Behind the Steel Curtain

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With one year remaining on his contract, there are 3 different ways the Steelers could go with Ahkello Witherspoon this offseason.

As the 2023 NFL league year set to kick off at 4 PM on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, there are a number of decisions that the Pittsburgh Steelers have to make with a fair amount of players when it comes to their status for this season. While some players are set to become unrestricted free agents, there are some still under contract with the Steelers whose future might be in danger simply because of the amount of salary cap space they would consume for this coming season. Although some players are more obvious if they will be kept on for another season, others are more up for debate.

With some great discussion with talking about the options for Myles Jack, I decided to extend the question to other players who have one year remaining on their contract and have a significant cap savings if they were cut. After discussing Mitch Trubisky, next up is cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. How should the Pittsburgh Steelers handle his situation? For the most part, there are three options when it comes to Witherspoon and the 2023 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers:

Release

One of the biggest things working against Ahkello Witherspoon is that he only appeared in four games last season with the Steelers. Hampered by a hamstring injury where left the Steelers Week 3 matchup, Witherspoon missed the next four games before returning in Week 8. Suffering the injury again before halftime, Witherspoon never saw the field for the rest of the 2022 season and eventually ended up on the Reserve/Injured List. Not showing much value last season, the $4 million in salary cap savings looks more appealing than having Witherspoon on the field.

Retain

With the Steelers having two players set to be free agents from the cornerback room in Cam Sutton and James Pierre, keeping Ahkello Witherspoon is not an unreasonable idea. The $4 million that would be saved isn’t that bad when looking at the number of players on the depth chart.

Extend

Turning 28 next week, the Steelers could extend Witherspoon for a season or two in order to help secure the room. Coming off a season where Witherspoon only played less than 250 defensive snaps and surrendered a 75.9% completion percentage as well as four touchdowns according to Pro Football Reference, the cost could possibly be low if Witherspoon chose not to take a chance on himself to improve his numbers in 2023.

So now that these three options are on the table, it’s time to look at what might be the best move for the Steelers before opening up the discussion, I’ll give my vote:

My vote: Release

This has been my easiest to vote so far as I believe the Steelers will release Ahkello Witherspoon in the coming weeks. One thing I don’t see them doing is releasing him before they are able to sign at least one more cornerback to the roster whether it be one of their own or an outside free agent. Once that happens, I believe the Steelers will move on from Witherspoon and use the $4 million saved in paying for the addition to the roster.

So what do you think? Should the Steelers release, retain, or extend Ahkello Witherspoon? Make sure you vote in the poll and leave your thoughts in the comments below.

In case you missed it, check out the same question for other players below:

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The Panthers made a big play to move into the top draft spot, but rumors are they aren’t done.

Friday the NFL world was rocked by a huge trade between the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears for the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Bears, who possessed the top pick in the draft, sent that pick to Carolina for the following:

• Pick No. 9 in the 2023 draft
• Pick No. 26 in the 2023 draft
• 2024 1st Round pick
• 2025 2nd Round pick
• Wide Receiver DJ Moore

This from ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

Compensation update, per sources: Bears trading No. 1 overall pick to Carolina for:

pick No. 9
pick No. 61
a first-round pick in 2024
a second-round pick in 2025
WR DJ Moore pic.twitter.com/hHrHn1UIR2

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2023

Many among the NFL landscape were ecstatic with the trade, and thought it was a brilliant move for both organizations. However, shortly after the news broke, whispers began regarding the Panthers, who now possess the top pick, could be willing continue to wheel and deal to obtain some of their draft capital back.

This per Dov Kleiman:

The report is confirmed by @scott_fowler as well, a Panthers source told him about the Draft.

"We control it now."

This does feel like a Kevin Costner, Draft Day, type move if it happens. pic.twitter.com/QHpSnKBh9g

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 10, 2023

The Bears received a haul for the top pick, and after having to give up the 32nd pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Chase Claypool trade they needed the picks. However, the Panthers, with Frank Reich at the helm, could be in a good position to take advantage of a team who is in love with one of the top prospects, mainly a quarterback.

As an example, if the Panthers like both Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, they could be willing to move back in the draft to still get one of the two quarterbacks. Would the Houston Texans want to pony up draft capital to ensure they get the player they desire? It’s a risk, but now, as Kleiman talks about in his report, the Panthers own the top pick.

There is value in that, regardless of what you think about the initial trade.

What do you think will happen in this scenario? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of the NFL offseason.

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After their latest moves, how much space do the Steelers have under the 2023 salary cap?

The Pittsburgh Steelers made their first significant salary cap move ahead of the start of free agency next week. Slightly over the 2023 salary cap, the Steelers joined the club of either restructuring or releasing players that picked up across the NFL at the end of this week. In order to save over $12 million in cap space, the Steelers released William Jackson III.

So where do the Steelers currently stand with the 2023 salary cap free after the most recent move? Last week I reported the Steelers were at about $1.4 million over the salary cap. Since then, the Steelers have done what was expected to now have some room to work with.

To determine how much each player changes the Steelers’ salary cap space, their cap number must be adjusted due to roster displacement. As a reminder, roster displacement is taking into account only the top 51 contracts for a team count towards the salary cap during the offseason. As a larger contract comes on (or in this case, off) the books, it bumps a smaller contract out of the top 51 (or moves in back into the top 51). Therefore, it’s only the difference in those contracts that increases (or decreases) the salary cap number.

With the release of William Jackson III, his $12.1875 million salary as reported by overthecap.com comes off the books. At this time, the salary that gets moved back into the top 51 is $870k. For this reason, Jackson’s salary cap saving after displacement is $11.3175 million.

Here is the approximate breakdown of the Steelers salary cap space based on their latest moves by my own calculations. The numbers are strictly the salary cap implications for each player in 2023. As the offseason rolls on, the list will include players who were released, were given a tender, or had their exact salary reported and are indicated below as the precise numbers are known.

(NOTE: Unless indicated, all reported salaries displaced a $870k salary.)

Steelers salary cap space heading into free agency: Approximately -$1.4million

William Jackson III: Saved $12.1875 million salary; After displacement: +$11.3175 million
Carlins Platel: Salary not in the top 51: -$0

Approximate salary cap space: Approximately $9.9 million

So where does this number compare to those reported by the major salary cap websites (at the original time of publishing, before any potential updates)?

According to overthecap.com (OTC), the Steelers are $908,182 over the salary cap. OTC does not have the Jackson release processed yet. Additionally, OTC is missing almost $550k in dead money by my calculations. Once factoring them in, we have the same number.

Another credible salary cap website is spotrac.com, which has the Steelers at $11,097,584 under the cap. Spotrac has the Jackson contract, but is missing two other contracts that are on OTC in Tae Crowder and Jamir Jones. Additionally, Spotrac does not have the offseason workouts counting against the salary cap at this time.

While the Steelers are going to need cap space for a number of things this offseason, it doesn’t have to be at this time. Following the NFL draft, the Steelers will begin signing their draft picks and are estimated to need $2.5 million to $3 million in cap space once figuring roster displacement now that the exact draft positions are known with the announcement of compensatory draft picks. But remember, the Steelers won’t need this amount until at least May. Also, the Steelers will need more money come September when they need to account for all 53 players on the roster, sign their practice squad, and have some carryover in order to do business throughout the year.

Does something not make sense? Curious about any of the specifics? Leave your questions in the comments below and I will check in and do my best to answer them.

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These 3 defensive backs could make sense for the Steelers in free agency.

NFL free agency is right around the corner, and teams are beginning to make decisions on players whose contracts are set to expire. The Steelers have quite the list of pending free agents themselves, and the next few weeks will be telling as to how the team plans to approach free agency. With that in mind, it is time to begin looking at outside free agents the Steelers could potentially sign this offseason.

Between now and the beginning of the NFL free agency period, we will be going position-by-position, breaking down which players fit the best for what the Steelers need. Currently, the Steelers are in dire need of cornerback(s), left tackle, nose tackle, and guard. They are also in danger of losing multiple linebackers and safeties in free agency, which could make their list of immediate needs longer. Depth concerns at wide receiver, tight end, and EDGE rusher will also need to be addressed by one means or another.

This year’s class of free agents is not as good as the past few, but there are still quality veterans at each position who can come in and make an immediate impact for an NFL franchise. Let us not forget, new names will be added to the free agency pool when teams attempt to create additional cap space by cutting some of their own vets. We will update you on those as they happen.

If you have any thoughts on the players mentioned below, be sure to share it in the comment section below, but without further adieu, it is time to take a closer look at three defensive backs the Steelers should consider signing this offseason.

Sean Murphy-Bunting (CB)

If you want a free agent everyone is sleeping on, look not further than Sean Murphy-Bunting. Ultimately, he would be a cheaper, younger alternative to Cameron Sutton as a CB2 while providing similar performance and production from week to week. Given an impressive 76.6 grade by PFF, Bunting was far from 100 percent for much of the season, missing five games due to a quad injury. Despite being limited for part of the season, Murphy-Bunting still displayed consistency in coverage, defending 7 passes and recording 2 interceptions. If he had been fully healthy the entire season, the numbers would have been noticeably better.

Much like Sutton, Murphy-Bunting also provides the versatility to play inside or out, and he is relatively versatile from a schematic standpoint. Not only would pairing him with Levi Wallace give the Steelers two starter-quality corners heading into the draft, but it would also be a wise financial move. It is rumored that Cameron Sutton could make in the neighborhood of $12-14 million per year on the open market, whereas the price of the Buccaneer defender will likely be driven down to the $7-9 million range due to the injury.

David Long, Jr. (Nickel CB)

If you want a minimal risk signing with upside, Long is your option. Long was not a major part of the Rams defense in 2022 due to a nagging groin injury, but the last time he was fully healthy (2021), he displayed sound skills in man coverage as well as a willingness to help in run defense. In that 2021 season, Long allowed only a 43.0 passer rating in the slot, the lowest of any cornerback in the NFL.

His undersized frame limits him to a nickel role, but I would consider this quite the upgrade from Arthur Maulet. He is younger, more athletic, and just as good a run defender as Maulet, and the price tag would not be any more at all. With James Pierre set to hit free agency as well, it is time to replenish some depth with a young option like Long. He would be able to compete for the starting nickel job in training camp.

