Blitzburgh. That name conjures up memories of Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers and defensive backs driving opposing quarterbacks into the dirt. However, in recent years, it feels like the Steelers scaled that back a bit, preferring to just use their outside linebackers to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
When that works, it’s great. That means you can blanket the opponent’s receiving options. When it doesn’t work, NFL players find ways to get open. So, you have to make adjustments. That’s exactly what beat writer Mark Kaboly thinks will happen under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
“I think you might see more blitzing,” Kaboly said Friday on 93.7 The Fan’s The PM Team. “I mean, forever, Mike Tomlin, even the entire staff, I don’t know if it came from Tomlin or if that was just a belief of the staff, is get pressure with four, get pressure with four, get pressure with four. Sometimes that’s detrimental when you can’t get pressure with four, you can sit back there and pick them apart. So, I think we’re gonna see more people coming off the edge.”
The Steelers did work on bringing Blitzburgh back a bit last year. Through the season’s first six weeks, the Steelers blitzed 35.5 percent of the time, the third-highest percentage in the league. They were also very successful, generating pressure 30.9 percent of the time, also third in the league.
That blitzing percentage was not sustainable, though. Pittsburgh still blitzed a lot, the defense finishing the season with the eighth-highest percentage at 29.6, per Sharp Football Analysis. The Steelers had to make adjustments due to struggles on the backend of the defense.
Part of that was due to the struggles in coverage for players like CB Darius Slay. The other big factor was the injury issues that plagued the safety position, forcing Jalen Ramsey to move to safety essentially full-time.
Kaboly could see Ramsey being effective in blitzing this year alongside new S Jaquan Brisker. Graham spoke about what he likes about Ramsey, calling him a “chess piece” in the defensive backfield. Brisker does have some experience blitzing, with Pro Football Reference charting him as having blitzed 79 times during his four-year career. He has seven career sacks with three hurries, two quarterback knockdowns, two batted balls and 13 pressures.
Will that mean we see guys like Ramsey and Brisker come screaming off the edge or through gaps for the Steelers this season? Kaboly certainly thinks so. If they do, that could mean good things for the true return of Blitzburgh.