PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Mike Tomlin said it’s more about the execution of the plan and reacting to adversity so he does not expect major changes to the defense after allowing 68 points in the last two games. That includes taking over play-calling.
“No, that's not on the table as we sit here today,” Tomlin said at his weekly news conference on Tuesday. “We just gotta keep doing what we're doing and do it better.”
There isn’t a move to replace defensive coordinator Teryl Austin at this point. It’s his fourth year as the head of the Steelers defense. In his first three seasons the Steelers were tops in the NFL with 53 interceptions and a 3.1% interception rate, fifth in opposing completion percentage, scoring defense and red zone efficiency.
The stats this season are 180 degrees different.
· 22nd in scoring (25ppg)
· 23rd in yds per att (7.5)
· 22nd in completion percentage allowed 67.5
· 27th in pass yds (2054)
· 23rd in plays of 20+ yds
· 8th in takeaways (10), but most of come in two games
· 8th in sacks, but none in the last couple of games
It’s not all on the defensive coordinator, but it doesn’t mean we haven’t seen change. It was just two years ago the Steelers fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada in-season. That being said, Canada had far less professional success than Austin and his NFL resume was nothing close to Austin, now in his 22nd season.
“You know, I've I've known Teryl a long time,” Tomlin said. “He's very capable. He's very thorough. I largely been pleased with his work. But certainly he and I are not pleased with where we are right now from a defensive unit perspective, and so we're just gonna keep working.”