Jabrill Peppers (Safety)

Peppers did not rack up the stat sheet by any means in 2022, but he was sound in coverage and did not do anything to shoot his team in the foot. The sixth-year pro out of Michigan took his services to New England after stints with both the Giants and Browns, but he was unable to earn a starting role in Bill Belichick’s defense. However, his 75.0 PFF grade is a testament to his consistency when given opportunities. A true hybrid defender, Peppers would make a lot of sense for the Steelers if the plan was not to bring back Damontae Kazee. Regardless of whether or not Kazee returns, he would still provide added depth at both safety positions while also being a star special teamer.

Wild Card: Kyle Fuller (Slot CB)

Which free agent defensive backs would you like to see the Steelers sign? Be sure to light up the comment section below with your thoughts on this and all things Pittsburgh Steelers!

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If history tells us anything, it’s that Joey Porter Jr. will be the Steelers first pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.

I know what you’re going to say, “Tony, we still have almost two months to go before the draft. Why are you talking about it already?”

Fair point, and in all honesty, I, like you, haven’t spent a ton of time focusing on the 2023 NFL Draft, nor have I thought much about the Steelers' needs.

But I do know history, draft history, in fact, and it sure does seem like Joey Porter Jr., a cornerback from Penn State and the son of Joey Porter Sr., is going to be Pittsburgh’s pick in the first round (17th, overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft.

I say this because Porter has been linked to the Steelers, an organization that has been in search of a top corner for many years, since even before the 2022 regular season. That likely has a lot to do with not only where he played his college ball—Happy Valley—but his dad: Peezy is a legendary figure in Steeler lore, a proud member of the organization’s rich linebacker lineage, one of the heroes of that Super Bowl XL season, and a former assistant coach.

Yes, I’m talking about that Steelers/Pittsburgh connection we all look for and/or cherish when it comes to predicting things like who the team will draft.

It was the same deal a year ago when the Steelers went looking for a new franchise quarterback. Kenny Pickett, who played his college ball at Pitt, and did so in the same stadium as the Steelers, had been linked to the team since before the end of the 2021 collegiate season when he led the Panthers to their first ACC championship.

We could see the Pickett pick coming months away. Sure, there was that whole Malik Willis courtship/smokescreen orchestrated by Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin in the weeks leading up to the big event, but I don’t think many were surprised when the late, great Franco Harris finally announced Pickett as the 20th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.

And you really haven’t needed a Steelers/Pittsburgh connection to predict the Steelers' first-round pick in recent years.

Take the 2021 NFL Draft, for example, when you could envision running back Najee Harris being the Steelers' first-round pick (24th, overall) in April the very second Art Rooney II expressed his desire for an improved ground attack during his annual state-of-the-Steelers press conference in January.

There’s also the familiar lukewarm response to the possibility of Porter Jr. being the next Steelers first-round pick. People weren’t that thrilled about the prospect of Pickett a year ago (small hands, serviceable arm), and many literally begged the team not to draft Harris in 2021 (the whole running back in the first round deal).

Heck, even T.J. Watt, someone who was supposedly just living off his brother’s name at the time, drew mediocre excitement when he was occasionally linked to the Steelers in the weeks leading up to the 2017 NFL Draft. Yes, this also had to do with the fact that the younger Watt didn’t have much experience at outside linebacker at Wisconsin—he began his college career as a tight end—but that didn’t make skeptics feel any better about the possibility of J.J.'s youngest brother coming to Pittsburgh.

Back to Porter and the lukewarm response.

I just read an article on BTSC where JV2K13, a famous and very-opinionated poster, said he’d “begrudgingly” accept Porter as the Steelers' number-one pick if it tragically came down to that. To be fair, I used the word “tragically” just now, not him, but “begrudgingly” is enough for what I’m going for.

It’s textbook for this time of year.

Why with Porter, though? I really don't know yet

Besides the Steelers/Pittsburgh links and the blah feelings many fans have, there is also Porter’s draft stock, something that remained pretty stable after the just-completed NFL Combine.

Porter went into the Combine with a big board ranking in the mid-teens, and he left the Combine much the same way. His performance didn’t hurt him, but it didn’t make his prospects skyrocket either.

You could pretty much say the same thing about Pickett in 2022 and Harris in 2021.

Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez solidified his top-10 status with a great Combine, while Maryland’s Deonte Banks made everyone take notice.

There are now at least four cornerbacks with first-round pedigree/hype, with Porter fighting Banks for the third spot.

I’ve seen this all before: Banks, with that crazy speed, will likely be third on everyone’s list by the end of April. He’ll also surely be off the board by 17.

That leaves Peezy Jr.

Besides everything I’ve just said, the non-stop coverage of the annual draft has also made it so much easier to even predict the selections of teams picking past the midway point of the first round.

Throw in modern technology—mock draft simulators—and it’s gotten a lot like the weather: You can’t be 100 percent sure what the temps will be like two weeks from now—my Weather Channel app says it will be 50 degrees in Pittsburgh on the 22nd—but you’ll be close enough.

Seriously, besides Terrell Edmunds in 2018, when was the last time you were completely floored by a Steelers first-round pick?

And if you say, Artie Burns, just remember that he was a late-first-round candidate prior to the 2016 NFL Draft.

Finally, allow me to quote Don Cheadle, who played a somewhat sleazy airline attorney in the movie, Flight:

“I’ve only been here a couple of days, and I’ve already done all of this. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

Joey Porter Jr. will be the Steelers' next first-round pick.

Get the latest Steel Curtain Network podcast content in the ‘Podcast Roundup’.

We here at BTSC, and our podcast platform Steel Curtain Network, are here with you every step of the way as the Steelers set the stage for 2023. With so much going on, make sure you check out our ‘Podcast Roundup’ article to keep up with the latest podcasts that cover everything Steelers for your black-and-gold knowledge, curiosity and enjoyment.

With that being said and typed, have fun with the shows below with a brief description of each podcast.

Here We Go, The Steelers Show: The Steelers are much stronger in the AFC North at QB than most think

Join Bryan Anthony Davis and Kevin Smith for Here We Go, the Steelers Show. The Steel Curtain Network duo will break down the Steelers like no one else does as Coach Smith and BAD talk about the quarterback position in the AFC North and how the Steelers seem to be in really good shape at the moment.

Check out the rundown:

• News and Notes
• Where do the Steelers rank at QB in the AFCN?
• Dude of the Week
• and MUCH MORE!

Listen to the show on the player below:

Be sure to check out this and all episodes on the following platforms:

Apple Users: CLICK HERE

Spotify: CLICK HERE

Google Play: CLICK HERE

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There is always something to talk about when it comes to the Black & Gold!

It’s Friday again, so it’s time for the six pack of questions. It seems as if Jeff and Dave come to a consensus in cutting to the chase...

This week, I, Jeff, will be tasked with the questions up for discussion.

The rules are still the same...

Quick rundown of the ground rules.

• I’ll ask at least four questions strictly related to the Steelers.
• The rest of the questions could be about anything.
• Be respectful.
• Have fun talking about the Black-and-gold.

Procedural Note: Since the title feature has gone away, please feel free to leave your usual title as the first line of your response and even bold it if you can for the ease of others.

So here we go! With the formalities out of the way, it’s time to jump on in. Hopefully this party is exactly what you’re looking for on a Friday night. Here goes:

1. When it comes to the Combine vs. Pro Day discussion, how do you differentiate the two, and is one more significant than the other?

2. With Free Agency on the horizon (Monday starting the legal tampering period), what position do you want the Steelers to address first?

3. Of the following Steelers free agents, prioritize the players and how the Steelers should approach negotiations:

• Terrell Edmunds
• Robert Spillane
• Damontae Kazee
• Larry Ogunjobi
• Zach Gentry

4. Assuming the Steelers release William Jackson III, freeing up $12 million dollars, what other players do you predict they will cut for salary cap purposes?

5. How do you foresee the Lamar Jackson situation in Baltimore playing out?

6. Music time!! I’m always looking for new music to check out! In case you didn’t know, my music of choice is country music, but anything modern would fall in line with Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers. Regardless of what you like, what have you been listening to lately?

Stay safe out there!

And it wouldn’t be a Friday night unless we said...

HERE WE GO STEELERS!

PODCASTS

We added some new shows and a new platform to our podcasts...if you haven’t checked out our full lineup of morning, noon, and evening shows, give them a try by listening below!

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers are creating salary cap, and they are doing so with just one move.

Entering the start of NFL Free Agency next week, the Pittsburgh Steelers were just over $1 million dollars over the salary cap. With the need to create the necessary space to become cap compliant before the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. ET on March 15th, the Steelers did so with just one move. The move everyone expected.

The release of cornerback William Jackson III.

This from the Steelers official website:

We have released CB William Jackson Ill and DB Carlins Platel. @BordasLawhttps://t.co/lPQF80myke

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) March 10, 2023

The release of Jackson creates $12 million dollars of salary cap space for the Steelers, which is more than enough to become cap compliant and also have the ability to sign free agents in the coming days. As for Platel, he was not in the top 51 salaries, so his release has no effect on the cap.

Jackson didn’t play a single snap since being signed by the Steelers via trade with the Washington Commanders. Jackson dealt with a back injury which ended up on him being placed on, and staying on, Injured Reserve (IR) for the duration of the season.

Will the Steelers consider re-signing Jackson on a more team-friendly deal? If he is healthy, he is the type of cornerback Mike Tomlin would love to have. Steelers fans likely remember how interested the Steelers were in Jackson when he was coming out of the University of Houston, before he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the pick before them. Instead, the Steelers signed Artie Burns out of the University of Miami.

With the team creating salary cap space, they now have the financial freedom to make moves as early as Monday when the two-day legal tampering period begins. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of the NFL offseason.

This was discussed further on the Wednesday episode of the “Let’s Ride” podcast. Check it out in the player below:

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With one year remaining on his contract, there are 3 different ways the Steelers could go with Mitch Trubisky this offseason.

As the 2023 NFL league year set to kick off at 4 PM on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, there are a number of decisions that the Pittsburgh Steelers have to make with a fair amount of players when it comes to their status for this season. While some players are set to become unrestricted free agents, there are some still under contract with the Steelers whose future might be in danger simply because of the amount of salary cap space they would consume for this coming season. Although some players are more obvious if they will be kept on for another season, others are more up for debate.

