1 Simple Word From Insider Rips Steelers' Mike Tomlin For Defensive Approach In 2024

The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense hasn't been good for several seasons in a row. Even dating back to the last couple of years with Ben Roethlisberger leading the way, there were questions surrounding the unit. That fact has taken away from many realizing that the defense has been wildly inconsistent as well. Players like TJ Watt, Cameron Heyward and Minkah Fitzpatrick have helped the group keep the team in games, but the coaching staff has been criticized quite often for the gameplans and play-calling. Teryl Austin is the defensive coordinator, but the show is truly run by Head Coach Mike Tomlin.

Watt, specifically, struggled at the end of the 2024 season. He was on track to be the league's Defensive Player of the Year, but ended up regressing down the stretch for a number of reasons.

It has to be difficult for Watt to get double-teamed nearly every play. On top of that, he didn't move around much, which is a knock on the coaching staff for not coming up with fresh and innovative ways to get him different avenues to the quarterback.

Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show had fans ask questions recently in a mailbag via X and answered plenty of Steelers-related topics. Someone asked if the lack of blitzing in 2024 was more so due to talent or scheme. The reporter did not mince words. He took an indirect shot at the coaching staff for how it has approached getting into the backfield.

"More like arrogance," Kaboly wrote. "They think they can get home with four, and I don’t know if that translates into today’s game with so many quarterbacks throwing it quickly. You need to switch it up and bring more corners or inside linebackers. In theory, four is ideal, but that hasn’t worked as well as it used to."

The fan base in the Steel City has been hard on Tomlin recently, and deservedly so. The organization has not won a playoff game since the 2016; and that is due to a number of reasons, but it has been constantly talked about how Tomlin hasn't adapted to the modern NFL as a lot has changed in the last 10 years or so. Kaboly noted one of the differences, and that is just how quickly offensive coaches are teaching their quarterbacks to get rid of the football.

Pittsburgh does have a phenomenal front four, which Watt, Heyward, and guys like Alex Highsmith are a part of, but the team's sack numbers were way down in 2024. The Steelers averaged just 2.3 sacks per game, which is the franchise's lowest in the category since the 2014 campaign. The defense has been at its best during Tomlin's tenure when it is wreaking havoc on opposing signal-callers. That didn't happen nearly as much in 2024.

Kaboly hit the nail on the head when he mentions arrogance. Tomlin seems to believe year-in and year-out that his squad can win a championship with the same approach that won in Super Bowl XLIII. The NFL has changed drastically in just the last decade or so, let alone the last 15-plus years. Tomlin and Austin need to look in the mirror as they approach the 2025 season and be prepared to make some significant changes with their defense's scheme.

Steelers Need To Get Much More Creative With TJ Watt In 2025

Another aspect of the defense that needs to be mixed up is Watt's usage. He remains one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, but he is almost always lining up in the same exact spot. A good example is the Cleveland Browns moving Myles Garrett around, which makes the elite defender so hard to game-plan for. If Pittsburgh plans to stay arrogant and only rush four guys the majority of the time, Watt better be bouncing around all over the line of scrimmage instead of staying on the same side.

Do you think that the Steelers have an arrogance problem when it comes to defensive coaching? Let us know in the comments below!

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