Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 Bold predictions vs. 49ers, Week 3
By Samuel Teets
1. Defense intercepts three passes
Am I the only one who thinks that Pittsburgh should have just traded for a player like Minkah Fitzpatrick back when the team was competing for Super Bowls? Even if the acquisition of a borderline Pro Bowl-caliber, multi-talented defensive back was a little late, the move has ensured that the Steelers no longer have a reason to tank, considering their 2020 first-round pick went to Miami.
Regardless of the merits of the move, the Steelers now have one of the most versatile defensive backs in the NFL. Fitzpatrick is capable of playing cornerback or safety and his game is reminiscent of Malcolm Jenkins’ multi-functional play. Outside of Rudolph, Fitzpatrick is the Steeler I plan on watching the most this coming Sunday.
Pittsburgh’s secondary is far more than just Fitzpatrick at this point. The team also the former Pro Bowler Joe Haden, who recently signed a two-year extension. While Haden isn’t the same player he used to be, he was still the best coverage player on the roster at the start of the season. Steven Nelson is the team’s other cornerback. He intercepted four passes last season with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Steelers also have Terrell Edmunds, who was taken 17 picks after Fitzpatrick in last year’s draft. Edmunds isn’t known as a coverage specialist, but Steelers fans are patiently waiting for him to take some kind of step forward in his development.
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Garoppolo has been intercepted in each of the first two weeks so far. He has struggled with turnovers in the past as well. In each of the last three seasons, at least 2.8 percent of his pass attempts have been intercepted. To put that in perspective, the last time 2.8 percent or more of Roethlisberger’s passes were intercepted was back in 2015. Roethlisberger has only crossed the 2.8 percent mark five times in his career.