With some great discussion with talking about the options for Myles Jack, I decided to extend the question to other players who have one year remaining on their contract and have a significant cap savings if they were cut. Next up in quarterback Mitch Trubisky. How should the Pittsburgh Steelers handle his situation? For the most part, there are three options when it comes to Mitch Trubisky and the 2023 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers:

Release

There are plenty of Steelers’ fans who have already decided this is the route that Steelers should take. Having a X cap hit for your backup quarterback is something some are unwilling to live with. If the Steelers were ready to move on from Trubisky, or if Trubisky asked for the opportunity to be free to go where he pleases, the Steelers would save $8 million on the salary cap.

Retain

Yes, that $8 million is something that could be used to bring in a backup quarterback for less money. But is this a position where the Steelers want to go cheap when they have their QB1 on a rookie deal? Even though it’s a new general manager, the Steelers kept the philosophy of having a veteran backup quarterback when Ben Roethlisberger was young and young backups when he was a veteran. Whether or not a suitable backup could be had for less money who has to come in with a year less experience with the Steelers would be beneficial is the question, and Art Rooney II as well as Omar Khan have both said they wanted Trubisky here this season.

Extend

There might be some fans who would pull their hair out at this notion, but Omar Khan did say he would like to keep Mitch Trubisky here beyond this season. If the $8 million is the factor, it could be reduced by turning 3/4 or more of it into a signing bonus and signing Trubisky for anywhere from one more season to three or four more years. At this point in his career, if Trubisky would decide to do this it would mean he’s pretty much locked in to being a backup from here on out regardless of where he goes. Does he think he has a better opportunity to get playing time as the starter in Pittsburgh? How much would the Steelers be willing to give up a season for their veteran backup? These are the big questions they would ultimately shape this decision.

So now that these three options are on the table, it’s time to look at what might be the best move for the Steelers before opening up the discussion, I’ll give my vote:

My vote: Retain

While some are sure the Steelers are just blowing smoke and that they need to move this contract, it just doesn’t seem like a Steelers thing to do. I don’t know why Trubisky would want to sign on beyond this year as he could just make his money and see how things play out for another season. Additionally, by not going the extension route the Steelers would be free and clear of everything with Trubisky from a salary cap standpoint after 2023. It’s not even that this is what I would choose if I were the general manager, but it just seems to be what the franchise is planning.

So what do you think? Should the Steelers release, retain, or extend Mitch Trubisky? Make sure you vote in the poll and leave your thoughts in the comments below.

In case you missed it, check out the same question for inside linebacker Myles Jack below:

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These 3 free-agent defensive lineman should be on the Steelers’ radar.

NFL free agency is right around the corner, and teams are beginning to make decisions on players whose contracts are set to expire. The Steelers have quite the list of pending free agents themselves, and the next few weeks will be telling as to how the team plans to approach free agency. With that in mind, it is time to begin looking at outside free agents the Steelers could potentially sign this offseason.

Between now and the beginning of the NFL free agency period, we will be going position-by-position, breaking down which players fit the best for what the Steelers need. Currently, the Steelers are in dire need of cornerback(s), left tackle, nose tackle, and guard. They are also in danger of losing multiple linebackers and safeties in free agency, which could make their list of immediate needs longer. Depth concerns at wide receiver, tight end, and EDGE rusher will also need to be addressed by one means or another.

This year’s class of free agents is not as good as the past few, but there are still quality veterans at each position who can come in and make an immediate impact for an NFL franchise. Let us not forget, new names will be added to the free agency pool when teams attempt to create additional cap space by cutting some of their own vets. We will update you on those as they happen.

If you have any thoughts on the players mentioned below, be sure to share it in the comment section below, but without further adieu, it is time to take a closer look at three defensive linemen the Steelers should consider signing this offseason.

Dalvin Tomlinson (DT)

One of the more schematically versatile defensive linemen on the market, Tomlinson has spent time in both 3-4 and 4-3 systems, aligning at several different positions throughout his years in New York and Minnesota. At 6’3”, 325 pounds, Tomlinson gets the dirty work done on the interior, providing consistency against the run with his ability to both fill up space in the middle and disengage from blockers to make key tackles near the line of scrimmage. Receiving a 77.0 PFF grade in 2022, Tomlinson would likely be looking at a deal worth $6-7 million annually, which is something Omar Khan could definitely make happen.

Chase Winovich (EDGE)

If Bud Dupree makes his return to the Steelers, an EDGE rusher like Winovich is much less likely of a signing. However, I still believe he would be a wonderful rotational pass rusher in Pittsburgh. Winovich was with the Browns most recently but only started 2 games and struggled to receive a significant number of snaps. While his role would not be huge in Pittsburgh, he is a local kid, a hard-nosed athlete, and cheap. Even if his role is limited to OLB4 and a primary special teamer, he is a great locker room presence and would immediately become a fan favorite.

Poona Ford (DT)

Ford does not meet the height threshold for a typical Steelers defensive lineman, but if the team is unable to afford the luxury of bringing back Javon Hargrave, Ford may be a poor-man’s alternative. Seattle’s run defense suffered in 2022, but it was definitely not because of Ford. Although there are times when Ford struggles to disengage from defenders, his lack of length actually helps him keep the pads low when defending the run. He is also a good penetrator from the interior, recording 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 7 QB hits, and 2 forced fumbles this past season. He may struggle against pure power blockers at times, but he is dangerous if you let him win the battle for leverage at the line. On a cheap deal, Ford could give the Steelers added depth along the interior.

Which defensive line free agents would you like to see the Steelers consider? Be sure to light up the comment section below with your thoughts on this and all things Pittsburgh Steelers!

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Taking a deeper dive into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive coverages they deploy on a regular basis.

Today, we continue with the discussion from Tuesday about the coverages the Steelers’ typically use. Part One dealt with base coverages, specifically Cover-1, 2 and 3. This article delves into some of the coverages the Steelers play off of their base looks, and how they provide disguise.

Tampa-2

How does it work?

In Tampa-2, the defense aligns in a Cover-2 shell. But at the snap, one of the inside linebackers drops to the deep middle. This puts four defenders across the underneath zones instead of five, and allows the safeties to play wider. With a four-under, three-deep look, Tampa-2 plays more like Cover-3, with an added element of disguise.

A traditional Tampa-2 look, with the Mike backer sinking to the deep middle third of the field.

Why do the Steelers like it?

Probably because it’s a Mike Tomlin favorite. Tomlin studied the scheme under its architects — Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin — when he was defensive backs coach in Tampa Bay from 2001-2005. He brought it with him to Pittsburgh, and it’s been in the Steelers playbook ever since.

Tomlin aside, the Steelers use Tampa because it’s a great way to show Cover-2 before rotating to something else. The pre-snap picture in Tampa looks just like Cover-2, and quarterbacks may be tempted to predetermine that they can throw between the safeties or into the window along the sideline between the near safety and corner. But, as we shall see, by rotating post-snap, the defense takes those throws away.

The Film

In the image below, we see a six-man box with two deep safeties. You can’t see the other players in this alignment, but there are two pressed corners and a nickel walked out on the slot to Cincinnati’s right. In short, it’s a traditional five-under, two-deep look:

Cincinnati runs a Smash concept, which is a Cover-2 beater. On Smash, an outside receiver holds the corner with a hitch or quick-breaking route while the inside receiver breaks towards the end zone pylon, where the quarterback tries to locate him in the hole between the corner and the safety:

This is the version of Smash the Bengals ran, with Burrow targeting the corner route from the slot receiver.

The problem for Cincinnati here is this is not Cover-2. Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is aligned at safety behind the CBS logo in the top right of the frame, widens and gets depth at the snap. This takes away the slot receiver’s path to the pylon. The slot adjusts by breaking off his route and squaring it towards the sideline. But Fitzpatrick has already diagnosed the concept and anticipated the adjustment. He drives on the throw, steps in front of the receiver and snares the interception:

Notice linebacker Myles Jack running up the right hash towards the middle of the field. That’s how Tampa-2 accommodates the wide drop of the safeties. Jack protects against throws to the deep middle, allowing the safeties to widen and protect the sideline. Burrow expects Fitzpatrick to get depth, not width, which is why he targets the corner route. Essentially, the Steelers trick Burrow into thinking the corner route will be open when it’s not.

Here’s another example, from last season’s Week 2 game against New England. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is targeting the single receiver to his left on a vertical route out of a 3x1 set. The wide drop of Terrell Edmunds, who can be seen backpedaling towards the numbers to the top left of the frame below, takes that option away:

Jones has his eyes to the left, where Edmunds has taken away his deep option. Meanwhile, Spillane starts to run with Parker to Jones’s right.

Edmunds’s drop convinces Jones the Steelers are in Cover-2, so he comes back to the divide route from DeVante Parker (1), who is running up the right seam. Parker would be open if this really were two-high. But Robert Spillane is running down the hash with Parker. Jones appears to see Spillane at the last second and attempts to locate his throw over Parker’s back shoulder. This takes Parker off the hash, though, and towards Fitzpatrick, who swoops in to pick it off:

As we see, the Steelers employ Tampa-2 to show a quarterback one thing pre-snap only to take it away post-snap. It’s a nice way to protect one of their favorite coverages, and a useful way to keep offensive coordinators guessing.

“Bracket” Coverage

How does it work?

Bracket coverage — or what is sometimes called Cover-7 — is used when a defense wants to create a +1 advantage on one side of the football. Often, this is done to take away the opponent’s most dangerous receiver or their favorite passing concept. To do this, the defense can “bracket,” or essentially double cover, either a single player (two-against-one) or create a numbers advantage against a multiple receiver surface (three-against-two). The defense simply must decide where to create the advantage and assign the bracket there.

The bracket itself can take many forms. It can be a corner and a safety working in tandem to double-team a single receiver. It can be a nickel, corner and safety working a combo coverage on a slot receiver and a wide-out. However it’s done, the second-level defenders undercut quick-breaking routes while the safety protects over the top. Because the defense has a +1, the bracket makes it tough for an offense to get the football to one of its preferred routes or targets.

Why do the Steelers like it?

The Steelers have used it at times to take away some of the better receivers they see. They played bracket last season against the likes of Stefon Diggs, Ja’Marr Chase and Davante Adams. Because Pittsburgh lacks a true shutdown corner, bracket is a good way to provide help on some of the league’s elite pass catchers.

The Film

In Pittsburgh’s Week 1 win at Cincinnati, in which the Steelers’ defense frustrated Joe Burrow into seven sacks and five turnovers, they forced an interception in the 2nd quarter off of bracket coverage.

