PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb said he very clearly about dealing with Christian McCaffrey.
“We have to know where 23 is, period,” Holcomb told 93.7 The Fan.
He paused for a few seconds ending the interview. As I walked away to go speak with someone else, he walked over to me and said as emphatically, ‘we got to know where 23 is’.
Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin plans to use a unique, even if illegal, means to try and defend the All-Pro running back.
“We're going to try to play with 12 guys,” Austin said with a big smile.
“He is a special talent coming out of the backfield. What really makes it special is he can split out and he can run the wide receiver stuff. I mean, that guy is really unique. He catches the ball. He runs the ball well. We're just going to have to make sure that when he gets the ball, he's not getting it in space by himself, and that we always have some type of ability to really corral him and keep his yards after catch down.”
In his three full NFL seasons (he played only 10 games total in 2020 & 2021) he’s rushed for over 1,000 yards in each one-combining for 3,624 yards in 2018, 2019 and 2022. Total yards for those three seasons 6,237 yards with 44 touchdowns. He’s faced the Steelers once in his career, 2018 at then Heinz Field, 14 carries for 77 yards, five receptions for 61 yards and three touchdowns. Last season he scored a touchdown in each of the last six games of the regular season and one in all three games of the postseason.
“We just got to respect the dynamic playmaking ability that he has both in the running game and in the passing game,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “It's very evident how significant his addition has been for them. I think prior to his addition, they were averaging 20 points a game, with him in 2022, they averaged 30 points a game. And so, 10 points with the addition of one man. We better be really careful about being matched up against him in space. He's a one-on-one space winner.”
And to Tomlin’s point, he’s not a running back in the Derrick Henry mode where you pretty much know what he’s going to do, it’s about stopping him. You don’t know what McCaffrey might do on a play or where he might line up.
“I think his versatility to be in any position, whether it’s being a running back, a wide receiver coming out of the backfield catching,” said defensive captain Cam Heyward. “There is nothing he can’t do on the field. If you give that guy space, you are in for a world of hurt.”
Safety Keanu Neal compared McCaffrey to Saints star running back Alvin Kamara, who he faced numerous times while with Atlanta, in how they always seem to be able to keep their balance. Then as they stay on their feet, they make you miss.
There are several dangerous players the Steelers defense has to worry about Sunday, as Holcomb said, they have to know where McCaffrey is.