PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers Senior Defensive Assistant Teryl Austin has an interesting mix as the secondary coach. Three first round picks mixed with a seventh rounder and an undrafted corner.
The Steelers defense really mixed things up in the secondary the first few games. They were working in different people in different roles.
"Trying not to have those guys say ok 'he's here, he's here, he's here, this is what we are getting'," Austin explained about the strategy. "It's also the function, we lost a couple of people last year. So how do we fit these new people in? What exactly do we have in these new people?"
"As time has gone on, we've figured out how these guys are in games. You might be able to see some things in practice, but until you put them in a game situation and things are live. You really don't know about a person."
The Sharon native Austin has a better feel of those trying to fill the shoes of Mike Hilton. They had free agent Arthur Maulet from the Jets and rookie Tre Norwood, taken in the last round of this year's draft.
"I think we feel a little more comfortable with Arthur now," Austin said. "I know what he does. I know how he performs, functions. We know more about Tre Norwood. That allowed us to cut back on all the rotations and the different combinations of guys."
Here is what Austin is saying about a few of his guys.
Tre Norwood
More on the rookie, who they have figured they like more in the dime defense. Austin says Norwood doesn't make the same mistake twice.
"Toughness is not an issue with him," Norwood said. "He will come and tackle you. Things that showed up were maybe in preseason in space when you get some really fast guys. He's got to improve in that area. In terms of what we are asking him, he's doing a good job."
"I think he's become a good player and a good fit for us because of how smart he is. He's got good underneath coverage skills. He's got good route recognition awareness. He's a tough kid. That's why he's been able to carve out that niche for us and it will keep growing."
Joe Haden
Austin says everyone changes as you get older. He says he thinks a lot clearer and faster and the game comes easier to him.
"If you look at the very last play of the game when TJ got the sack," Austin said of Haden against Seattle. "Both he and Cam (Sutton) did great jobs in terms of what we were asking for in coverages. The quarterback had nowhere to go with the ball and TJ was able to make a hell of a play."
"Those are the things that he gives you now. He may not give you the flat out, straight-line speed. He may not be the top-notch shutdown guy that he was early in his career, but he still plays really effective football. He plays smart. He doesn't waste steps. He doesn't waste time."
James Pierre
"He is a heck of a competitor," Austin said of the undrafted corner. "He had some rough spots obviously. He had a couple of big balls on him in situational football that was a real learning experience for him and for us. Not so much good."
"I think what you saw was he was able to battle back in that game (Denver). He was able to make an interception at the end. He makes a nice play at the end of this game (Seattle) in terms of punching the ball out."
"I like his trajectory. He still has a ways to go. I think I've learned about him that he is a tough guy. He gets around the ball. He'll be competitive and he'll end up being a good player for us."
Ahkello Witherspoon
The Steelers traded a fifth round pick to Seattle to add depth to the corner position. Ahkello Witherspoon not only hasn't played, he hasn't dressed for a Steelers game yet.
"When you look at where we are on game day," Austin said. "You have the top three guys and then the fourth corner, really that guy is mostly a special teams player. (Justin Layne) is a heck of a special teams player."
"Until that happens (Witherspoon improving on special teams), there is a switch in that regard. That's where he will be. He knows he needs to improve in that area."
Karl Joseph
The former first-round pick is working hard in practice according to Austin.
"His role will be kind of like at West Virginia-play some nickel and time, overhang guy, blitzing, running and hitting because that's really what he excelled at in college," Austin said. "We are trying to carve that out for him. Allow him to learn that. I think when he gets his opportunity; he will be ready. That's what we are looking for."
