Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense hasn’t measured up to its standard as of late. The unit was gashed by Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers in a loss Sunday night, and Ja’Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals before that. Still, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stood up for defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on Tuesday.
“You know, I’ve known Teryl a long time,” Tomlin said during his press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “He’s very capable, he’s very thorough. I’ve largely been pleased with his work, but certainly, he and I are not pleased with where we are from a defensive unit perspective, and so we’re just gonna keep working.”
Tomlin also said that taking defensive play-calling duties from Austin is “not on the table.” Austin is in his fourth season in his current role. Over the past three campaigns, the Steelers have ranked in the NFL’s top-10 in takeaways, interceptions, first downs allowed per game, forced fumbles and rush defense.
However, the Steelers haven’t forced a turnover in a month. The unit also didn’t have a sack against the Packers. So how can it return to the Steelers’ way?
“Really the little things that all come together,” cornerback Joey Porter Jr. said Sunday night. “Just finishing to the ball, punching out the ball, trying to make stops, trying to make plays. We’ve gotta play that Steelers defense where we make plays and (force) turnovers. We haven’t really been doing that lately, and we’ve gotta get back to that.”
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Mike Tomlin Defends Teryl Austin, Won’t Take Steelers Play-Calling Duties
