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Steelers Sunday Spotlight: Much riding on defensive line
By Gerry Dulac / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In the four decades that have passed since the glory days of the 1970s, there has never been any comparison to the front four of the famed Steel Curtain defense. And there likely never will be.
There haven’t even been comparisons to the 3-4 front of Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel that helped shut down running backs in 2008 and 2010.
But the Steelers think they might have a pretty good three-man line heading into the 2015 season with defensive ends Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt and nose tackle Steve McLendon.
Problem is, they don’t have much behind them.
Keisel, who was a late addition to the roster last season, was released last week, ending a 13-year career with the Steelers that included two Super Bowl victories. He had a year remaining on his contract and was scheduled to count $1.5 million against the cap in 2015.
Cam Thomas could be another casualty. The Steelers signed him to a two-year, $4 million contract in free agency last season and he did very little despite starting eight games. He had 19 tackles, half a sack and six pressures, and was eventually bumped from the starting lineup by Keisel, then Tuitt.
That leaves just one possible backup for now, and that is massive tackle Dan McCullers. And that is the good news.
The Steelers are excited about McCullers’ potential and think they can better utilize his size (6 feet, 8, 358 pounds) in 2015. McCullers, a sixth-round draft choice in 2014, saw increased playing time after being inactive the first six games of the season and was almost unstoppable collapsing the pocket.
The Steelers could use McCullers in sub packages to rush the passer and use a linebacker to trail him in pressure or blitz situations.
That could help generate more sacks, something that has been lacking the past two seasons. The Steelers had only 33 last season after having 34 in 2013, their lowest two-season total since they had 65 in 1989-90.
But it’s not just the lack of sacks that is disconcerting.
While the run defense improved six spots to No. 6 in the league, allowing an average of 100.3 yards per game, the Steelers still allowed 11 runs of 20 yards or longer (10th most in the league) and their per-carry average of 4.4 yards was seventh worst in the league.
That was more 20-plus-yard runs (7) and a higher average (4.3) than they allowed a year earlier when they ranked 12th against the run.
Still, with a couple of young bookend defensive ends and an improving nose tackle, the Steelers believe they are headed in the proper direction.
Heyward, 25, has emerged not only as a leader of the defense, but also one of the best ends in the league.
He tied for the team lead with 71⁄2 sacks and led the team with 21 quarterback hurries, healthy totals for a 3-4 defensive end. He also had 54 tackles, sixth best on the team. What’s more, his relentless motor and constant pursuit of the ball, even downfield, make him a great role model for the young players on the team.
Tuitt, a second-round pick in 2014, came on at the end of the season and started the final five games when Keisel was injured and Thomas was ineffective. What the Steelers saw in that time — 11 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery — has them eager to see his progress heading into his second season.
Tuitt (6-5, 303) needs to improve his technique, particularly against the run, but has good length and natural athleticism and showed he can be disruptive in opposing backfields.
McLendon played with a bad shoulder for much of last season, even missing four games and parts of two others, but the coaches liked what they saw when he was close to full health. McLendon has beefed up to nearly 340 pounds, is very strong and the Steelers could partner him with McCullers in some two-man or even four-man fronts to collapse the pocket.
The Steelers will use the draft to develop some depth on the line and could add a defensive end in free agency, depending what they do with Thomas. If they can avoid injuries, there is hope for an improved and solid front.
It might not remind anyone of the Steel Curtain, but it might help erase some of the memories of the past couple seasons.
[URL]http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...s/201503150196[/URL]
By Gerry Dulac / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In the four decades that have passed since the glory days of the 1970s, there has never been any comparison to the front four of the famed Steel Curtain defense. And there likely never will be.
There haven’t even been comparisons to the 3-4 front of Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel that helped shut down running backs in 2008 and 2010.
But the Steelers think they might have a pretty good three-man line heading into the 2015 season with defensive ends Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt and nose tackle Steve McLendon.
Problem is, they don’t have much behind them.
Keisel, who was a late addition to the roster last season, was released last week, ending a 13-year career with the Steelers that included two Super Bowl victories. He had a year remaining on his contract and was scheduled to count $1.5 million against the cap in 2015.
Cam Thomas could be another casualty. The Steelers signed him to a two-year, $4 million contract in free agency last season and he did very little despite starting eight games. He had 19 tackles, half a sack and six pressures, and was eventually bumped from the starting lineup by Keisel, then Tuitt.
That leaves just one possible backup for now, and that is massive tackle Dan McCullers. And that is the good news.
The Steelers are excited about McCullers’ potential and think they can better utilize his size (6 feet, 8, 358 pounds) in 2015. McCullers, a sixth-round draft choice in 2014, saw increased playing time after being inactive the first six games of the season and was almost unstoppable collapsing the pocket.
The Steelers could use McCullers in sub packages to rush the passer and use a linebacker to trail him in pressure or blitz situations.
That could help generate more sacks, something that has been lacking the past two seasons. The Steelers had only 33 last season after having 34 in 2013, their lowest two-season total since they had 65 in 1989-90.
But it’s not just the lack of sacks that is disconcerting.
While the run defense improved six spots to No. 6 in the league, allowing an average of 100.3 yards per game, the Steelers still allowed 11 runs of 20 yards or longer (10th most in the league) and their per-carry average of 4.4 yards was seventh worst in the league.
That was more 20-plus-yard runs (7) and a higher average (4.3) than they allowed a year earlier when they ranked 12th against the run.
Still, with a couple of young bookend defensive ends and an improving nose tackle, the Steelers believe they are headed in the proper direction.
Heyward, 25, has emerged not only as a leader of the defense, but also one of the best ends in the league.
He tied for the team lead with 71⁄2 sacks and led the team with 21 quarterback hurries, healthy totals for a 3-4 defensive end. He also had 54 tackles, sixth best on the team. What’s more, his relentless motor and constant pursuit of the ball, even downfield, make him a great role model for the young players on the team.
Tuitt, a second-round pick in 2014, came on at the end of the season and started the final five games when Keisel was injured and Thomas was ineffective. What the Steelers saw in that time — 11 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery — has them eager to see his progress heading into his second season.
Tuitt (6-5, 303) needs to improve his technique, particularly against the run, but has good length and natural athleticism and showed he can be disruptive in opposing backfields.
McLendon played with a bad shoulder for much of last season, even missing four games and parts of two others, but the coaches liked what they saw when he was close to full health. McLendon has beefed up to nearly 340 pounds, is very strong and the Steelers could partner him with McCullers in some two-man or even four-man fronts to collapse the pocket.
The Steelers will use the draft to develop some depth on the line and could add a defensive end in free agency, depending what they do with Thomas. If they can avoid injuries, there is hope for an improved and solid front.
It might not remind anyone of the Steel Curtain, but it might help erase some of the memories of the past couple seasons.
[URL]http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...s/201503150196[/URL]
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