You might have heard this before, but the Steelers are expected to name Teryl Austin as their new defensive coordinator. Per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a deal could be finalized today or tomorrow (Twitter link).
Austin has served as the Steelers’ senior defensive assistant/secondary coach since 2019. Just two weeks ago, it was reported that Austin would be elevated to DC to replace the retiring Keith Butler, but then Pittsburgh elected to conduct a more thorough search and do its due diligence on a few external candidates. The Steelers requested interviews with then-Giants DC Patrick Graham — who subsequently took the same position with the Raiders — Saints defensive backs coach Kris Richard, and Cowboys passing game coordinator/secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. before circling back to Austin.
Austin actually took an outside interview himself just yesterday, meeting with the Giants as a potential Graham replacement. That position may have offered him greater responsibility than the Steelers’ gig, as Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin took over as Pittsburgh’s defensive play-caller last season, but for one reason or another, it appears that Austin will remain in the Steel City.
The 56-year-old served as defensive coordinator for the Lions from 2014-17 under head coach Jim Caldwell, and during his time in Detroit, he was a regular on the HC interview circuit. His ill-fated tenure as the Bengals’ DC in 2018 caused his stock to plummet, but he is now getting a shot at some measure of redemption.
Of course, the Steelers’ D turned in an uncharacteristically poor 2021, allowing 361.1 yards per game (good for 24th in the league). Still, the unit does have some top-flight talent, and Austin’s secondary generally did a good job of limiting opposing passing games. More often than not, Pittsburgh’s run defense was the source of the club’s struggles.
Another hiring that does not challenge Tomlin. He will never win another SB as the Steelers coach!
Still leaves Gomlin free to meddle in the defense and keep it from being elite.
If you believe certain Pittsburgh writers, Tomlin took over defensive play calling sling before last season… and unlike before I’m starting to believe them. I would hope Austin gets some autonomy if he is indeed the choice, as he has a pretty decent track record working with arguably less talent than he has now. But I’m not holding my breath that Tomlin relinquishes complete control.
Yeah, the O-line is horrible. And yeah, Tomlin apparently has called defensive plays for some time. But the holes on the defensive side mean counting the players you DO have instead. Other than Cam, TJ, Minkah and perhaps Highsmith, literally every other spot needs an upgrade (especially if Tuitt and Alualu are finished here)
Good luck to Austin
The only positive thing about the defense last season is that as the season wore on they may have found a few rotational guys worth keeping around. Witherspoon, Adams, Loudermilk, Tuzska, Charlton, Norwood: none except maybe Witherspoon are starting material, but they all were pleasant surprises who improved and occasionally impressed.
But yeah, the other thing that happened is that they found out that a bunch of other guys just aren’t good enough. The losses of Alualu and Tuitt couldn’t be helped, so I give most of the defensive line a pass. But the defense as a whole needs an injection of playmaking ability, and fast. Watt, Heyward and Fitzpatrick had to do everything much of the time last season, and that won’t work.
They have a lot of deadwood here, to be sure. They picked up Karl Joseph and it’s almost like you never heard from him again.
I actually thought things got worse as the season went along. Not only did teams see you could pass on them—Maulet might be the worst secondary player here since Artie Burns—but Bush turned out to be a bust, Schobert a worthless addition and Spillane strictly a package-type of LB
Was there any run that failed to get at least 5 yards on that D-line? In contrast, it made me appreciate Najee even more. The poor kid often was getting hit as he was receiving the ball
Najee is special. As talented as he is, I like his effort, attitude and drive even more.
Maulet is a guy I saw a lot of in his previous NFL stops. I actually thought the Steelers did a good job of picking when to use him. He cannot cover outside receivers, he’s too slow and too small. But he’s good in run support, a decent blitzer, and he’s smart in anticipating routes. For what he is, I didn’t have much of an issue with him, but Norwood is a more talented version of Maulet.
I’m with you on Karl Joseph: I cannot for the life of me figure out why he only played once (and he seemed to play well). For that matter I couldn’t understand why they didn’t use Steven Sims or Anthony Miller, also talented vets who never played. Miller has re-signed, but I think the other two are looking for better opportunities, and I can’t blame them.
Austin was really good with the Lions and didn’t have the players in Cincinnati.