Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers made a personnel change for Monday night’s Wild Card game against the Houston Texans. Veteran Chuck Clark was starting at strong safety instead of Kyle Dugger on the first series.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had touchdown passes from 38, 50 and 64 yards out in last Sunday night’s game against the Steelers. Dugger was exposed on one of those touchdowns, the 64-yard touchdown to Zay Flowers.
Flowers was 9.3 yards from the nearest defender when he caught the pass on the 64-yard touchdown, per Next Gen Stats.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin credited Jackson for the Ravens’ explosive passing attack, but noted that they could’ve executed better and made better calls. Dugger’s play was apparently below the line.
“I think Lamar first and foremost on a lot of fronts,” Tomlin said on Tuesday when asked about why the Ravens were able to get explosive plays over the top of the defense. “He makes you do some things schematically that could make you uncomfortable, but if you’re trying to win moments in the game you do what you have to do.
“But also just his unique talents. I mean, one of those touchdowns we had two of our most significant guys, had him wrapped up in the backfield and he somehow came out of [Keeanu] Benton and [Alex] Highsmith and threw a long touchdown. So his talents were directly impactful. His talents also dictated schematics at times. To put it succinctly, Lamar Jackson.”
Dugger arrived with the Steelers by way of a trade from the New England Patriots in October. He quickly got up to speed and has proven to be a steadying force in Mike Tomlin’s secondary. He struggled in the last two games, however.
In addition to his poor game against Baltimore, he mistimed a pass in the Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns, resulting in a Harold Fannin Jr. 28-yard touchdown.
Clark started five games for the Steelers prior to Monday night’s game, recording 51 tackles (31 solos), two tackles for loss, three passes defended, one forced fumble and one quarterback hit.
Alan Saunders and Brendan Howe provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Bench Defensive Starter vs. Texans
