Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers opponents attacked the middle of the field the second-most of any defense in 2024 at 26%.
In recent years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been notorious for not attacking the middle of the field. Sometimes, that is by design to minimize opponents’ elite defenders, and sometimes it is due to the design of the playbook. However, the Steelers’ defense is also familiar with the middle of the field. According to Matt Williamson, they were attacked there frequently.
The #Steelers opponents threw over the middle of the field at a 26% clip. That was the second highest rate behind the #Packers. However, that 26% was still lower than in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
— Matt Williamson (@WilliamsonNFL) July 16, 2025
The Steelers fell second only to the Green Bay Packers. Despite this, as Williamson pointed out, this is lower than the past three seasons.
There are a few reasons that contributed to this. For one, the play of Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson likely forced teams to try to create mismatches on the inside. Last season, the Steelers didn’t have a clear answer at slot corner.
Additionally, the Steelers deployed the combination of Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson primarily on passing downs. Though Queen was a Pro Bowler and Wilson’s play grew, they both had tough moments in 2024.
One player who could help that area of the field is Deshon Elliot. His first interception of the season came over the middle of the field against Kirk Cousins. With his role now being more defined in the box, his coverage ability in that area makes the most sense.
The Steelers are expecting bigger plays from both Wilson and Queen in 2025. Additionally, their acquisition of Super Bowl Champion safety Juan Thornhill will need to be a big one to help Elliott’s range of play. Thornhill will also have to answer the call following the trade of Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The middle of the field may be a hot topic this season, but not just for the offense.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers 2024 Opponents Attacked One Area of the Field the Most
