The Steelers used a nickel defense 38 percent of the time in 2023, making it the most typical defensive package they put on the field.
But that 38 percent was among the lowest in the NFL last season. Overall, the league average for nickel package usage is well over 60 percent.
But because they didn't have the off-ball linebackers in place to play a lot of nickel, which utilizes a four-man front, two off-ball linebackers and five defensive backs, the Steelers had to play more dime than nickel.
That could change in 2024.
In last week's preseason opener against the Texans, the Steelers went primarily to a nickel defense when they went to a sub package.
"We want them to get in there and see what it's like," said defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. "Some of those backers don't get third-and-longs, but there's no need. I think at this point, we want to see our guys playing and see how they handle situational football, see how they handle some things in space because you've got to learn about it in game situations. So that's why it was just nickel."
However, with the additions of coverage linebackers such as Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson, the Steelers have a much greater ability to successfully make the nickel their base package.
That's what this week's preseason opponent, the Buffalo Bills, have done for the past several seasons. The Bills have regularly used a nickel package on over 90 percent of their defensive snaps in recent seasons with great success.
But they did so because they had the linebackers, including the underrated Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds, to do so.
And even with Edmunds leaving in free agency last season and Milano injured, the Bills still were atop the NFL in terms of nickel usage. It's in their DNA.
Teams utilize the nickel so often because the primary offensive package in the league is 11 personnel, which has one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers on the field. If a defense sticks in its base defense against that grouping, the offense will pick it apart by throwing the ball. If it goes to a dime, it's susceptible to running plays.
Now, the Steelers have a much greater ability to match those formations simply by going nickel.
"I think we do," said Austin. "With P.Q and Payton because those guys can really run, that gives us an opportunity to maybe stay in nickel in some situations when might not."
• The Steelers aren't just faster at linebacker. They've got more team speed on the back end, as well.
Cornerback Donte Jackson, acquired in the trade with Carolina for Diontae Johnson, ran in the 4.3s coming out of LSU.
So did Beanie Bishop, currently atop the depth chart at nickel corner. New strong safety DeShon Elliott ran a 4.58-second 40-yard dash coming out of Texas a few years ago. But he's markedly faster than Keanu Neal, who manned the position for a good portion of last season.
"One of the things we talked about is getting faster on the defense, and we always respected Donte Jackson and his play style, his speed, ability to play the ball, his willingness to tackle, the energy he played with, and we saw it as an opportunity," assistant GM Andy Weidl said of the trade that brought Jackson from Carolina in exchange for Johnson.
"I think one of the things we did in this off season is we increased our team speed in the second and third levels of our defense. Not only of the addition of him, but with Payton Wilson, with Patrick Queen, Beanie Bishop and DeShon Elliot."
This team is fast on defense. And that should allow for more big plays.
• Another thing we've seen a lot of in training camp is a lot of 12 personnel from the Steelers offensively. That means they have one running back, two tight ends and two wide receivers on the field.
The interesting thing about the Steelers' 12 personnel is how diverse they can be with it.
In Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, MyCole Pruitt and Connor Heyward, the Steelers can mix that package to force defenses to bend to their will.
Last season, NFL teams played nickel defense against 12 personnel 66 percent of the time.
But do that with Washington and Pruitt on the field and the Steelers have the ability to run the ball at will. If the opponent chooses to stick in a base defense against 12 personnel, Freiermuth and Heyward can split out wide and be absolute mismatches against linebackers.
• One of the things critics point to as to why they expect the Steelers to win fewer than the 10 games they did a year ago is the team's 9-2 record in games decided by 7 points or less.
That would be the case if it weren't Mike Tomlin coaching this team.
The Steelers are now 29-10-1 in games decided by 7 or fewer points over the past four seasons. Those 40 games represent nearly 60 percent of their games played.
This team is accustomed to playing in, and winning, close games. And it's because Tomlin knows how to win them – or, perhaps just as importantly, how to not lose them.
Tomlin is criticized in some circles for being risk averse when it comes to attempting fourth-down conversions and things of that nature. But often, the risk outweighs the reward. And his record in one-score games isn't an accident.
Oftentimes, he allows the opponent to be the team that makes the big mistake that is the difference between a narrow win or a narrow loss.
• Since entering the NFL in 2021, Najee Harris ranks second in the NFL in carries with 834. He's fourth in rushing yards with 3,269. He ranks first in overall scrimmage touches with 978. And, according to Pro Football Focus, he's No. 1 in missed tackles forced with 222.
• Dale Lolley is co-host of "SNR Drive" on Steelers Nation Radio. Subscribe to the podcast here: Apple Podcast | iHeart Podcast
And yet there are those who still question the Steelers' decision to take him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Thing is, the other running backs taken in that 2021 draft, Harris has 1,000 more rushing yards than the next-closest player, New England's Rhamondre Stephenson. He has six more rushing touchdowns than anyone else. And his 144 receptions are 23 more than any other running back taken in that draft.
And he hasn't missed a game in those three seasons. Availability is often the best ability.
