Tim Benz: Newly configured Steelers secondary coming together quickly
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If there are two position groups on the field that NFL coaches consistently insist are in need of cohesion, chemistry and communication, it’s the secondary and the offense line.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers during their 18-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, the O-line held up well enough to win despite some injuries and lots of youth.
The secondary, meanwhile, thrived despite weaving three players into the mix for their first game as new Steelers.
Cornerback Donte Jackson played all 56 defensive snaps. Safety DeShon Elliott was present for 47 of them and rookie free-agent slot corner Beanie Bishop was on the field almost 60% of the time.
A fourth Steeler defensive back who was with the franchise last year but did not play because of injury is Cory Trice. The cornerback also got seven snaps during the game.
Despite all the new faces, the Steelers held the Falcons to 137 net passing yards and 6.0 yards per attempt from quarterback Kirk Cousins. He was held to a passer rating of just 59.0.
Jackson was acquired via trade from the Carolina Panthers in March. Elliott was a free agent signee after previous NFL stops in Miami, Baltimore and Detroit. Both players had interceptions, and both had an additional pass breakup along the way.
DeShon Elliott with the INT in his #Steelers debut‼️
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— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 8, 2024
This @Steelers defense ???? Donte Jackson INT!
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“Their veteran presence was evident,” head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. “I love their game day demeanor. They were communicative. They played with great energy. They were helpful to each other and others. That’s just stuff that you get from veteran players. New to us, but not new to the game. They weren’t wide-eyed, and I didn’t expect them to be. That’s one of the reasons why we were really excited about acquiring those men.”
Jackson says one player who deserves a lot of credit is one of the Steelers returning veterans in the secondary, Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Pro Bowl safety is a communication hub for the defense.
“Playing with a guy like that on the back end gives you a huge sense of relief,” Jackson said. “He is going to make sure everybody is lined up. He is going to make sure that you are not feeling like you are by yourself on an island. He is just a great player to have on your side when tough times come.”
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Fitzpatrick delivered once the ball was snapped too, leading the team in tackles with seven. He was stout in the run game, filling lanes to help hold talented Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson to a modest 68 yards on 18 carries. Plus his centerfield play dissuaded Cousins from taking many shots downfield.
As did the blanket coverage second-year cornerback Joey Porter Jr. provided on Atlanta’s top wide receiver, Drake London. After posting 905 yards last year on 69 catches, London had only two grabs for 15 yards thanks largely to Porter’s play against him on defense.
“We felt like Joey could definitely go in there with that in his mind and take away that guy and I go in there with my mind on taking away (Darnell Mooney) and make Kirk make decisions. That’s what we did a good job of,” Jackson said.
Mooney ended up with just one catch for 15 yards.
As for Bishop, he registered four tackles in his NFL debut, including a big one on Ray-Ray McCloud III late in the game. Bishop said he is benefiting from the veteran influence in the secondary.
“We communicate no matter what it is,” Bishop said. “Alignment, pre-snap. All of those things. Whether we are getting motions, who is running with the motions what routes we might be getting.”
Now the Steelers’ defensive backs will take on a group of receivers in Denver that have at least one defining characteristic across the board: size. Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds and Devaughn Vele are all between 6-foot-3 and 6-5, and between 192 and 216 pounds.
Porter is 6-2, 193 pounds, and has a long wingspan. So the size of Denver’s pass catchers shouldn’t be much of an issue for him. With 10 touchdowns a year ago, Sutton will likely be his assignment this week. But even at 5-10, 180 pounds, Jackson is not at all concerned about who he will have to guard.
“I’ve built a career playing against guys bigger than me,” Jackson insists. “I just trust my technique and trust the game plan. This game plan isn’t built to put anybody in a position where they can’t be successful.”
The Steelers will be looking for that success against rookie QB Bo Nix who posted just 3.3 yards per attempt in a 26-20 loss to Seattle last week in his NFL debut.
Listen: Tim Benz and Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post preview Sunday’s Steelers-Broncos game.