Even with Aaron Rodgers main the offense, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ energy stays their protection. Anchored by DL Cam Heyward, EDGE T.J. Watt and FS Minkah Fitzpatrick, the protection has been the anchor of the group for a number of seasons. Past the personnel, what’s the defensive scheme? It’s a 3-4 base that in basis hasn’t modified for the reason that 80s, however that’s floor stage. What sort of coverages does Pittsburgh play? That isn’t even one thing captured in our yearly defensive charting and is info that, frankly, is difficult to seek out.
Courtesy of Sports activities Data Options and our personal Clayton Eckert, we have now the info. A nuts-and-bolts article breaking down how typically Pittsburgh has run every kind of protection over the previous three seasons. There are much more layers and mixture coverages, however to maintain it barely extra simplified, we’ll follow the core seems.
From Cowl 3 to the all-out stress Cowl 0, right here’s the proportion breakdown from 2022-2024. We’ll provide evaluation under.
| Protection Sort | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowl 0 | 1.1% | 0.5% | 1.2% |
| Cowl 1 | 27.3% | 20.8% | 25.8% |
| Cowl 2 | 14.1% | 12.4% | 12.5% |
| Cowl 2 Man | 9.5% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
| Cowl 3 | 25.0% | 31.4% | 30.8% |
| Cowl 4 | 10.4% | 9.8% | 7.6% |
| Cowl 6 | 2.2% | 4.2% | 3.3% |
Off the highest, the coverages haven’t modified a lot. What the crew ran in 2022 continues to be primarily run at this time. Provided that head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin have remained of their positions over that span, it isn’t a shock to know the charges are related.
The preferred coverages are Cowl 3 (30.8 %) and Cowl 1 (25.8 %). Pittsburgh is primarily a single-high protection as a substitute of two-high shells which have grow to be extra widespread league-wide to forestall the big-play passing sport. The Steelers solely ran true two-high seems, Cowl 2 or 2-Man, a mixed 17.7 %.
Cowl 0 is the least-used protection, and albeit, I’m stunned it was even that top final yr. That quantity may very well be a product of linebackers dashing on Inexperienced Canine/”Hug” rushes the place the ‘backer will rush if the again or tight finish keep in to dam. No crew depends closely on Cowl 0. The Chiefs led the NFL in utilization at simply 5.5 %, however it’s definitely not a part of the Steelers’ DNA.
These numbers are helpful, however how do they examine to the remainder of the NFL? The place are the Steelers heavy and lightweight? The desk under exhibits the place Pittsburgh ranked in utilization of every protection in 2024.
| Protection Sort | 2024 NFL Rank |
|---|---|
| Cowl 0 | twenty fourth |
| Cowl 1 | ninth |
| Cowl 2 | 18th |
| Cowl 2 Man | tenth |
| Cowl 3 | 4th |
| Cowl 4 | thirtieth |
| Cowl 6 | twenty fourth |
Predictably, Pittsburgh ranks high 10 in Cowl 1 and three. In Cowl 2, they’re common to above in Cowl 2 Man. Rating close to the underside is Cowl 0, Cowl 6, and particularly Cowl 4. Beat reporters point out extra quarters utilization within the spring. We’ll see if that turns into a larger level of emphasis within the common season.
One different information level. I mixed the quantity of single excessive protection (Cowl 1 + Cowl 3), to see the place Pittsburgh’s whole utilization ranked. The crew’s 56.5 % single-high utilization ranked second within the NFL, solely trailing the 62.2 % Cleveland Browns. Steelers and Browns included, solely seven groups ran single-high at the least half the time.
None of those numbers are inherently good or unhealthy. It’s essential to simply quantify the Steelers’ protection scheme with info that isn’t simple to seek out. There may be worth within the crew taking part in much less single-high, although the crew rectified it 2023 problem of permitting too many large performs whereas retaining the identical protection shell. This information may additionally show helpful if and when there’s a change in defensive coordinator, although Mike Tomlin clearly has loads of affect over the protection. Pittsburgh performs much less Cowl 2 than you’d anticipate given league-wide traits and Tomlin’s background in Tampa Bay and Minnesota that had been steeped in these coverages.
