The Pittsburgh Steelers got the defensive performance they wanted against the New Orleans Saints, holding their rushing attack to just 18 yards. However, one of the more interesting details to emerge from the matchup came from veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts, who revealed on the Deebo and Joe podcast, how he spotted a potential tendency in quarterback Tyler Shough while studying film earlier in the week.
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Saints QB Tyler Shough (6) attempts a pass in week 7 Paris matchup against Steelers
Roberts noticed something unusual when Shough checked out of a play without looking up. Rather than dismissing it, the veteran linebacker recognized a detail worth investigating, and began thinking about how Pittsburgh could use that information defensively.
“One time, he checked, and he never looked up…. I'm like, 'Oh, hold on,'” Roberts explained.
That moment caught Roberts’ attention because pre-snap checks can reveal plenty about how an offense operates. Quarterbacks routinely change plays based on the defensive look, shifting between runs and passes to find a favorable matchup. Recognizing how and when those decisions happen can help defenders anticipate what comes next. The important part is that Roberts identified the detail himself. His observation showed the kind of experience and awareness the Steelers wanted when they brought the veteran linebacker back. Even before stepping onto the field, he was contributing by examining the opponent and looking for an edge.
Steelers' Roberts Explains His Tyler Shough Discovery
Roberts explained what he believed the timing of Shough’s checks revealed about the quarterback’s communication with the sideline.
“After 15 seconds, he got to make the checks himself. We don't need to show nothing until after 15 seconds,” Roberts continued. “After 15 seconds, y'all ain't got to worry about him checking to a run, to a pass, or a pass to a run…the coach telling him everything to do.”
Roberts’ explanation points to a potential tendency Pittsburgh could account for when preparing its defensive approach. If defenders understand when a quarterback is making adjustments independently, they can better evaluate what they are seeing before the snap instead of reacting blindly to every movement. Of course, one film observation does not explain an entire game plan or guarantee what an offense will do. However, identifying those details is part of the work that separates experienced defenders from players who are simply reacting after the ball is snapped.
That preparation is particularly valuable at linebacker. Players in the middle of the defense must process formations, communicate assignments and diagnose plays quickly. Roberts’ ability to recognize a possible pattern gives Pittsburgh another experienced perspective in a position where awareness can be just as important as physical ability.
The Steelers’ performance against New Orleans offered a strong result, with the Saints finishing with only 18 rushing yards. That statistic reflects the defense’s success against the ground game, though it would be a stretch to attribute that outcome to Roberts’ observation about Shough alone. Pittsburgh’s overall execution and collective defensive effort made the difference. Still, Roberts’ revelation provides a useful look at the preparation happening beyond the field. His return gives the Steelers a linebacker who brings years of experience, and that experience can benefit a defense through communication, film study and an understanding of how opposing offenses operate.
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Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts takes the field for an NFL game in 2024 during his time with the team.
Roberts is already paying dividends without touching the field, offering Pittsburgh valuable insight simply by breaking down film and identifying Shough’s tendencies. Once elevated and available to play, that same veteran savvy could become even more valuable, giving the Steelers an experienced linebacker who can diagnose plays, help organize the defense and make an impact when his number is called.
Roberts does not need to be the center of attention to make himself useful. Recognizing a detail on film and sharing what he sees can help teammates enter a matchup better prepared. Against New Orleans, Pittsburgh delivered the kind of defensive performance it wanted, and Roberts’ comments offered a reminder that preparation begins well before kickoff. For the Steelers, bringing Roberts back is already showing value in the way a veteran addition should, through football intelligence, attention to detail and the ability to spot something an opponent might prefer to keep unnoticed.