The Pittsburgh Steelers are constructed round their protection. That’s nothing new. Even in the course of the dynasty period of the Seventies, the Metal Curtain was a defining function. Among the biggest gamers to play in Pittsburgh have been on the defensive facet of the ball. And that mentality of getting a dominant protection continues to this present day. Head coach Mike Tomlin desires to construct a dominant protection.
However as a lot because the Steelers’ protection helps the workforce be aggressive in the course of the common season, they’ve struggled to rise to the event within the playoffs. Former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky talked about that the Steelers are averaging 38.8 factors allowed per sport of their final 5 playoff appearances, all losses. And Mina Kimes thinks she is aware of what the problem is.
“If this protection doesn’t get higher at defending movement, it’s useless on arrival in opposition to one of the best offenses within the league,” Kimes stated on Monday’s episode of NFL Dwell. “This was an enormous downside in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens; it was an enormous downside all season lengthy. They have been a bottom-five unit in success price when offenses used movement. When offenses didn’t use movement, they have been simply exterior the top-10.”
What’s the issue with movement? Nicely, it may well drive defenders to maneuver round rather a lot pre-snap to journey with the participant they’re protecting. And relying on timing, that may result in a participant being out of place on the snap. It may additionally pull gamers out of sure spots that the offense desires to assault. Within the run sport, if an offense can movement gamers out and pull linebackers out of the field, it makes operating the ball a lot simpler.
However why is movement such an issue for the Steelers’ protection? Former Steelers S Ryan Clark thinks it’s as a result of the Steelers’ offense doesn’t function a lot movement in any respect.
“Very first thing is, they don’t observe in opposition to it rather a lot,” Clark stated. “How typically have we are available right here and talked concerning the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense being an offense that motions all the time? So that you don’t get to see it in observe. In case you’re the Los Angeles Rams, you see it on a regular basis. In case you’re the San Francisco 49ers, you see it on a regular basis. In case you’re the Pittsburgh Steelers, an offense that’s largely stagnant, it’s troublesome to get these reps.”
The Steelers haven’t had a top-tier protection in fairly some time. They’ve lacked expertise and variety of their schemes. That features pre-snap movement and movement on the time of the snap. And in case your offense throughout coaching camp and in-season practices isn’t utilizing a lot movement in any respect, your protection isn’t used to working in opposition to it on the sphere.
Forward of the Tremendous Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Sportico.com appeared on the matchup via the lens of movement. In 2024, the Steelers had a participant in movement on the snap solely 16 % of the time, the fifth-lowest price amongst all 32 groups. The Eagles led the league at 56 %.
And the Baltimore Ravens, who ran everywhere in the Steelers’ protection within the playoffs, had a participant in movement on the snap on 30 % of their performs, the ninth-highest price in 2024—no marvel the Steelers struggled in opposition to the Ravens.
So, how do the Steelers repair the problem of defending movement? Nicely, an enormous a part of it’s communication. Gamers have to acknowledge what’s occurring and talk with one another. Communication was an enormous downside for the Steelers final 12 months. It’s an issue the protection is addressing throughout camp, in accordance with LB Payton Wilson.
However for those who consider Ryan Clark, that concern received’t be really fastened till the Steelers get on board with utilizing movement on offense.
