PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – There was a time where being first in the league in sacks seemed to be a given for the Steelers. This year it's been a struggle and explain the reasons why.
From 2017 to 2021 the Steelers led the league in sacks, 269 over that time. With six games to play this season, the Steelers have only 25 and that's 23rd in the NFL.
Head coach Mike Tomlin listed a number of factors including teams being aware of their reputation and the threats from the outside. He said often they see max protection, particularly on those obvious passing situations. Tomlin believes that is in part why you've seen them be success in the secondary.
"We don't have control of all the variables in those moments," Tomlin said. "If people choose to protect, then we'd better win on the back end. If people have
five eligibles out, we'd better win in terms of the rush. I think that's probably the spirit in which we operate and how a lot of these things have kind of unfolded."
Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin noted the max protection and the chipping done by mostly tight ends and running backs before they start their routes. Teams are only running three in a pattern at times and quarterbacks are looking to get the ball out quickly.
There is also the injury situation. Tomlin said for a large portion of the season they have been without Alex Highsmith (Steelers are 6-0 when he plays) and Nick Herbig (four-and-a-half games). That allows teams to focus all of their energies on TJ Watt. While still playing well, Watt is 13th in the NFL in sacks after leading the league last year. As Tomlin put it 'oftentimes the strength of the pack is the pack'.
To that point, Highsmith has 3.5 sacks the last two times the Steelers played against quarterback Joe Burrow. His availability is very much in question after only being elevated to limited in practice Thursday as he attempts to come back from an ankle injury suffered late against Washington.
Defensive captain Cam Heyward, who is second on the team with five sacks this season, said they need to work together. Most specifically, Heyward said they need to talk better.
"I think we got to clean up our communication, clean up our rush lanes and the sacks will come," Heyward said. "I don't think we have to do anything special, just play how we play."
Austin said sometimes pressure can be just as good as a sack, but with only one sack against the Browns and two against the Ravens. They know they must get pressure on Joe Burrow or it could be a long day in Cincinnati.
"You got to make those weighty plays," Heyward said. "I can't stress enough, when you look at their losses (Cincinnati). It's come down to weighty plays on both sides for them. Either them making plays or missing plays. I'm looking forward to really answering the call there."
