Never in modern history have the Steelers poured so much of their draft talent into the defense the way they have the past two years. All that’s left is for them to show it was worth it.
“You never know. If these guys help us win a championship, then it worked out,” general manager Kevin Colbert said. “This is the only way we evaluate any class.”
For the second consecutive year, the Steelers poured an unprecedented percentage of their draft picks on their defense —– five to two on offense. It comes one year after six of their eight draft choices were defensive players.
That 11-4 draft ratio in favor of their defense is unprecedented over two years and includes three defensive players in the first three rounds for the first time in modern history.
But their offense has been carrying them the past few years, and they know it as they watched their great defenses from the first part of the 21st century fade into retirements. Joey Porter played on some of those teams as a Pro Bowl outside linebacker, and now he coaches that position and knows what must be done.
“It’s been awhile since the offense carried us,” Porter said. “This is Pittsburgh, but they did last year. They were a strong part of our team. That’s always a good thing, but in Steeler Nation we still have pride in our defense. We always want to have pride in our defense.”
That defense has been in transition for a few years and generally performed better last season than was expected. They were third in the league with 48 sacks and raised their turnovers to 24. Yet they also ranked just 21st in yards allowed, 30th against the pass. The construction job is not done.
“We were happy where we finished last year, but it wasn’t enough,” Porter said. “If we get our defense back to where it used to be, I think we’ll have the pieces to do something special.”
Indeed, combined with an offense that ranked first in average yards per play in the NFL and fourth in points, the Steelers could be dynamic if their defense can catch up a little more. If it does, some of those rookies they drafted over the past three days could have an impact on it.
On a defense that had little room for rookies for many years, it is possible that their first three draft picks could start this season.
There are openings for cornerback Artie Burns, safety Sean Davis and nose tackle Javon Hargrave all to start even as soon as the opening game in Washington.
“I believe it’s realistic,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “That’s why we chose them where we chose them. But they have to earn it, and we’ll give them the opportunity to do that.”
The Steelers started four rookies over the past three seasons with various results — linebackers Jarvis Jones (2013), Ryan Shazier (2014) and Bud Dupree (2015), and end Stephon Tuitt (2014).
There have not been three rookie starters on defense in quite some time, but the openings and the need for upgrades are there.
That also does not count cornerback Senquez Golson, their second-round pick last year who missed his entire rookie season after shoulder surgery. He could compete with Burns to start on the left with both of them playing when they use the nickel, which was 70 percent of the time last season.
Their depth chart right now shows as starters Ross Cockrell at left cornerback, Robert Golden at strong safety and Daniel McCullers at nose tackle.
“Competition is always going to be the key that drives them,” Porter said, from experience. “We’re going to have some guys in positions at home looking at the draft now. It’s going to make it competitive
[url]http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2016/05/01/On-the-Steelers-Three-rookies-could-start-on-defense-this-season/stories/201605010196[/url]
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Originally Posted by Oviedo
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