The Pittsburgh Steelers have made significant changes to their defense midway through the season, transitioning from their conventional single-high safety scheme to a two-high safety alignment. This adjustment has already shown promising results, particularly as they prepare to face the formidable rushing offense of the Chicago Bears.
Safety Kyle Dugger, acquired just before the trade deadline, alongside versatile player Jalen Ramsey, has been instrumental in this defensive overhaul. Steelers analyst Nick Farabaugh remarked on the Steelers Breakdown podcast, “They have flipped mid-season from a single high defense to a two high defense. That”s what we call good defensive coordinating.” This transformation comes after the team faced challenges early in the season.
Previously, the Steelers relied heavily on single-high safety formations featuring Cover 3 and Cover 1 man-to-man coverages. In their recent victory over Cincinnati, they utilized split-safety looks on 72% of defensive snaps, the highest rate in nearly a decade. John Luciew, co-host of the podcast, commented on how the safety positions have been completely redefined with the additions of Dugger and Ramsey.
These changes have positively impacted the Steelers” run defense, which struggled earlier in the season. Previously, the team allowed opponents like Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker to break off substantial runs of 15-25 yards. Farabaugh pointed out, “The bad runs the Steelers are allowing are like 8, 9, 10 yards. You can live with that. You can”t live with 35, 40 yards.” The presence of both Dugger and Ramsey has contributed to improved tackling and communication among defenders.
As they gear up for their matchup against the Bears, the Steelers face a tough test, given that Chicago ranks second in the NFL for rushing yards per game. Farabaugh noted the similarity to a previous game against the Indianapolis Colts, where the Steelers held their ground defensively. “If they can hold up in these three games against the run, feel like they can do it against anybody,” he added, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming games against the Bears, Bills, and Ravens.
Additionally, the Steelers have made tactical adjustments to complement their new safety alignments. They have shifted from single-high looks pre-snap to frequently aligning with split safeties before rotating into coverage after the snap. This strategy allows the safeties to position themselves closer to the line of scrimmage, enhancing their reaction times to both rushing and passing plays.
With head coach Mike Tomlin indicating that Darius Slay will return to the starting lineup despite James Pierre”s strong performances, the Steelers are preparing for a critical stretch. Their effectiveness against the Bears” powerful rushing attack will be a telling indicator of whether their mid-season transformation can lead to sustained success moving forward.
