Steelers' Patrick Graham Receives Harsh Criticism For Questionable Game Plans

The Pittsburgh Steelers may be stuck in the same concerning loop that they have been in recent years. If this keeps up, the team will be bound for the same frustrating outcome that it's dealt with for nearly a decade: an above-average record with nothing to show for it. There is still a little bit of time to gain consistency, but it's running short. Pittsburgh needs to figure itself out to truly become a respected team in the AFC, especially if it is going to make the playoffs for this "last ride."

Through five weeks, the biggest issue is clearly the defense. After a very respectable first two weeks, they have allowed just over 25 points per game in the previous three games. That puts a lot of strain on the offense to end each drive with points with how these games tend to end up in a high-scoring affair now. If the defensive unit can play somewhat close to how well it did early on, the Steelers could make some noise.

For that to happen, the gameplan needs to get better. In his latest Q&A chat, Gerry Dulac explained the biggest problem with Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham in his first year in Pittsburgh.

"They need to be more creative on defense, and they are not," Dulac said. "They have plenty of veteran players who are able to do so, but they are more bland than soy milk."

This defense has become extremely predictable and lame. Graham promised the return of Blitzburgh with rotating edge rushers and creative schemes, but all he has done is call the same soft zone schemes that hurt the defense in recent years while also refusing to move TJ Watt around. The Steelers and their fans were promised big changes schematically, but they have just gotten the same issues from previous years.

It doesn't take a good quarterback to dissect this "soy milk" defense, and it's shown. Deshaun Watson led three touchdown drives in the second quarter alone in Week 4, along with a pair of clutch field goal drives in the fourth quarter to secure the win. Graham needs to make some sort of attempt to confuse these quarterbacks to get them off their game and prevent them to sit back in the pocket and do whatever they want. 

Watt even spoke about how he's willing to switch sides for the benefit of the defense, but that has barely happened outside of Week 1. The run defense did well in Week 5, but that's not enough. The pass rush has not been able to put any pressure on the quarterbacks, and receivers are running wide open all game long. These talented players still need help from the coaching staff to play up to their potential.

Steelers May Have Trust Issues With Lack Of Depth In The Secondary

The Steelers were expecting to have a strong secondary that could play press coverage against anyone with Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean locking down receivers with DeShon Elliott helping out in the back end. Two of them are currently injured, and Porter was traded away after refusing to play in any games for Pittsburgh. That gameplan was shut down quickly with Graham having to dig deep for depth.

Even then, Robert Spears-Jennings has been a nice surprise at free safety for the Steelers. Asante Samuel Jr. was not great in Week 5, but he came up big in clutch situations, as he broke up multiple passes in the end zone. Daylen Everette is built like a typical press man cornerback, but he has not gotten the chance to prove he can do that. The talent is there, but Graham doesn't seem comfortable with it.

Dean is expected to return sooner rather than later, so he and Everette could maybe help convince Graham to play more man coverage. That would allow him to bring more blitzes and get more creative with his defenses. Either way, he needs to change something so the Steelers can go back to playing like it's Blitzburgh, as opposed to this "soy milk" defense that allows yards ad nauseum.

What do you think about Graham's lack of creativity so far? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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