In the photo below, you can see how the pre-snap look resembled Cover-2:

At the snap, the Steelers went man on the tight end and split end to the 3x1 set at the top while bracketing the slot with their nickel defender (Cam Sutton) and strong-side backer (Devin Bush). On the backside, they worked a second bracket against JaMarr Chase with the corner (Ahkello Witherspoon) and safety (Fitzpatrick). You can see how Witherspoon dropped underneath Chase to take away the quick throw, while Fitzpatrick played him over the top:

Burrow actually made a good choice here. Once he saw Edmunds come down, he knew there would be no safety on the strong side. So he targeted Tyler Boyd, the slot receiver, who had inside leverage on Sutton and had gained separation from Bush. The window was tight, though, with Fitzpatrick coming back to the ball, and Burrow couldn’t lead Boyd the way he would have liked. This allowed Sutton to close, where he made an acrobatic play for the pick.

By playing bracket, the Steelers eliminated Chase as an option and forced Burrow to make a tough throw into a small window. They were also able to rotate to the coverage out of a pre-snap Cover-2 look, which provided disguise.

Cover-5

How does it work?

Cover-5 is a man-under, two-deep scheme that plays just as I’ve described. The five defenders who typically cover the underneath zones lock on to specific receivers instead, while the two safeties provide help over the top. Cover-5 is great against vertical routes because of the safety help, and it can make shorter routes difficult because man-defenders can play aggressively knowing they have help on the back end. It’s vulnerable to slants from quick receivers, and athletic quarterbacks can gash it with the run. Against a less mobile QB, though, it’s a great change-up.

Why do the Steelers like it?

It’s another good adjustment off of their base coverages. And, with two good back-end safeties in Fitzpatrick and Damontae Kazee, and a third safety who can play in the box in Edmunds, it fits their three-safety package well.

The Film

Here are the Steelers playing Cover-5 last season against New Orleans. This is a good look against Andy Dalton, who at age 35 is not much of a threat to run. The Steelers showed Dalton this pre-snap picture on a 3rd-and-5 snap in the 4th quarter:

It looks a lot like Cover-2. New Orleans is running a post-dig combo to the right of their formation, and Dalton, perhaps thinking two-high zone, expects the safety to that side (Kazee) to sink with the post, leaving him a window to throw the dig underneath it. In Cover-5, though, Levi Wallace runs with the dig, which closes the window. Dalton actually makes a good throw, and it hits his receiver in the hands. But he can’t hold it, and Kazee drives on the ball to make the interception:

The Steelers don’t play a ton of Cover-5, but in the right situation, it’s another nice way to protect their base Cover-2 scheme.

Robber

How does it work?

Robber is my favorite of all the coverages the Steelers run. It’s their true “mad scientist” coverage, where they can get as creative as they want moving guys from one pre-snap look to another.

Specifically, Robber involves dropping one of the safeties down, usually from a two-high look, into the hook-curl or MOF zone to “rob” an underneath route. The robber is looking to jump crossing or hitch routes where the quarterback does not anticipate a safety.

Why do the Steelers like it?

Most NFL teams play some version of Robber, with the use of a “rat” as a high-hole interrupter. The Steelers do this often with Fitzpatrick. But because they have one of the most versatile safety rooms in the league, they can evolve beyond the “rat” scheme. As last season progressed, they made increasing use of Kazee as the robber. This allowed them to play it without having to drop Fitzpatrick, which, as we’ll see below, was a good way to mess with a quarterback’s read progression.

The Film

Here’s a snap from the season finale against Cleveland. We’ll look at this play in two parts to examine how the Steelers disguised their robber.

First, watch the late rotation of the secondary. Pittsburgh is walked up fairly tightly, with 10 players within eight yards of the ball. Just before the snap, Wallace, the left corner, starts running towards the deep third. Fitzpatrick, who is walked down near the right B-gap, backs out as well. The Steelers are rotating to a Cover-3 look, with Fitzpatrick and Wallace the deep outside defenders and Edmunds, who is out of the frame, moving from the right hash to the deep middle:

This means Kazee, who is aligned on the left hash at the 42-yard line, does not bail. Instead, he sits in the hook-curl zone to rob anything in the middle. Because the snap is low, quarterback Deshaun Watson has to take his eyes off of the coverage to find the football. This appears to prevent him from seeing Pittsburgh’s rotation. When Watson looks up, the picture has changed and he doesn’t have time to re-process. He sees the slot to his right pop open on a quick in-cut, and he doesn’t expect Kazee to remain low. Watson pulls the trigger, and Kazee jumps the route for the pick:

Here’s a great look at the play from the end zone, with Kazee, to the bottom left of the frame, lying in wait:

Conclusions

In the past week, we’ve looked at seven different coverages the Steelers run, with a host of disguises from each. This is only a sampling of what they do. When you couple everything the Steelers throw at teams from a coverage standpoint with everything they do with their blitz and pass rush, it’s easy to see how they can make life hard on opposing quarterbacks.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

If the rumors I’ve been told are true, expect the Steelers to make these moves in free agency.

After a weekend with my ear to the ground in Indianapolis, I picked up on quite a few Steelers rumors that had been swirling amongst NFL insiders and team beat writers. However, not all rumors actually come to fruition. Which ones should you believe as it pertains to the Steelers’ free agency plans? You are about to find out!

In case you missed it, be sure to check out Monday’s edition of Let’s Ride, when I joined Jeff Hartman for the Monday morning conversation and discussed the rumors I heard while in Indy. You can listen below.

For the record, all the free-agency topics discussed below are based upon what I have heard from reliable sources. This does not mean everything said below is set in stone within the Steelers front office, but based upon the information I have received, I would say these moves are more likely to happen than not.

Let’s dive in!

1. Steelers sign Bud Dupree Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

First and foremost, this is no indication that Pittsburgh is going to let Alex Highsmith walk following the 2022 season. In fact, I expect a long-term extension to be reached before we get to training camp. However, the Steelers have been in need of a dependable third option at outside linebacker that can spell T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith to keep them fresh. Bud Dupree’s release from the Titans is imminent, and it will not be a shock to anyone when it happens. What I found interesting in Indianapolis, however, is that many people within the league seem confident Dupree will end up with Pittsburgh. He knows the system, he has had success in it, and it will give him a chance to revive his career after two seasons filled with injuries.

2. Steelers re-sign Cameron Sutton Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

I have reservations about this one personally, but most people within the league do not expect Cameron Sutton to be available for very long. Apparently, the Steelers are quite high on the former third-round pick, and they view him as a CB1. Unfortunately, when putting into consideration the league-wide need for cornerbacks, Sutton’s price tag could be as high as $12-14 million per year. Would he be willing to accept a little less to remain in Pittsburgh? Only time will tell, but it is clear the Steelers like him and want to keep him around, regardless of whether or not they can snag a corner in the draft.

3. Steelers sign a mid-level linebacker Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

This draft is historically weak at inside linebacker, but with Devin Bush likely out of the picture, the Steelers need to find a sidekick for 2022 free-agent acquisition Myles Jack. Every fan, including myself, would go crazy if the Steelers were able to sign Tremaine Edmunds, but even with the roster moves the Steelers could make to clear up that much cap space, it seems uncharacteristic of the organization to throw top-of-the-market money at an outside free agent. I think a more likely scenario is for Pittsburgh to target a mid-level starter, much like they did last year with Myles Jack. Keep an eye on T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White, two linebackers who have ties to Andy Weidl from his time in Philadelphia.

4. Steelers bring back Edmunds and Kazee Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Of the two, it seems as if Damontae Kazee is more likely to be brought back, as he will not have the market Terrell Edmunds may have. However, considering the lack of options at strong safety in the draft, I think the Steelers will realize Edmunds’ importance to the secondary and bring him back, potentially on a multi-year deal that is friendly to the salary cap in 2023. Teryl Austin likes using three-safety looks, and he loves safeties with the versatility to cover in the slot. Considering Kazee’s abilities, he seems to be a lock to return to Pittsburgh. While not as many rumors are swirling about Edmunds, it seems more likely than not that he returns as well.

5. Steelers sign a depth piece along the offensive line Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images

The rumor I heard more than any at the combine was the rumor that Pittsburgh plans to keep the same starting five on the offensive line for 2023. This comes as a disappointment to many Steelers fans, including myself. Nonetheless, depth is still an issue, and I cannot see the team using more than one of their first four picks on an offensive lineman. Whether it be a tackle or someone along the interior, I expect the Steelers to bring in at least one free agent lineman, in case they strike out on linemen in the draft. Do not expect any high-profile names, though.

Which storylines do you expect to see in free agency? Be sure to share them along with your thoughts on the rumors above in the comment section below!

Photo by Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images

The final 16 selections of our 1st Round: Cast Your Votes!

Today, we’re wrapping up Round 1 of Steelers March Madness: the 64 greatest moments in team history. You decide which plays move on to the next round. Find our previously released brackets here: Part 1, Part 2, & Part 3.

1 - Harrison’s Hundred-Yard INT - 2/1/09 Super Bowl XLIII

1st and goal at the 1 with 18 seconds left in the first half. James Harrison steps in front of Anquan Boldin and makes his way 100 yards for a touchdown. Instead of trailing at the half, the Steelers lead 17-7.

#Steelers linebacker James Harrison's coast-to-coast pick-six to end the first half of Super Bowl XLIII

The longest interception return in #SuperBowl history — 100 yards

14 years ago today pic.twitter.com/oya6ENNZF6

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 1, 2023

VS

16 - Onside Suprise - 1/28/96 Super Bowl XXX

The Steelers trailed the Cowboys 20-10 when Bill Cowher called for a surprise onside kick. Deon Figures recovered for the Steelers. This led to an eight-play touchdown drive that cut the Steelers’ deficit to 20-17 midway through the fourth quarter.

Surprise Onside

With just over 11 minutes left in Super Bowl XXX, having just closed the Dallas lead to 10, #Steelers head coach Bill Cowher calls for a "surprise onside" kick.

The gamble pays off, as Pittsburgh recovers and drives for a TD, trimming the #Cowboys lead to 20-17. pic.twitter.com/2iDzejgfjk

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 29, 2023

2 - Troy’s Pick 6 - 1/18/09 AFC Championship

The Steelers had a 16-14 lead in the 4th, but Flacco 4:38 to drive down the field. Instead, Deebo applied the pressure, and Troy took it to the house.

