Steelers Now
Since being hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007, Mike Tomlin’s defenses have regularly been some of the most productive in the entire NFL, and last season was no exception to that. In 2024, the unit ranked 7th in points per drive and 9th in EPA/play while also leading the league in turnovers forced. The team as a whole cratered down the stretch, which perhaps encouraged the personnel changes that took place this offseason. Overall, the collaboration between Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has been a successful partnership and one that will hopefully continue to evolve, allowing them to keep pace with some of the high-powered offenses in an AFC that’s loaded with quarterback talent.
SN analyst Derrick Bell was joined by coach, author, and founder of Match Quarters, Cody Alexander, to break down the Steelers defensive scheme: the foundation, the counters in place to keep opposing offenses off balance, and important defensive trends that are taking place around the league. This video is a deep dive into the Steelers defensive philosophy, the subtle changes that they’ve added in recent seasons, and where the next curveball could be coming from. In addition to that, the duo discuss how to best utilize newly acquired cornerback Jalen Ramsey, how to free up T.J. Watt for more advantageous rush opportunities, and the latest trends around the league that are worth stealing. With this once again being the highest-paid defense in the NFL by a vast margin, the expectations are lofty, but there’s enough talent in this group to form a dangerous unit that should keep them in games on a weekly basis.
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Related: Bell: How Will Steelers Replace Minkah Fitzpatrick?
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Breaking Down Steelers HC Mike Tomlin’s Defensive Scheme
