The Pittsburgh Steelers defense was supposed to take a step forward this year. It wasn’t expected to be anything like the feared defenses of Steelers past, but the hope was for early-round draft picks in recent years to come of age and make the unit serviceable.
Instead, this defense is looking worse after Saturday’s 43-19 preseason loss at Buffalo.
The Steelers were 27th against the pass (253.1 yards per game) and 25th in rushing yards per attempt (4.4) last season. They were 18th in yards allowed and points allowed, the franchise’s worst ranking in both categories since 1991, the year before Bill Cowher became head coach.
That floor could be lowered in 2015 if the performance of the starters on Saturday is any indication. In the preseason’s “dress rehearsal” game, the Steelers’ defense got caught with its pants down.
Ken Laird of TribLive Radio put a humorous spin on the situation.
If Martavis Bryant fails a fifth weed test, the Steelers will make him watch film of their defense
— Ken Laird (@Ken_Laird) August 29, 2015
Another problem for the Steelers defense last season was stopping the big play. The Steelers allowed 15 plays of 40 or more yards, second only to the Eagles. Sure enough, 34-year-old running back Fred Jackson gouged the Steelers for 41 yards on the Bills’ first play from scrimmage Saturday, setting up his 1-yard touchdown run to open the scoring.
The Bills’ quarterback situation was supposed to be a laughingstock with Rex Ryan essentially playing spin-the-bottle to decide on a starter. EJ Manuel got the call in the most critical game of the preseason even though he appeared to be third on the depth chart.
The Steelers made him look like a Pro Bowler.
Manuel completed seven of eight passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He hung another big play on the Steelers defense with a 67-yard touchdown pass to tight end Charles Clay. The Steelers made the Cover 2 look like the Cover Who? and yielded 13 points less than five minutes into the game.
ORCHARD PARK, NY – AUGUST 29: Charles Clay #85 of the Buffalo Bills runs in a touchdown reception to push the Bills ahead 13-8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason game on August 29, 2015 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Charles Clay
Buffalo’s four quarterbacks, who all would be backups on almost any other team, completed 30 of 33 passes for 395 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Scott Kacsmar of Football Outsiders crunched those numbers.
It’s preseason, but Buffalo QBs were 30/33 (90.9%) vs. Steelers. 90% has never been done in the regular season (min. 30 attempts)
— Scott Kacsmar (@FO_ScottKacsmar) August 30, 2015
The Steelers’ first unit was responsible for the two big-play touchdowns. A mix of starters and backups went up against the starting offensive line on the Bills’ third touchdown drive, an 11-play, 80-yard series that culminated in Ricky Seale’s 1-yard touchdown run.
Pittsburgh allowed 542 yards in the game and 11 of 14 third-down conversions, including 5 0f 7 in the first half.
Pro Bowl inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons, defensive end Stephon Tuitt and safety Mike Mitchell all sat out with injuries. Those are three of the Steelers’ projected starters. Timmons’ absence had an impact. Tuitt looked like an up-and-comer after starting the final four games last season, but hadn’t shown much in the preseason before his injury against the Packers. And Mitchell was a disappointment last year after the Steelers signed him from Carolina.
Maybe if the defense gets healthier and new coordinator Keith Butler is saving his new wrinkles for when the games count, Saturday’s ugly preseason performance will be forgotten.
On the other hand, the Bills didn’t have LeSean McCoy, Sammy Watkins and Percy Harvin.
If the Steelers don’t plug some gaping holes on defense, they’ll be humiliated at New England on Sept. 10 whether Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo, Ryan Lindley, Drew Bledsoe or Scott Zolak starts at quarterback.