The Pittsburgh Steelers are sitting pretty at 6-2 during their bye week, and holy smokes, their defense is the absolute star of the show right now. This unit isn’t just good, it’s been trending in the right direction all season, making life miserable for opposing offenses.
That Ferocious Front And A Cornerback Surprise
Look, the defensive line in Pittsburgh is straight-up ferocious. They’ve got this incredible mix of veterans and young stars absolutely flying around, and it’s making a real difference. And get this: the trade of Joey Porter, Jr. is looking better with every single game. Why? Because Daylen Everette has stepped up HUGE at cornerback, playing excellent football. It really makes you wonder about those early season takes, right?
They’re Living In Zone, But It’s Working
So, what exactly are they running on the back end to support that dominant front? Pittsburgh is a zone coverage defense, no doubt about it. They’re dialing up Cover 3 a whopping 35.3% of the time, and Cover 4 is right there at 23.7%. You’ll see Cover 2 mixed in 14.2% of snaps, with Cover 6 coming in at 9.5%. That’s a whole lot of zone, folks! When they do go man, it’s typically Cover 1 Man at 9.1%, Cover 0 at 4.4%, and a tiny 0.3% for Cover 2 Man. But here’s the kicker, the thing that tells you all you need to know: their total EPA allowed per dropback is the sixth best in the entire NFL, sitting at an insane -0.02. This isn’t just a good defense, it’s an elite one, and it’s built to cause headaches for anyone they line up against.
This defense isn’t just good, it’s sixth best in the NFL for EPA allowed per dropback, clocking in at an insane -0.02. With numbers like these, Pittsburgh is absolutely built to keep this run going. They’re on a bye right now, but you know every team prepping for them after this week is sweating. This is a unit that means business.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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