Troy Polamalu's 40 yard pick six against the Ravens in the 2008 AFC Championship is one the greatest plays in Steelers franchise history. James Harrison doesn't get enough credit for pressuring Joe Flacco on this play. pic.twitter.com/Mdk45JuPm0

— Billy Hartford (@DevinBushFan) January 19, 2023

VS

15 - Mike Wallace’s Walkoff - 12/20/09 Week 15

The Steelers had to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. With three seconds remaining and trailing 36-30 in a literal must-win game, Ben found rookie Mike Wallace in man coverage in the end zone.

10 years ago today #Steelers QB @_BigBen7 connected with WR Mike Wallace for a TD as time expired to beat the #Packers 37-36. pic.twitter.com/ELIpxt4tAF

— BlitzburghUSAVideos (@sdextrasmedia) December 21, 2019

3 - Franco runs at Henderson - 1/21/79 Super Bowl XIII

HW Henderson did a lot of talking before (and during) this game. He felt Franco was soft because he avoided contact. So Harris got in the huddle and demanded the ball.

Before this play, HW Henderson says “[Franco] touched me on the shoulder & said something. I called him a powder puff. I told him he should be playing w girls…He was soft to me."
#32 got in the huddle & demanded the ball.

ps: Listen to Cope go wild! pic.twitter.com/kPTkKLyrkt

— Dave Dameshek (@Dameshek) December 21, 2022

VS

14 - Edwards’ Hit causes Blount’s Pick - 1/12/75 Super Bowl IX

The Steelers were leading 2-0 in the first half. Glen Edwards delivered a massive hit on John Gilliam that sent the ball skyward, and Mel Blount intercepted it at the Vikings 1.

THE play of Super Bowl IX, in my view, OTD in 1975:#Steelers safety Glen Edwards rocks Vikings wideout John Gilliam resulting in a Mel Blount interception, preserving a 2-0 #Pittsburgh lead going into halftime. pic.twitter.com/882OcxcY07

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 13, 2023

4 - Stallworth’s 75-yd TD - 1/21/79 Super Bowl XIII

John Stallworth’s 75-yard catch and run tied the score 14-14 in Super Bowl XIII. At the time, it was the longest scoring play in Super Bowl history.

John Stallworth, "like a blend of sipping whiskey and 'White Lightning' — smooth, with a good, strong finishing kick".

His 75-yard TD reception tied a SB record for the longest scrimmage play, and tied Super Bowl XIII at 14 all.

The #Steelers would not trail again.

OTD in 1979 pic.twitter.com/oPWyfwM8cV

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 22, 2022

VS

13 - Bell’s Wildcat Walkoff - 10/12/15 Week 5

Michael Vick couldn’t get much going in his second start of the season, but when Pittsburgh needed a game-winning drive, he scrambled for 24 and found Heath for another 16. Then, with the game on the line, the Steelers lined up in the wildcat, and Le’Veon Bell willed it in behind a pulling David DeCastro.

#SteelersNation has spoken. Here is @L_Bell26's top play of 2015. #HighlightReel #Walkoff pic.twitter.com/DTB56Mq4ro

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 14, 2016

5 - Larry Brown’s TD - 1/12/75 Super Bowl IX

The Steelers had a 9-6 lead over the Vikings with 3:31 left, when Terry Bradshaw found Larry Brown in the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown. It sealed the franchise’s first Lombardi, 16-6.

Bradshaw to Larry Brown for the game clinching TD in Super Bowl IX
A Football Life Terry Bradshaw tonight!!!!#HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/gNEOvL4bW2

— Tomlin Reactions (@TomlinReactions) September 13, 2019

VS

12- McFadden’s Gave-Saving Breakup - 1/15/06 AFC Divisional

After Ben made the tackle, The Steelers D still needed to stop Peyton Manning. The Colts had a 2nd and 2 from the Steelers 28 with 31 seconds left in the game. Peyton finds Reggie Wayne in single coverage against Bryant McFadden. He lofts it into the endzone where McFadden looks over his right shoulder just in time to break up the pass.

Never Forget Bryant McFadden's clutch pass breakup against the Colts in the 2005 AFC Divisional Round game! #Steelers pic.twitter.com/iPoJur9cXW

— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) November 1, 2019

6 - Swann Beats Double Coverage - 1/20/80 Super Bowl XIV

Lynn Swann leaps between two defenders and completes a 47-yard touchdown catch that gives the Steelers a 17-13 lead early in the third quarter against the Rams in Super Bowl XIV.

Super Bowl XIV, OTD in 1980

Terry Bradshaw's 47-yard TD aerial to the acrobatic Lynn Swann giving #Pittsburgh a 17-13 third quarter advantage.

This is the CBS television feed with an overlay of the call by Jack Fleming and Myron Cope of the #Steelers Radio Network (WTAE, 1980). pic.twitter.com/ABY7QFzVAT

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 20, 2022

VS

11- Willie Williams stops the Comeback - 1/14/96 AFC Championship

The Steelers trailed the Colts 16-13 in the fourth, and the defense needed to force a punt ASAP. On a 3rd and 1 from their own 31, Harbaugh handed it off to Lamont Warren, who would’ve had the first down and more, but Willie Williams sprinted before the line of scrimmage to make the stop and save the game.

The #Colts take the lead on a 47 yard TD pass.
But the D holds up lateron a great play by Willie Williams. pic.twitter.com/WCvgjNTlYT

— Tomlin Reactions (@TomlinReactions) January 14, 2019

7 - Lambert Throws Down Harris - 1/18/76 Super Bowl X

Roy Gerela missed his second field goal of Super Bowl X, but what happened next inspired the Steelers, who trail the Cowboys, 10-7, in the third quarter. Cliff Harris patted the kicker on his head, angering Jack Lambert, who tossed Harris to the ground.

Leading 10-7 in the third quarter of Super Bowl X, #Cowboys safety Cliff Harris makes a grave miscalculation, taunting #Steelers kicker Roy Gerela after a missed FG.#Pittsburgh's Jack Lambert responds, using the incident to "psyche himself to an even higher level of rage" pic.twitter.com/kvb9hpCgdP

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 19, 2023

VS

10- Eric Williams Picks Elway - 12/30/84 AFC Divisional

Elway’s first playoff game as a starter. With 3 and half minutes left in the game, Anderson attempted a go-ahead field goal, but he missed the 26 yard kick. A few plays later, Steelers safety Eric Williams intercepted a pass from Elway and returned it 28 yards to the Broncos’ 2-yard line to set up Pollard’s winning 1-yard touchdown run.

Elway is working on one leg.
Goodman recovers a fumble.
Eric Williams picks off John and runs to the 2 yard line pic.twitter.com/1tIhsfoL4D

— Old Time Football (@Ol_TimeFootball) September 4, 2022

8 - Rocky’s Picture Perfect TD - 1/21/79 Super Bowl XIII

Rocky Bleier made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone that would later show up on the Sports Illustrated cover. The Steelers took a 21-14 lead against the Cowboys with 26 seconds left in the first half of Super Bowl XIII. Pittsburgh would never lose the lead.

41 years ago today the great Rocky Bleier (@RockyBleier) made this great touchdown catch against the Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/mK8tuI5ivm

— BlitzburghUSAVideos (@sdextrasmedia) January 22, 2020

VS

9- Reggie Harrison Gets Special - 1/18/76 Super Bowl X

The Steelers were down 3 in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl X. Reggie Harrison blocked a punt that rolled out of the end zone, causing a safety and momentum shift for the Steelers.

1/18/76 - Super Bowl X: Dal vs Pit
11:56 left. Dal lead 10-7

Reggie Harrison blocks Hoopes’ punt for a safety. So many great special teams plays by Dallas, yet this is the one that changes the game. Worth noting that special teams is responsibility of assistant coach Mike Ditka. pic.twitter.com/L8qk5324u8

— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar) October 4, 2018

Kyle Chrise is the host of the Steel Curtain Network podcast “What Yinz Talkin’ Bout.” New episodes are released every Thursday.

Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

With the announcement of compensatory draft picks for the 2023 draft, the exact location of the Steelers seven scheduled selections is know.

Since the conclusion of the 2022 regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have known where they are picking at the top of the draft. In fact, the Steelers picks through the first three rounds were known based on how they finished the previous season. What was unknown was the Steelers remaining picks due to the NFL awarding compensatory draft picks at the end of each round starting with Round 3.

On Thursday, the NFL announced the 37 compensatory draft picks they awarded for the 2023 NFL draft.

Compensatory draft picks were handed out today. Here’s the list: pic.twitter.com/ULJnIcVTuY

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2023

As expected, the Pittsburgh Steelers did not receive any compensatory draft picks. With the formula being a team had to lose more compensatory free agents (CFAs) then they gained, the Steelers knew they were not in contention for any selections. According to overthecap.com, the Steelers only lost one qualifying CFA in JuJu Smith-Schuster while gaining four in James Daniels, Mitch Trubisky, Mason Cole, and Levi Wallace.

Since there was no surprise of the Steelers not receiving an additional draft pick, the announcement of compensatory picks ultimately gave the exact placement of the Steelers three draft picks coming in Round 4 or later. Now that everything is known, the exact placement of the Steelers draft picks for 2023 is as follows:

Round 1: Pick 17
Round 2: Pick 32 (from CHI)
Round 3: Pick 49
Round 4: Pick 120
Round 5: None (traded to SEA)
Round 6: None (traded to DEN)
Round 7: 234
Round 7: 241 (from DEN)

The Steelers received the 32nd overall pick due to trading away Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears during the 2022 season. The Steelers traded away their fifth-round draft pick to the Seattle Seahawks two years ago for cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. The Steelers also traded away their sixth-round draft pick last season for outside linebacker Malik Reed, but in return received a seventh round draft pick from the Denver Broncos. Even though the Broncos had a higher selection in Round 7, the pick that was traded to the Steelers has been reported as the one the Broncos had acquired from the Minnesota Vikings.

For those who have been looking at doing 2023 mock drafts through all seven rounds, this now can be done more accurately. Before, the Steelers knew that they had their four selections in the top 80 picks but the exact number they would receive in Round 4 and Round 7 were still up in the air. Now the full seven-round mock drafts can commence.

Get the latest Steel Curtain Network podcast content in the ‘Podcast Roundup’.

