Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison is legitimately concerned about the Steelers defense, especially when it comes to stopping the run.
In Sunday’s 31-17 loss to the Seahawks, Seattle rushed for 117 yards on 29 carries (4.0 average). Kenneth Walker III led the Seahawks with 105 yards rushing on 13 carries for a whopping 8.1 average and a touchdown.
In Week 1, the New York Jets racked up 182 yards (4.7 average).
“The Steelers don’t give up rushing [yards],” Harrison said on his Deebo and Joe podcast. “As a base, that’s one of the things that’s supposed to be the standard. You don’t give up a 100-yard rusher. I really can’t understand what’s going on with this defense/. I’m nervous. I’m scared. The defense is bad. You gave up 32 points to the Jets. Almost 400 yards.
“What was it, 182 [yards] rushing, and the Bills just dog-walked the Jets. Only gave up 154 yards total. We’re in trouble. We can’t stop the run. We can’t get consistent pressure on the quarterback.”
Bruce Arians served as a wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator with the Steelers from 2004-2011, so he knows all about the Steelers long history of smashing the run game.
Like Harrison, Arians is also shocked that the Steelers have been dominated on the ground.
“That was the hardest watch for me on Sunday,” Arians said on The Pat McAfee Show. “To watch that defense, knowing that Casey Hampton and Aaron Smith and James Harrison, all these guys that had played in that defense for all the years, going back to Joe [Greene] and the rest of the guys. They get stoned by a fullback, and both linebackers get knocked down, safety can’t make the tackle. Seattle just ran it down their throats at home.”
The Steelers have a massive problem on defense with teams running away from T.J. Watt. The New York Jets and Seahawks averaged 6.0 yards on 34 rushes running away from Watt. When running to Watt’s side, the Jets and Seahawks averaged 2.5 yards on 13 carries.
“I think some of it is scheme, some of it is reading press clippings,” Arians said. “They can’t stop the run, then T.J. and [Alex] Highsmith can’t tee off. They’re the finishers. But you gotta stop ’em first to be able to finish. And they’re not stopping anybody in the running game right now.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Legend Gives Blunt Answer on Ailing Defense: ‘We’re in Trouble’
