changes on his side of the ball, however. Pittsburgh lost defensive backs assistant coach Gerald Alexander to the Las Vegas Raiders and will need someone new to fill that role. 

Austin is a veteran in the defensive coaching realm, having held an NFL job since 2003, minus the 2010 season when he was the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida. He was the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator from 2014 to 2017 and then held the same title with the Cincinnati Bengals for the 2018 season. He joined Pittsburgh in 2019 as a senior defensive assistant and secondary coach before taking over for Keith Butler in 2022. 

Batko acknowledged on the North Shore Drive Podcast that some of his previous stops haven't gone well. He still thinks the native of Sharon, Pennsylvania, has done a satisfactory job in Pittsburgh.

"He did a good job," Batko said. "You could argue his resume until he got to Pittsburgh was mediocre as an NFL coordinator. Since he's been here, starting out as a senior defensive assistant and then taking the baton from Keith Butler a couple of years ago, I think he's been respected by the players and they like what he brings with his secondary coach mindset." 

Batko said that the fact that Pittsburgh gave up yards this season wasn't a big issue because of how effective the group was at not allowing points. 

He added that with the way that Pittsburgh was a bend but didn't break defense, with their opportunistic turnover play, it was an overall success for the unit that ultimately carried the team. 

"The team would not have gone 10-7 without this defense," he said. "They would've been better than that if the offense had been better. I think the defense did its part."      

While he is fully supportive of the organization bringing Austin back and that his unit was up to the task in 2023, there is always room for improvement. 

Steelers' Austin And Staff Still Have Areas That Need To Be Better

Any year that a team falls short of its ultimate goal of hoisting a Lombardi Trophy, there will be areas of the team needing improvement. The number one thing for the Steelers' defense in 2024 will be a better bill of health. As show host Cristopher Carter pointed out, it's been a rarity for Austin to have all three of TJ Watt, Cameron Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick all healthy. In 2023, the Steelers had a hodgepodge mix of practice squad players fill in at the linebacker and safety positions. 

The other area that Batko focused on was the development of players on the defensive line. Heyward missed six games in 2023 and was a shell of his former self when he did play. Rookie Keeanu Benton looks like a potential star but still has work to be done. Austin still has a lot of confidence in Isaiahh Loudermilk as a potentially forgotten gem, but there's a lot of work to be done with this group. DeMarvin Leal has gone from a promising tweener to a healthy scratch.

"Has the defensive line shown a lot of growth over the last couple of years? Probably not at least when you look at the young players," he said. "Maybe misevaluation too, but at the same time you have to try to coach up and develop guys."  

The Steelers are renewing their faith in Austin with the reported extension. Next, he needs to show them they were right to do so in 2024. 

Do you think retaining Austin was the right call? Would you have made a defensive coordinator change? Comment below!

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