The Pittsburgh Steelers are having a tough time this preseason with the national media. Fox Sports has entered the preseason prognostication business by selecting their version of the Top 10 NFL Defenses heading into the 2022 season.
Spoiler Alert: the black and gold are not on the list.
I could not condone, but did understand the offense being underrated based on the uncertainty at quarterback, but this list borders on blasphemy. In the interest of fairness, the top of the list is dead on. The Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills should be at or near the top of the league during 2022. However, the inclusion of defenses like the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys seems extremely short sighted.
The Cowboys are often overrated, and Micah Parsons is a budding superstar, but the Cowboys are just one year removed from being a historically bad defense and they lost several key players. The Bengals are arguably the worst defense in the AFC North, and they did not add any key pieces in the off-season. The Bengals offense might also be the best in the division, but I can’t go along with that whole best defense is a good offense, school of thought. The AFC North has some great quarterbacks, but I have a sneaking suspicion this division will come down to who stops the other in divisional play.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The Steelers have a ferocious pass rush and if T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Alex Highsmith are healthy all season, the team should lead the league in sacks for a fifth consecutive season. Watt will probably go backwards a little in total sacks, but that should be good news for Heyward and Highsmith sack totals. If Stephon Tuitt plays, the Steelers sack numbers might actually go up. DeMarvin Leal looks like the insurance policy at defensive end if Tuitt retires. Overall, I see the Steelers potentially achieving 60 sacks this season, but split more evenly as Highsmith seems ready to put up the numbers Bud Dupree was achieving opposite Watt.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle, Cam Heyward (#97) lines up against the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 at Heinz Field. | Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
The Steelers were ranked 13th overall against the pass in the NFL last season, with some issues in coverage. Joe Haden was a talented player and one of the biggest moments of the season came when he made the hit against the Tennessee Titans at the end of the game; but he was/is past his prime. James Pierre struggled despite an amazing camp and Cam Sutton proved he was capable, but definitely not a number 1 or 2 cover corner. Ahkello Witherspoon broke into the lineup late in the year and he was graded as an elite cornerback by Pro Football Focus as the 13th best corner in 2021. The Steelers imported Levi Wallace as the second cornerback who was ranked as the 58th best corner in 2021. The top three of Witherspoon, Wallace and Sutton should allow Minkah Fitzpatrick to roam instead of chase, and the passing defense should be among the league’s best.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback, Ahkello Witherspoon intercepts Cleveland Browns quarterback, Baker Mayfield on January 3, 2022 at Heinz Field. | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In 2021, the Steelers were atrocious against the run. Tuitt did not play, and Tyson Alualu got hurt early in the year. Devin Bush and Joe Schobert did not play downhill because linemen were finding them too easily. Outside of Heyward, the string of replacements did not engage linemen early enough. Enter a healthy Alualu, a gifted rookie run defender in Leal, and a group of now battle tested alternates who should learn from their 2021 mistakes. The biggest difference might be the sneakiest AFC North signing, Myles Jack. Jack is fast and a proven run defender. Brian Flores' job will be easier in remaking Bush because he will just be able to pull him to the sideline during training camp and say 'watch this.' When Jack is healthy, he is everything we all hoped Bush would be when drafted. The Steelers' run defense is going to be vastly improved.
The Steelers could lead the league in sacks again, sport a top 8 pass defense, and if the run defense is just average in the modern NFL, that is a top 10 defense. If the run defense is top 10, this could be a top 5 unit. I know, 'if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we would all have a Merry Christmas.' If the Steelers roll into the Las Vegas Raiders game on Christmas Eve as a top 5 unit, it will be a very Merry Christmas for Steeler Nation indeed.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Did the Steelers get slighted again? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