We here at BTSC, and our podcast platform Steel Curtain Network, are here with you every step of the way as the Steelers set the stage for 2023. With so much going on, make sure you check out our ‘Podcast Roundup’ article to keep up with the latest podcasts that cover everything Steelers for your black-and-gold knowledge, curiosity and enjoyment.

With that being said and typed, have fun with the shows below with a brief description of each podcast.

What Yinz Talkin’ Bout: Steelers March Madness

What Yinz Talkin’ Bout is the conversation about the Steelers social media conversation, exposing the hottest and most toxic takes on the internet. This week, enjoy a special presentation: Steelers March Madness. The 64 greatest moments in team history. We’ve seeded them and placed them in brackets. Now they’ll face off until we have a winner. Join Kyle Chrise, Greg Benevent and special guest Earl Skakel (Comedy Central’s “Roast Battle,” Adult Swim’s “The Jellies”) as they swim through Steelers history and debate which moments should move on.

Rundown of the show:

• Toxic Takes
• The best bracket you’ll fill out thie March
• Much, Much More

Take a deep dive into the world of Steelers social media from a yinzer perspective as Steel Curtain Network proudly presents a very unique show that highlights “What Yinz Talkin’ Bout”.

The Steelers Preview: Reviewing the Steelers options in Free Agency

Free Agency is upon the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers. There are wish lists and possibilities for Omar Kan and company, but what players in search of a new deal are on the short list? This is just one of the subjects that will be discussed and speculated on in the latest edition in the flagship show of the Steel Curtain Network’s family of podcasts with Jeff Hartman, Dave Schofield, and Bryan Anthony Davis.

Check out the rundown of the show:

• News of the Week
• Free Agent Options
• Trivia
• Final Thoughts

Let’s Ride, Friday: How to distinguish between real, fake, and BS Steelers news

The NFL Free Agency period is exciting, but also deceiving. Beware Steelers fans! Jeff Hartman delivers this topic, as well as the All Betz Are Off segment with Jeremy Betz, on this Friday episode of “Let’s Ride”.

Check out the rundown of the show:

• News and Notes
• Sifting through real and BS
• A visit from Jeremy Betz in the All Betz Are Off segment
• Hart to Heart
• and MUCH MORE!

Jeff Hartman of SCN walks you through everything you need to know regarding the black-and-gold.

Be sure to check out this and all episodes on the following platforms:

Apple Users: CLICK HERE

Spotify: CLICK HERE

Google Play: CLICK HERE

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

As players find new teams, or stay with their old ones, we’ll keep track of who is off the table in free agency.

The NFL offseason continues on, and the next step of the process is the beginning of the new league year. To be more specific, the new league year always begins with the legal tampering period. This year, this period begins on March 13th, and is when free agents can both negotiate, and agree, to terms on new contracts.

In other words, it is when the free agent frenzy officially begins. Around the NFL, news has already been flying around with the likes of Tom Brady retiring, teams cutting players like Bud Dupree for salary cap purposes, and more.

Throughout the coming days, be sure to continue to check in to this article as we will update the major news surrounding free agents and where these players will be landing for 2023. An editorial note, we will always add the latest news at the bottom of the stream of news.

In the meantime, be sure to keep tabs on BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers as they prepare not just for free agency, but the 2023 NFL Draft.

The #Vikings are releasing veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks, @TomPelissero

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 6, 2023

The #Titans are expected to release pass-rusher Bud Dupree, sources say, the former big-ticket FA signing who was due $17M this season. More player turnover to reallocate resources, as another veteran pass-rusher hits the market.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 6, 2023

BREAKING: The Arizona #Cardinals are expected to move on from WR Chosen Anderson and C Rodney Hudson, per @RapSheet.

We previously reported the Anderson move.

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 6, 2023

Sources: The #Ravens are expected to trade safety Chuck Clark to the #Jets in exchange for late-round draft pick compensation. The starter since 2019, Clark now adds veteran experience to NYJ. It should be official when the league year begins. pic.twitter.com/wglGz3oXA1

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2023

Jets are releasing WR Braxton Berrios at the start of the league year next week, per source. The two sides discussed a restructuring of his contract but were unable to reach agreement. His release will save $5 million against Jets’ cap.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2023

Report: "Real possibility" Vikings move on from Adam Thielen in coming days. https://t.co/fXA7F1XAb0

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 9, 2023

As the new front office prepares for their first NFL draft, let’s look at some of the Steelers worst picks by round by GM Kevin Colbert.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into a new chapter of the front office as Omar Khan and company prepare for their first NFL draft. With former Steelers GM Kevin Colbert moving into retirement following the 2022 draft, this will mark the first time the new regime has total control over their selections. How will this shape out for the Steelers moving forward? That’s what many fans are both excited and nervous to see.

Since we have already looked at the best draft picks by round, let’s take a look at the worst draft picks of the Pittsburgh Steelers in each round in the Kevin Colbert era. For those who may not be certain of the dates, these will be the drafts from 2000 through 2022.

For this exercise, we will be looking at players drafted specifically by the Steelers since the year 2000. In determining how well each player performed, we will only look at their time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and not any time spent with a different team. The rankings will come according to the total AV (Approximate Value) for each player determined by Pro Football Reference (PFR) during their time with the Steelers. Exactly how PFR determines AV can be seen HERE. For players with the same AV, other considerations such as games played may be taken into account. Obviously, players who have a longer career with the Steelers have the chance of a higher score. But isn’t lack of longevity a key factor in determining whether it was a bad draft pick?

The next step as we count our way down will be players selected by the Steelers in the 5th round of the NFL draft. Players drafted in 2020 and beyond will not be considered unless they are already out of the NFL.

Note: Much like for rounds 6 and 7, for round 5 there are still too many picks to narrow them down to five as there would be an 11-way tie for the top spot. Instead, I will highlight the multiple players who have a career AV of 0 and put them into various categories. Next week when we hit the 4th round, narrowing to 5 players will be possible.

0 AV, No NFL Career Games Played

This category is for any player who did not appear in any NFL games for any team and are no longer in the NFL. Some players were either on the Steelers practice squad or that of another franchise while others were not.

Nathaniel Adibi, DE, Virginia Tech, 2004
Omar Jacobs, QB, Bowling Green, 2006
Charles Davis, TE, Purdue, 2006
Cameron Stephenson, G, Rutgers, 2007
Terry Hawthorne, DB, Illinois, 2013
Shaquille Richardson, DB, Arizona, 2014

Notes: As the rounds decrease, so have the number of players who did not appear in NFL games drafted under Kevin Colbert. With this number down to six in the fifth round, it is interesting that there were two players from 2006 and the none since 2014 in any of the categories. It’s also interesting that it was defensive backs taken in back-to-back years in the fifth round where neither one of them ever played a game.

0 AV

This category is for players who appeared in NFL games for the Steelers but did not contribute enough to raise their AV score above zero.

Tee Martin, QB, Tennessee, 2000: 1 game PIT, 2 games OAK
Brian St. Pierre, QB, Boston College, 2003: 1 game PIT, 1 game ARI, 1 game CAR

Notes: With there already being one quarterback in the previous category, it’s quite interesting that the Steelers have taken flyers on QBs in the fifth round and not have many of them appear in games. But when looking at the fifth round or later at quarterback, most of the time they’re buried as the third option if they make the roster. For that reason, these are not as bad of selections as others but do fit into the criteria.

Both of these players appeared in a game for the Steelers. As for Tee Martin, it was in the final game of the 2001 season where his only stats were a rushing attempt for 8 yards. In his time in Oakland, Martin did have two games where he attempted passes but had a career completion percentage of 37.5% with no touchdowns and one interception.

As for Brian St. Pierre, his one game with the Steelers came in Week 17 of the 2004 season. With his only pass attempt in a Steelers uniform coming as the first play of the fourth quarter, it fell incomplete and the Steelers kicked the field goal to take a two-point lead. Because that lead was never relinquished, St. Pierre is credited with both a fourth-quarter comeback and a game-winning drive. In his only career start for the Carolina Panthers, St. Pierre have a 46.4% completion percentage with one touchdown and two interceptions. Although he only appeared in one game for the Steelers, St. Pierre was the Steelers third quarterback for four seasons.

0 AV For the Steelers

This category is for players who appeared in NFL games but did not contribute enough to raise their AV score above zero for the Steelers but did have an AV score for another team.

Frank Summers, FB, UNLV, 2009: 2 games PIT, 25 games BUF
Crezdon Butler, DB, Clemson, 2010: 4 games PIT, 42 games with 7 other teams
Wesley Johnson, OL, Vanderbuilt, 2014: 0 games PIT, 41 games NYJ, 10 games MIA

Notes: Frank Summers only appeared in two games for the Steelers with one start as a fullback but did not register any statistics. In two years in Buffalo, he had 18 rushing attempts for 63 yards and two touchdowns as well as 12 receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown. As for Crezdon Butler, he bounced around the NFL between eight different teams. Only registering one tackle with the Steelers in four games, Butler did have two significant seasons with 12 games played for the San Diego Chargers in 2023 followed by 11 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with three starts in 2014 where he had 13 tackles. Wesley Johnson actually has the fourth-best career AV of any Steelers fifth-round draft pick since 2000 but it all occurred for other franchises. Making the Steelers roster his rookie season as a reserve offense of lineman, Johnson was waived by the Steelers in October and was claimed by the New York Jets where he spent the next four years with 41 games played and 24 starts.

So there are the worst draft picks of the Kevin Colbert era coming from the fifth round. Make sure you check back on Tuesday for the next article of the worst draft picks of the fourth round in the Kevin Colbert era.

In case you missed the previous articles on the top draft picks, they can be seen below:

The previous articles on the worst draft picks can be seen below:

Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images

These 3 free-agent linebackers could be great fits for the Steelers.

NFL free agency is right around the corner, and teams are beginning to make decisions on players whose contracts are set to expire. The Steelers have quite the list of pending free agents themselves, and the next few weeks will be telling as to how the team plans to approach free agency. With that in mind, it is time to begin looking at outside free agents the Steelers could potentially sign this offseason.

Between now and the beginning of the NFL free agency period, we will be going position-by-position, breaking down which players fit the best for what the Steelers need. Currently, the Steelers are in dire need of cornerback(s), left tackle, nose tackle, and guard. They are also in danger of losing multiple linebackers and safeties in free agency, which could make their list of immediate needs longer. Depth concerns at wide receiver, tight end, and EDGE rusher will also need to be addressed by one means or another.

