The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense had been dominant through the first three games, but after two straight losses to the Indianapolis Colts and the Dallas Cowboys, they've come back down to earth. Against the Cowboys, the defense wasn’t bad, but they weren’t great either—they did their job. However, they were tasked with a lot, and ultimately gave up a game-winning 70-yard drive to Dak Prescott.
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Steelers' Donte Jackson working out with the team at OTAs.
Many Steelers fans didn’t place the blame on the defense. Instead, most felt the offense failed to capitalize on three turnovers and a blocked field goal. Despite these opportunities, the Steelers only managed to score 17 points. In the NFL, 17 points rarely gets you a win.
It was a collective failure, and while the defense could have been better, Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson was especially vocal about what went wrong. On Wednesday, Jackson spoke to the media, outlining the key issues that need to be fixed quickly for the unit.
"Just continue to detail and continue to work at it. Attack these practices and attack these meetings with the mindset that we are going to clean up all those communication issues. That has been the demeanor and attitude about it."
Early in the 2024 offseason, the Steelers made a bold move by trading wide receiver Diontae Johnson in exchange for Jackson. Jackson was brought in to solidify one side of the field while Joey Porter Jr. locked down the other. Early on, the two looked like a dynamic cornerback duo, but their performance against the Cowboys has quieted some of that hype.
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Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. celebrates during a Pittsburgh Steelers' Week 9 game against the Tennessee Titans in 2023.
Jackson believes a lack of communication has been holding the defense back, but he remains fully confident in their ability to bounce back quickly.
"It’s the NFL, different things come into play each week. For us, it’s been communication, so we have been detailing it up and just staying on it. So yeah, expecting change."
Jackson is an exciting player for what he brings to the secondary, and as a veteran, he carries himself with confidence and poise. Hearing such a positive outlook from a seasoned player on that side of the ball is reassuring for the defense.
It’s also encouraging to hear him break down what he believes has caused some lapses in the secondary and what adjustments he wants the defense to make to fix those issues.
Steelers' Donte Jackson Hasn't Graded Well In 2024
Jackson has recorded two interceptions and has been solid for the Steelers. However, Pro Football Focus hasn't been kind to him, giving him a grade of 54.6 for the 2024 season, placing him in the bottom tier of cornerbacks. Steelers fans who have watched him may feel that grade is unfair, as he has looked better on the field. His coverage grade sits at 54.5, with a slightly better run defense grade of 61.5 so far.
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Steelers' Donte Jackson and TJ Watt celebrate during a game against the Falcons.
He's played 289 snaps for this vaunted Steelers defense. Jackson was excited to join Pittsburgh, knowing the team's defensive-minded culture and the playmakers up front would create more opportunities for him in the secondary. That has been true, but over the last two games, the Steelers defense has appeared to take a step back.
Some believe that's due to the offense not providing enough support, forcing the defense to stay on the field longer than necessary, leading to breakdowns. However, Jackson thinks it’s a communication issue and is confident his unit will fix it. Steeler Nation is eager to see these adjustments take effect and watch the defense bounce back.
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