PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – “I think all of us think we are better than we are. We have to suffer reality sometimes.”
Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler on Thursday when asked about the Melvin Ingram trade to the Chiefs.
“It was something he wanted, that’s fine,” Butler said. “We liked having him here. He was a good player for us. We wish him the best.”
Best being the key word there, Butler said they had the best two guys starting at outside linebacker in TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. Apparently, Ingram disagreed.
“I don’t know if we would say he’s the second guy behind TJ,” Butler said. “I wouldn’t say that at all. I think all of us think we are better than we are. We have to suffer reality sometimes.”
"I wish he was here,” said Steelers defensive captain Cam Heyward. “I thought we had the making of a good defense with him included into it. It doesn't always work out that way.”
“Melvin is at a stage in his career where he wants to see more time, you can't stop a man for that."
Butler says they will continue to use a rotation of players to spell Watt and Highsmith at times. As the Steelers DC put it, you need to because of how tiring it is to wrestle 300-pound guys every play throughout a game.
Derrek Tuszka played a few games for Denver last year, but it’s likely Taco Charlton getting an opportunity to prove himself. The former first round pick released by Kansas City having started only 12 games in his five-year career with 11 career sacks.
“He’s doing well,” Butler said of Charlton. “He still has some things to do in terms of the passing game. What’s hard sometimes for our guys to understand is outside linebackers got to do linebacker things. Not defensive end things all the time. They got to get in coverage, understand coverage and there is more to it than playing with your hand down all the time.”
“For his first game with us, I thought he played very well, using his hands in the run game,” Heyward said of Charlton against Cleveland. “I don’t know who caused the fumble, but I thought Taco was part of it as well. He will continue to get better from here on out.”
As Butler said, he has to, they don’t have a choice as the trade deadline came and went.
“I feel just as comfortable putting those guys in than I do Melvin,” Butler said Thursday.
Ingram had 10 tackles, two for loss, a sack and six quarterback hits in six games with the Steelers. We’ll find out over the last nine games what Taco can do.
Tuitt Talk
Reports out that Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt is ready to practice, but just hasn't yet. Asked if he's confident Tuitt will play for them this year, Heyward said.
"Yes."