Steelers HC Mike Tomlin indicated that they’d make modifications this 12 months, however most have discovered these modifications underwhelming. Whereas many wished a slew of coaches fired, little or no of that occurred. They moved on from two place coaches, although, and one of many new hires beforehand labored right here two years in the past.
The Steelers did make some significant modifications when it comes to personnel, most notably at vast receiver. They made a blockbuster commerce, particularly, for DK Metcalf, however then they traded George Pickens, basically a swap of 1s. The place we should always see extra variations, although, is schematically. That may be extra apparent on offense proper now, however they’re coming to the protection, too.
“We’re throwing in a pair new calls”, Beanie Bishop Jr. instructed Mike DeFabo of The Athletic just lately in regards to the Steelers‘ protection. “Some new zones, a pair new mans and a pair new blitzes and issues like that”.
“Clearly, groups aren’t going to be ready for sure issues, like, ‘Oh, we’ve by no means seen the Steelers run this’”. Now that’s a reasonably juicy quote I’m certain Steelers followers have been ready to listen to for some time. After all, Bishop is only a second-year participant, so it’s not like his historic data runs that deep.
However then once more, the Steelers’ protection has employed such consistency over time that they hardly ever supplied any surprises to their opponents. I nonetheless bear in mind distinctly once they unleashed a dime protection towards the Patriots in 2011 utilizing Cortez Allen and Ryan Mundy, which impressed the primary article I ever wrote about sports activities within the Lengthy, Lengthy In the past.
So what sort of modifications may the Steelers be engaged on? DeFabo wrote that Bishop refused to elaborate, which is totally comprehensible. The defensive aspect of the ball is the place they made teaching modifications, although. They didn’t renew the contract of DB coach Grady Brown, changing him with Gerald Alexander. Likewise, they swapped out ILB coach Aaron Curry for Scott McCurley.
One of many areas through which the Steelers remained steadfastly cussed was making an attempt to make do with a conventional four-man cross rush. Their sack numbers have lagged lately, and so they have develop into extra immune to blitzing. Maybe feeling safer within the secondary, they’ll amp up the aggressiveness this 12 months.
Having a secondary with none rookies new to the system may also assist them talk higher. That may be a level of emphasis this offseason after the Steelers’ protection struggled with that within the second half of final season.
However what’s going to they do that can have folks saying they’ve by no means seen the Steelers run it earlier than? That’s an intriguing remark, however, sadly, we’re going to have to attend to search out out. In the meantime, Beanie Bishop must wait to search out out if he’ll be part of it. Proper now, he’s possible within the driver’s seat to start out within the slot, however a variety of issues can occur alongside the way in which.