This year’s class of free agents is not as good as the past few, but there are still quality veterans at each position who can come in and make an immediate impact for an NFL franchise. Let us not forget, new names will be added to the free agency pool when teams attempt to create additional cap space by cutting some of their own vets. We will update you on those as they happen.

If you have any thoughts on the players mentioned below, be sure to share it in the comment section below, but without further adieu, it is time to take a closer look at three linebackers the Steelers should consider signing this offseason.

Tremaine Edmunds

The Steelers would likely have to sacrifice a Cam Sutton re-signing to make this one happen, but my, what a signing this would be! The freakish athlete would not only give the Steelers the length and bulk they lack at linebacker, but he would also provide superb instincts and leadership to a linebacker room ready to move on from Devin Bush, who has struggled to remain focused since his season-ending injury in 2020. He is also only 24 years old, which ensures his value on the other side of this mini rebuild the Steelers are currently going through.

If Pittsburgh can lure him in, I would not be shocked to see him signed to a five-year deal, as it would give the Steelers more flexibility in determining his cap hit from year to year. Signing Edmunds may cost a good $20 million, it might be worth it when putting age and schematic fit into account. It’s time to reunite another set of brothers!

T.J. Edwards

Of the three recommended signings on this list, Edwards is probably the most likely to actually happen, considering his ties to Andy Weidl in Philadelphia. Edwards went undrafted in 2019 due to a lack of athleticism, but his college tape was nothing short of impressive, and his undrafted status only gave him more motivation to prove the doubters wrong. Needless to say, he has improved each season since entering the NFL and has become a true tackling machine, racking up 159 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks in 2022.

Edwards is strong instinctually, and he has enough blitzing ability to make you pay if you fail to account for him. He is probably never going to be elite in coverage due to his athletic deficiencies, but he did defend 7 passes in 2022 while only allowing 5.3 yards per target. Expected to cost around $10 million per year, T.J. Edwards could make for a nice consolation prize if Pittsburgh is unable to secure Tremaine Edmunds.

Germaine Pratt

Already penned by BTSC’s Dave Schofield as a great option for the Steelers, Germaine Pratt is a scheme-versatile linebacker who can do a little bit of everything. Recording nearly 100 tackles in 2022, Pratt had arguably his best NFL season to date in just about every category, whether it be run defense, pass rush, or coverage. Boasting an 80.6 PFF grade, Pratt defended 10 passes and only allowed 4.9 yards per target in 2022, proving his worth as a three-down linebacker. If he can be brought in somewhere around the $8 million-per-year range, this would be quite the addition.

Which free agents would you like to see the Steelers consider along the defensive line? Be sure to light up the comment section below with your thoughts on this and all things Pittsburgh Steelers!

Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In what way did Kazee compliment the Steelers All-Pro safety?

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2023 offseason is underway. As the team looks at it’s potentially departing players due to impending free agency, some players may be returning while others will test the market. To get a better idea as to how the Steelers might be looking, we’re going to dive into several of the free agents starting with ones who played the most in 2022. Next up will be Damontae Kazee. This is the subject for this week’s Steelers Vertex.

Let’s get a quick reminder of where this nerdiness is coming from.

Vertex- a single point where two or more lines cross.

Sometimes to make a great point, it takes two different systems of analysis to come together and build off each other in order to drawl a proper conclusion. In this case, the two methods are statistical analysis and film breakdown. Enter Dave Schofield (the stat geek) and Geoffrey Benedict (the film guru) to come together to prove a single point based on our two lines of thinking.

Here comes the breakdown from two different lines of analysis.

The Stats Line:

After missing the Steelers first eight games of the season due to a broken forearm suffered in the last preseason game, Damontae Kazee stepped on the field with his first action of the season in Week 9 playing 100% of the snaps due to the appendectomy of Minkah Fitzpatrick the day before. Against the Saints, Kazee had one of his two interceptions on the season as well as four tackles. He was flagged for a personal foul penalty on a play where he could have simply let the player catch the ball or hit him hard which drew the flag.

In his nine games in Pittsburgh in 2022, Kazee had four starts and played 273 defensive snaps as well as 58 more on special teams. As mentioned before, Kazee had two interceptions on the season as well as two passes defensed and 20 tackles.

According to Pro Football Reference, Kazee surrendered seven completions on 13 targets with a 63.6% completion percentage for 79 yards. Kazee was not credited with giving up a touchdown in 2022, nor was he credited with any missed tackles.

While the numbers don’t pop off the page, let’s see if the film paints a different picture.

The Film Line:

Damontae Kazee missed the first half of the season, but when he returned for Week 10, he stepped fully into the game plan with Minkah Fitzpatrick missing that matchup with the New Orleans Saints, starting, and playing the entire game at free safety.

Steelers vs. Saints, 1st quarter, 3:03

Damontae Kazee is the safety that drops into the deep middle.

I wanted to start with this play because most plays for a deep safety look like this. They drop deep, looking to help with any deep routes, and are then uninvolved because the pass is a short one. 82% of pass attempts in 2022 were less than 15 yards from the line of scrimmage.

Kazee starts 15 yards back and goes deeper from there. His job is to keep all the routes in front of him, and he does that job. That’s the basic life of a deep safety.

Steelers vs. Saints, 2nd quarter, 10:07

Damontae Kazee is the safety in the deep middle.

This is a play we’ve seen Minkah Fitzpatrick make a lot. The deep safety has to attack these routes to limit yards after the catch. This cover-3 look has a huge opening because Robert Spillane is slow getting depth after the play-action, and it leaves a huge opening for the Saints to fit the pass into. Kazee, like Fitzpatrick, does a good job of coming up and making the tackle.

Steelers vs. Saints, 2nd quarter, 10:07

Damontae Kazee is the deep safety.

The Steelers react to this read option the way they normally do. The Steelers have T.J. Watt hit the quarterback no matter what. That takes away any QB run options as well as any pass plays they might think up coming off a zone read look.

The problem is, with Watt out of the run play the defense has 5 defenders facing 6 blockers, and on this play Damontae Kazee is a bit slow to react to the run. This is where Kazee falls behind Minkah Fitzpatrick as a single-high safety. Fitzpatrick led the Steelers in tackles in 2021 when the run defense struggled, and cut runs like this down well before the 14 yards this play gains. Kazee isn’t Minkah Fitzpatrick, but you already knew that.

These three plays show what a deep middle safety does on most plays.

Steelers vs. Saints, 2nd quarter, 0:29

Damontae Kazee is the deep safety to the top of the screen.

Damontae Kazee gets to the receiver in time to break up the pass on this play, but he hits too high and it is a 15-yard penalty. It’s a problem he’s had before this game as well, with nine illegal hit/tackle related penalties in five seasons, four of them in 2021 while playing for the Cowboys.

Steelers vs. Saints, 2nd quarter, 1:28

Damontae Kazee is the deep safety to the top of the screen.

Watch the defense to the top of the screen. You can see the switches in coverage with the Steelers pattern-matching defense. Arthur Maulet picks up the short route, letting Levi Wallace pick up his slot receiver heading deeper, while Damontae Kazeecomes up to defend the tight end’s stick route while also putting himself in the way of a pass to the slot receiver.

This is really good coverage, and this is how the Steelers pass defense works in pass-heavier situations. The Steelers coverage schemes rely on execution more than physical traits.

Steelers vs. Saints, 2nd quarter, 0:23

Damontae Kazee is the deep safety to the bottom of the screen.

The next play after Kazee’s penalty was a touchdown. First look at the bottom of the screen, and see how effortlessly the receivers are covered. Now look to the top and notice how Levi Wallace gets caught up on the inside route and lets the outside route score.

In Week 16, Kazee would get the chance to start beside Minkah Fitzpatrick with Terrell Edmunds out.

Steelers vs. Raiders, 4th quarter, 7:39

Damontae Kazee is the deep safety.

Notice there is just one deep safety, and it isn’t Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick lines up over the slot receiver to the bottom and blitzes. His pressure helps create a Cameron Heyward sack.

When Damontae Kazee and Minkah Fitzpatrick were the starting safeties, Fitzpatrick played strong safety. He was good at it. Just like he is a better free safety than Damontae Kazee in many aspects of the position, Fitzpatrick is also a better strong safety than Terrell Edmunds in many of the jobs that position fills. In fact he was playing strong safety for the Miami Dolphins in 2019, and was good at it. He also requested a trade because he didn’t want to be a full-time strong safety. Fitzpatrick isn’t a box safety. We’ve seen how often Terrell Edmunds comes into the box and plays like a linebacker, Minkah Fitzpatrick isn’t that guy. But in zone and man coverage, he can match or exceed what Terrell Edmunds brings.

Steelers vs. Raiders, 4th quarter, 0:43

Damontae Kazee is the deep safety to the bottom of the screen.

With both Kazee and Fitzpatrick, the Steelers send Fitzpatrick forward to mess with the middle of the field. While I can’t guarantee it, if you look at Kazee and Spillane, Kazee initially drops outside the hash marks, and Spillane is right in the middle of the field. This looks like quarters defense but Minkah Fitzpatrick takes an ad-lib and heads up to cut off the three-headed attack on his side. Kazee sees it and comes over to fill the gap. Again, I can’t guarantee that’s what is happening here, but it sure looks like an instance of Minkah Fitzpatrick having the Polamalu-esque clearance to change his role based on the play.

Either way, the execution of the defense leaves no good options for Derek Carr, and he ends up throwing a prayer to Davante Adams on the sideline that ends up incomplete.

Steelers vs. Raiders, 4th quarter, 0:36

Damontae Kazee is the deep safety to the top of the screen.

The next play is Cameron Sutton’s game-sealing interception. It’s also a great look at the Steelers turning a cover-3 look into a cover-2 defense with Minkah Fitzpatrick ending up like a Tampa-2 deep linebacker by just staying put. The scheme works too. This play is attacking the middle of the field in what should be the space right in front of the middle safety in the cover-3. Instead of asking Fitzptrick to pick one guy to cover and leave the other open, Fitzpatrick is already in position to deny both, forcing Carr to lead his throw farther upfield, where Sutton makes the play.

It’s also worth pointing out here that Cameron Sutton, himself a high-end deep zone guy, is in the worst position of the deep defenders, waiting a bit too long to pinch the middle of the field.

Steelers vs. Browns, 1st quarter, 12:42

Damontae Kazee is the deep safety to the top of the screen.

