The Pittsburgh Steelers defense was lights-out in their Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Pittsburgh’s defense was so good that the team was able to win 18-10 while Justin Fields and the offense scored no touchdowns. Coming into the game, the Steelers secondary was considered the biggest weakness on an otherwise great defense. After strong Week 1 showings from some key newcomers to the secondary, Pittsburgh’s defense is trending upwards into Week 2 and beyond.
Steelers Secondary Newcomers Shine in Team Debut
DeShon Elliott Makes His Presence Felt
After the Steelers lost numerous members of their secondary to injuries last season, they needed to address their safety room in the offseason. They signed veteran strong safety DeShon Elliott to a two-year, $6 million contract, a deal that is already looking like a bargain. Elliott was strong in pass coverage, recording an interception and two passes defended to go with four tackles in an all-around great performance. Pro Football Focus graded Elliott as Pittsburgh’s third-best player in the game.
The highest-graded Steelers vs the Falcons in Week 1:
🥇 T.J. Watt – 95.3
🥈 Cameron Heyward – 89.4
🥉 DeShon Elliott – 86.0
🏅 Justin Fields – 75.9
🏅 James Daniels – 75.8(min. 25 snaps) pic.twitter.com/GA4z1jlPrr
— PFF PIT Steelers (@PFF_Steelers) September 9, 2024
It was only one game, but Elliott already looks like a great complement for Minkah Fitzpatrick on the back end of the Steelers secondary. Pittsburgh signed former four-year starter Terrell Edmunds off the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad to bolster their depth at safety. Never strong in pass coverage, the addition of Edmunds serves as a boost to depth and an extra tool to use in run support. The signing could mean Pittsburgh wants Elliott to spend less time in run support and more time in pass coverage. Either way, Elliott showed against Atlanta he is capable of doing whatever the Steelers ask of him.
Donte Jackson Turns in a Great Performance
The biggest concern for the Steelers secondary was their cornerback depth behind Joey Porter Jr. Porter showed last year as a rookie (and again against Atlanta) that he is a legitimate lockdown cornerback. He just needed to find the Robin to his Batman. When Pittsburgh traded Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers for Donte Jackson, it was a puzzling move. Jackson has shown to be a competent cornerback but didn’t give off the vibes of being an every-down cornerback to pair with Porter. If Week 1 was any indication, though, Pittsburgh might have a strong corner duo on their hands.
On Atlanta’s first drive of the game, Jackson narrowly missed what had the chance to be a pick-six. He was able to shake off the dropped interception and turn in a great game in pass coverage. Like his fellow newcomer Elliott, Jackson was able to intercept Kirk Cousins in his first game as a Steeler. While the Steelers secondary depth is still a concern, they are in good shape if Elliott and Jackson can continue their Week 1 performances throughout the season.
Per my charting, when CB Donte Jackson and SS DeShon Elliott yesterday:
– 7 targets
– 2 completions
– 24 yards
– 0 TDs
– 2 INTs
– 1.8 QB rating againstWhat a Steelers' debut from both players. #Steelers
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) September 9, 2024
Beanie Bishop Proves He Belongs
The aforementioned lack of depth behind Porter extended to the Steelers slot cornerback position. After Cameron Sutton’s 10-game suspension was announced, Pittsburgh was left with undrafted free agent Beanie Bishop as their only slot corner. While he didn’t make splash plays like Elliott and Jackson, Bishop was steady against Atlanta. He recorded three solo tackles, showcasing the physicality and tackling abilities that helped earn him the starting job. Bishop played 60% of the Steelers defensive snaps, so they had no reservations about putting him on the field. If he can keep it up, Bishop’s contributions in the slot will go a long way in rounding out what could be a very strong Steelers secondary.
Main Photo:[Dale Zanine] – USA Today Sports
