Pittsburgh Steelers fans have long complained about a lack of innovation on offense. On January 24, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that “several sources” believe head coach Mike Tomlin’s offense could benefit from being more complex.
Dulac also noted that sources find the Steelers defense to be just as uninspired.
“Several sources have told the Post-Gazette the offense and defense lack imagination and have become too predictable,” Dulac wrote.
“Offensively, there is a disconnect between [Russell] Wilson and coordinator Arthur Smith regarding the passing game’s direction. Defensively, the Steelers rarely blitz or create pressure, particularly with opponents successfully keeping T.J. Watt out of the backfield.”
Despite their investment in edge rushers, the Steelers’ defensive production has been underwhelming. In 2024, the team ranked 17th in sacks (40) and pressure rate (22%), falling short of expectations.
T.J. Watt’s 2024 Season Under Scrutiny
All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt posted 11.5 sacks in 2024, a respectable number but his lowest in a season where he played at least 15 games since his rookie year in 2017.
The decline in blitzing and lack of defensive creativity have raised concerns about how Tomlin and his staff are deploying their defensive talent.
Decline in Blitz Rate Under Tomlin and Austin
When Mike Tomlin joined the Steelers, he retained defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, whose “Blitzburg” scheme was synonymous with the franchise’s defensive identity. The approach led to top rankings in defensive categories and a Super Bowl title in 2009.
Keith Butler, LeBeau’s protégé, maintained the high blitzing standard, with the Steelers leading the NFL in sacks for five straight seasons (2017-21). Watt’s emergence as a dominant pass rusher coincided with this run.
However, after Butler retired in 2021, the team’s pass rush regressed. Under new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, the Steelers ranked 16th in sacks in 2022. While injuries to Watt were partly to blame that year, the blitz rate remained high, ranking sixth in both 2022 and 2023.
In 2024, though, the blitz rate dropped to 12th, and the defense struggled to generate consistent pressure. Too often, the game plan relied on Watt and Alex Highsmith winning one-on-one matchups, which opposing offenses countered with extra blockers.
Could Moving T.J. Watt Around Help in 2025?
One issue highlighted in 2024 was how infrequently Watt moved around in the Steelers’ defensive formations. While this could be attributed to coaching, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly noted that Watt himself prefers consistency.
“I don’t know how much he wants to do that,” Kaboly said on 93.7 The Fan’s Morning Show. “He just likes coming from… you remember his rookie year, he was on the other side, didn’t really like it. They flipped him and Bud Dupree, and he took off. But now, they need to do something different.”
Kaboly added that Austin claims the Steelers move Watt around, but it only happens “two or three times a game, if that.”
After the Steelers’ disappointing 2024 season, Watt admitted he is open to adapting his approach.
“I need to be more open to moving around and trying to affect games as much as possible,” Watt told reporters via Ari Meyer of Steelers SI.com. “I want to impact the game more than anybody, but I don’t want to selfishly take another guy’s spot if I feel I could have a better rush elsewhere.”
Imagination Needed on Both Sides of the Ball
The Steelers need to inject creativity into their defense, just as much as they do on offense. With the current roster, Tomlin’s team can no longer rely solely on talent to consistently win. Improved schematics could make all the difference.
