10/14/19-The Defense We Wanted Is Finally Here

By: Mike Pelaia

For several years now, I’ve been screaming atop the mountain tops that the Steelers should fire Keith Butler. I’ve been frustrated at the lack of playmaking, at the inability to get off the field on third downs, the seemingly impossible request of creating a turnover and the pathetic pass rush yielding very few sacks.

It seems though, six games into the 2019 season, despite a 2-4 record, the Steelers defense that we have all been clamoring for, may finally be here.  It all started when the Steelers traded their 2020 first round pick for Minkah Fitzpatrick. Ever since then, four games ago, this defense has been on fire.  They are a turnover creating machine.  They have 15 turnovers through the first six weeks, tied for second most in the NFL. 

They are creating turnovers with their lethal pass rush.  TJ Watt is stellar, as always but I have to give credit to Bud Dupree who is playing the way he’s supposed to, after all of these years.  The defense is getting to the quarterback to the tune of 3.3 sacks per game, marking that fifth in the league overall, which is classic Steeler football. 

While I give a lot of credit to the arrival of Fitzpatrick, it cannot be overstated how valuable the drafting of Devin Bush has been.  Bush is a prime candidate for defensive rookie of the year. The man leads the team with 52 tackles, he’s intercepted two passes, forced four fumbles, recovered a fumble, has a sack and has scored a touchdown, all in his first six games.  He is the replacement for Ryan Shazier that this team desperately needed.

There is a new found energy on this defense, and it’s a good thing.  Even the secondary, which has been a thorn in the side of the Steelers for so long, has finally stepped up.  In addition to Fitzpatrick, Steven Nelson has been a fine addition and with the sudden emergence of Cam Sutton to go along with Joe Haden and Terrell Edmunds, they have a formidable unit back there.

There is no doubt the team will miss the play making ability of Stephon Tuitt, who was having his best season to date before he was lost for the season this past Sunday night but they have enough talent to overcome that.  And they’ll need to. 

The offense managed it’s way to a second victory against the Chargers but it’s the defense who won the game with high energy, high impact plays.  That will need to continue for the remaining 10 games to hopefully squeeze the black and gold into he postseason, a possibility that remains alive despite their 2-4 mark. 

They now have a week off before they get what should be an easy game at home on Monday Night against the Dolphins, from there, they can ride their defense down the stretch and see how things unfold. 

The defense we’ve wanted, appears to be here.