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Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 Reasons Black and Gold will rebound in 2019

By Samuel Teets

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Terrell Edmunds #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts as he watches the Cleveland Browns play the Baltimore Ravens on the scoreboard at Heinz Field following the Steelers 16-13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on December 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 30: Terrell Edmunds #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts as he watches the Cleveland Browns play the Baltimore Ravens on the scoreboard at Heinz Field following the Steelers 16-13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on December 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 09: Cameron Heyward #97 and Stephon Tuitt #91 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after they sacked quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders during the first half of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 09: Cameron Heyward #97 and Stephon Tuitt #91 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after they sacked quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders during the first half of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

2. Bright spots on the defensive front

The current Steelers defensive unit isn’t viewed in the same light as those that came before it. Those defenses that featured James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, and even going back to Joey Porter‘s reign early in the 2000s, were viewed as sack masters and quarterback wreckers. However, the current defensive front has generated a lot of sacks over the past two seasons.

Pittsburgh’s defense tied for the lead in sacks last season with 52. The team also led the league in sacks back in 2017 with 56. The resurgence in Pittsburgh’s pass rush can be credited to Heyward and T.J. Watt. Both players have 20 sacks over the past two seasons and have made Pro Bowl appearances.

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Heyward was a First Team All-Pro in 2017 after he tallied 12 sacks. His production dipped to eight in 2018 because he began taking more snaps at the defensive tackle position. Watt contributed seven sacks as a rookie in 2017 before breaking out as a Pro Bowler in 2018 with 13 sacks.

Pittsburgh also has a lesser-known group of pass rushers. While Heyward and Watt have thrived as the faces of the defense, this other group is the real reason why the Steelers have generated so many sacks recently.

Besides Heyward and Watt, four Steelers recorded more than four sacks this past season. Javon Hargrave racked up 6.5 sacks despite lining up as a nose tackle. Watt’s running mate at outside linebacker, Bud Dupree finished the year with 5.5 sacks. Stephon Tuitt had his second-best year as a pro, adding 5.5 sacks of his own. Inside linebacker and former sixth-round pick, Vince Williams had 4.5 sacks as well. Williams has 12.5 sacks over the past two seasons.

All six of Pittsburgh’s top sack leaders are returning in 2019. All six were also drafted by the Steelers. While Pittsburgh doesn’t have the flashiest or the deepest defensive front in the NFL, the unit has proven itself in two consecutive seasons. Fans should look forward to more of the same in 2019.

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