This is a designed switch to cover-3. You can see Kazee heading into the middle from the snap (you can also see why it is hard to tell when that switch is designed and when it is a reaction). Minkah Fitzpatrick does what he does best, come up, attack, and take away an important section of the pass play. Terrell Edmunds is lined up at outside corner to the bottom, and you can see how he passes off his man, pinches the crossing route, and also forces the pass to be thrown higher.

These three safeties playing together were a driving force in the Steelers late season defense, and Kazee’s deep coverage was a big part of it.

The Point:

Damontae Kazee’s value in passing downs is pretty clear, not just for his own ability, but also the flexibility it allows Minkah Fitzpatrick in those situations. The only problem is a safety pair of Kazee and Fitzpatrick puts Fitzpatrick in the role of box safety, and that is not his best usage. The ideal solution is bringing back both Kazee and Edmunds and giving them a full season to play together. While it isn’t clear how the Steelers would divide up those snaps to get them all on the field when it isn’t dime defense, that is the type of problem you want to have.

Photo by Nate Fine/Getty Images

Day 3 of the greatest Steelers moments - You Vote!

It’s day 3 of Steelers March Madness: the 64 greatest moments in team history. You decide which plays move on to the next round. We’ve already unveiled Part 1 & Part 2. Today we’re introducing our third bracket of 16: The Chipped Ham Bracket.

1 - Stallworth’s 73-yd TD - 1/20/80 Super Bowl XIV

Stallworth outran everyone for a 73-yard touchdown that gave the Steelers a 24-19 lead in the 4th over the Rams. It is the 7th lead change in the game.

"Great teams aren't always great, they're just great when they have to be."

The 73-yard fourth quarter TD rainbow from Terry Bradshaw to John Stallworth — the #Steelers' winning score of Super Bowl XIV.

This date in 1980 pic.twitter.com/ilfFNi6DC6

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 21, 2023

VS

16 - Gary Anderson’s Game-Winner in OT - 12/31/89 AFC Wildcard

It had been Pittsburgh’s longest playoff drought since the immaculate reception. The ‘89 team had one of the worst Steelers starts, but fought back to become a Cinderella in the playoffs. Then they completed the fairy tale story with a fairytale finish in OT.

December 31, 1989#AFCWildCard
Gary Anderson gives Chuck Noll his final playoff win when he kicks a 50 yard FG in OT to give the #Steelers a win over the #Oilers 26-23 pic.twitter.com/oOy6TDyGUp

— Old Time Football (@Ol_TimeFootball) December 31, 2021

2 - Randle El’s Reverse Pass - 2/5/06 Super Bowl XL

Willie Parker takes the pitch and hands off to Antwaan Randle El on the reverse, who throws it to Hines Ward for the 43-yd touchdown. It gives the Steelers a 21-10 lead against the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.

Randel El to Ward in Super Bowl 40. Such an iconic play! #steelers pic.twitter.com/hGFHrmfjjN

— Steelercrew (@Steelercrew6x) July 21, 2019

VS

15 - ‘Shea Pick-6s Brady - 10/31/04 Week 8

The Patriots came to Heinz Field with a 21-game winning streak. But Dick Lebeau had other plans. Brady was sacked 4 times and picked off twice, including this pick-6 that put the Steelers up 21-3.

On March 26th, let's pay tribute to a very underrated #26 - Deshea Townsend.

Townsend was a very underrated member of the #Steelers secondary for 12 years. He finished with 21 INTs & recorded an INT in nine consecutive seasons from 01-09. Here are some memorable interceptions. pic.twitter.com/I8lDZ3jUuh

— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) March 26, 2020

3 - Swann’s Flying Circus - 1/21/79 Super Bowl XIII

When Roy Gerela slipped at kickoff, the squibbed kick went off Randy White, who was playing with a cast. Pittsburgh recovered and then fired the game-deciding score.

One of NFL Films' most recognizable and iconic end zone shots...

Lynn Swann's 18-yard "flying circus" touchdown grab from #Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw — the winning score of Super Bowl XIII, played 44 years ago today. pic.twitter.com/RLyAArrWp4

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) January 21, 2023

VS

14- Gunslinger Ben - 1/15/06 AFC Championship

This pass capped off Ben’s amazing 3-game road performance to get to the Super Bowl. In this game, he was 21-29 and 275 yards. Most importantly, he gave us this meme.

Hard to believe 17 years ago #Steelers beat Denver AFC Championship game. Ben Roethlisberger completed a tremendous 3-game road playoff run pic.twitter.com/7mxI8FwO5u

— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) January 22, 2023

4 - Ham Fried Stabler - 12/29/74 AFC Championship

Pittsburgh and Oakland were tied at 10 in the 4th. Lambert and the rush came up the middle, and Stabler never saw Ham as he made his 2nd interception of the game. It set up a go-ahead TD 3 plays later.

12/29/74 AFC Championship: Pit@Oak
Early 4th qtr. Tied 10-10

Jack Ham makes his 2nd interception of the game pic.twitter.com/njKQJOu38B

— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar) August 23, 2018

VS

13 - Troy’s Strip Sack - 12/5/10 Week 13

The Division title and a 1st round bye were on the line. Baltimore was winning 10-6 and had 3 and change left on the clock. They just needed a couple first downs to end the game. With a 2nd and 5 at their own 43, Pittsburgh blitzed Timmons and Troy. Ray Rice could only pick one.

2010 Troy Polamalu Strip Sack that led to division title. 3 Minutes left on the clock and counting, all the Ravens had to do was pick up a couple first downs and this game was over. NOPE. Troy off the edge untouched. Solid game plan. pic.twitter.com/ulRZUzBRFE

— Tone Digs (@ToneDigz) November 4, 2018

5 - Tommy’s Renegade Comeback - 1/5/03 AFC Wildcard

The birth of Renegade. Tommy Maddox, the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year, threw three touchdown passes in the final 19 minutes, rallying from a 17-point deficit to beat the Browns 36-33. A 2nd and goal draw from the 4 to Chris Fuamatu Ma’afala was the game-winner.

4️⃣5️⃣ DAYS until Steelers football.

Here’s a Chris Fuamatu-Maʻafala touchdown. pic.twitter.com/RVsv8Pn0ke

— Donny Football (@DonChed54) July 28, 2022

VS

12- Woodson’s Ball-Hawking Fumble - 11/6/94 Week 10

Houston and Pittsburgh went to overtime tied at 9. Neil O’Donnel left the game and Barry Foster was hurt. Houston’s Gary Brown appeared to take a handoff up the middle for a big gain. But Rod Woodson seeked him out, knocking out the ball, and leading to the game-winning Gary Anderson field goal.

Was there anyone more clutch in OT than Rod Woodson @RodWoodson26? #steelers pic.twitter.com/3Kz6BRGT0N

— Steel Curtain Network (@SteelCNetwork) February 26, 2023

6 - Wagner Stalls Staubach - 1/18/76 Super Bowl 10

Mike Wagner steps in front of Drew Pearson and intercepts Roger Staubach, returning the ball inside the Cowboys 10 in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl X. Roy Gerela’s chip shot field goal makes it 15-10.

1/18/76 - Super Bowl X: Dal vs Pit
8:32 left. Pit lead 12-10

Mike Wagner, recognizing the motion and setup of the Dallas offense as the same play that scored a TD in the 1st quarter, steps in front of this Staubach pass for a key interception. pic.twitter.com/HB9ivcPzv4

— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar) October 4, 2018

VS

11- Bus Runs Over Urlacher - 12/11/05 Week 14

Just a poster of a play. The Steelers were in the middle of an 8-game winning streak to secure the 6th seed in the playoffs and ultimately their 5th Super Bowl ring.

On this day 14 years ago, Jerome Bettis did this to Brian Urlacher! #Steelers pic.twitter.com/FG8kUr3Vxi

— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) December 11, 2019

7 - Holmes’ Punt Return TD - 1/11/09 AFC Divisional

Steelers were trailing the Chargers 7-0 with 8:00 left in the first. Santonio Holmes fielded the punt, and then dissected the coverage. He juked out one, made another miss, outran 3, jumped another, before making it to the endzone.

Santonio Holmes punt return vs the Chargers! #Steelers pic.twitter.com/FZzggiCfxr

— That Blitz Guy (@ThatBlitzGuy) October 18, 2020

VS

10- Mean Joe Fumble Recovery - 1/12/75 Super Bowl 9

A pass interference call put the Vikings at the 5 in the 4th quarter of Super Bowl IX. Chuck Foreman is stopped for a 2-yard loss and Joe Greene recovered the fumble to preserve the 9-0 advantage.

After a PI penalty on Wagner, the #Vikings had the at the Pittsburgh 5.
Joe Greene recovered a fumble on the next play.
Super Bowl IX tomorrow#Steelers pic.twitter.com/9H70Glt8fr

— Old Time Football (@Ol_TimeFootball) July 1, 2022

8 - Terry’s Perfect Game - 12/19/76 AFC Divisional

1976 afc divisional at baltimore. Bradshaw completed 14 passes on just 18 attempts for 264 yds and 3 TD’s, 0 int. The game was such a blowout that when a plane crashed into the upper deck, Colts fans had already left.

76 days until #Steelers football, so here's a 76-yard touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw to Frank Lewis in the 1976 AFC Playoffs vs Baltimore.

1⃣2⃣⏩4⃣3⃣#BringBackTheBlock pic.twitter.com/5FnCTJjGLt

— Pittsburgh Clothing Company (@PGHClothingCo) June 30, 2020

VS

9 - Russel’s Slowest TD in Existence - 1/4/76 AFC Divisional

Until a few months ago, it was the longest fumble return in NFL playoff history. Sports Illustrated called it the longest, slowest touchdown in existence. The Steelers were up 21-10, but the Baltimore Colts were threatening to score. Jack Ham hit quarterback Bert Jones and the ball ended up in Andy Russel’s hands. Jack Ham, Dwight White and Donnie Shell had key blocks on the return.

Don Criqui’s radio call of Andy Russell’s 93 yd TD vs Colts

‘75 divisional playoff. Jack Ham forces the fumble. Dwight White and Donnie Shell on the blocks.
pic.twitter.com/haowhTnMs9

— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar) August 24, 2021

Kyle Chrise is the host of the Steel Curtain Network podcast “What Yinz Talkin’ Bout.” New Episodes drop every Thursday.