PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was brought up in a question this week that the numbers were almost comical, why not necessarily funny. This season, starting Sunday against one of the best running backs in the NFL, how does the Steelers defense overcome the loss of Derrick Harmon.
Last season when Harmon played, the defense allowed 88 rushing yards a game, when he didn’t play it was 166 rushing yards a game. Add to the fact that Harmon was coming into his own, Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said he was becoming an impact player in the league.
“It’s tough, I thought Derrick was playing very good,” said Steelers Cam Heyward. “It gives a chance for a lot of other guys to step up. We all have to play a part in getting better.”
“Derrick is a hell of a player,” said first-year Steelers defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day. “He’s an amazing second-year player.”
Joseph-Day will play a part in trying to make up for the loss of Harmon, after playing only 60 defensive snaps, he’ll need to do more.
“Here to do my job in whatever way, shape or form that is,” Joseph-Day said. “I’m ready to step up and do what I got to do to help this team wins.”
Nose tackle Yahya Black is coming off a season-high five tackles against the Browns after four against Cincinnati. His opportunities will rise.
Keeanu Benton signed a four-year, $72 million contract in the offseason, but hasn’t played at that level yet. Here is an opportunity for him to play a big part against a big-time back.
“D-line, the run game falls on us,” Benton said. “We got to dominate up front to stop that.”
Rookies Gabriel Rubio or Kevin Jobity could be active for the first time and take a couple of reps.
Last year, after running for five touchdowns combined in the previous two weeks, Colts tailback Jonathan Taylor managed only 45 yards on 14 carries at Acrisure Stadium for an, at the time, season-low 3.2 average.
“I think everyone did their job,” Benton said of that performance. “We didn’t try to do too much. We stayed patient in our gaps and made the ball come to us rather than trying to go make a big play.”
Patient is a key word because reminiscent of Le’Veon Bell, Taylor runs will wait for a hole to open and then make you pay.
“A really good back, elite, top 5,” Joseph-Day said. “His patience, vision and when he does find the hole, his acceleration is insane.”
“It changes how the D-line is played. You can be aggressive, but you can’t just declare your gap and where you are going to be because he can cut it, he can fake cut it, he could go this way and actually hit your gap. You got to be really patient in that regard. That’s what makes him so dangerous, he’s a really talented back.”
“We got to trust our gaps, stay patient,” Heyward said. “We don’t need hero ball, that’s the worst thing we can do, everybody playing out of position. The best thing we can do is play with good technique, get off blocks and make sure your presence is felt. Play like a defensive lineman that can get away with being violent.”
“It’s one of those weeks where you have to get all 11 hats to the ball,” Watt said also noting he played at Wisconsin like Watt. “You really can’t swim out of your gap early or even if you are on the edge, you can’t go to help as early like you would with other backs because he can really jump-cut and find the edge.”
“We are going to need to contain him,” said linebacker Nick Herbig. “He’s a home run hitter. He gets vertical quick. He’s got that speed, he’s a Badger, he’s got that dawg in him.”
“Got to stop the run,” Heyward said. “I know it sounds very monotonous and very boring and I know we are in a league that really stresses passing the ball, but the key is really stopping the run with this team.”
After giving up 54 points in the last two games, the Steelers defense needs a change. It starts with one of the most dangerous players in the game‘It gives a chance for a lot of other guys to step up’
‘It gives a chance for a lot of other guys to step up’
