Bill Cowher Has Alarming Take As Legend Believes Steelers' Defensive Line Is "Uncomfortable"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a perplexing defensive stance through the first five weeks. Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham promised all these different blitzes with guys moving around and quarterbacks getting confused. Instead, he has done the exact opposite. The game plans have been very predictable and easy to dissect: rush four players from the same spot and drop seven into a soft zone shell. That is not a recipe for success, especially against the many top-tier quarterbacks that the team will have to face in the back-half of the schedule. 

In Weeks 3-5, the Steelers have allowed over 25 points per game as quarterbacks have been able to make easy throws all game long. The run defense has been excellent, especially against the Indianapolis Colts, but that's not enough to win against top-flight teams. Until the defense stops giving up free completions and yards, it is going to be very hard to take the team seriously down the stretch.

Even the greats know that something is wrong. In a conversation with Gerry Dulac, former Head Coach Bill Cowher explained what the Steelers are missing by not blitzing as much as they said.

"The blitz rate is making players uncomfortable," Cowher said. "It’s also because of some of these athletic quarterbacks. It’s hard to keep rush lanes intact with four. You try to go to a four-man rush against Josh Allen, he’s going to go around you or he’ll step up. And there’s a lot more guys like him."

With how many teams across the NFL are blitzing, they are making offenses very uncomfortable, which puts them at risk for more mistakes and eventual turnovers. The Minnesota Vikings are 5-0 mostly due to Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores being crazed with blitzes. If you can make any quarterback uncomfortable and keep him in the pocket while under pressure, you have a chance to win. 

On the contrary, the Steelers have been making quarterbacks very comfortable with the lack of blitzing. They run the same and/or similar plays most of the time, which gives the quarterback time in the pocket to survey his reads, which also gives receivers time to find the weak points in the defense. Dulac also noted that Pittsburgh has allowed the third-most pass plays of 20 or more yards. 

Even when the Steelers do blitz, it's usually the same thing. Either Payton Wilson comes up the middle or Jalen Ramsey flies in off the slot, both of which have not had great results so far in 2026. Graham can keep saying that it's coming all he wants, but until he finally practices what he preaches, opposing teams are going to have a field day on Pittsburgh in the passing game.

Steelers Are Back To Old Predictable Ways With Star Player

The other thing that Graham promised to the Steelers was that TJ Watt would be switching sides, which would put more emphasis on the quarterback to shift protections and identify where he's at. That has not been the case at all. After a red-hot start to the season, the superstar has only recorded one sack in the last three games, as offenses are able to keep him out of the backfield for the most part.

This was an issue in 2025, as Watt barely made an impact. His predictability made it easy for teams to simply take him out of the equation outside of a few games. He would get chipped and double-teamed while run plays went away from him and quarterbacks got the ball out quickly. With Graham not moving him around like he said he would, the same gameplans from opposing offenses are coming back, and it's working.

What do you think about Cowher's take on blitzing, as well as the Steelers' shocking refusal to go through with it? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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