It wasn't the Colts' attempting to run at the Steelers' five-defensive backs "nickel" defense that caught defensive coordinator Teryl Austin off guard initially as much as it was an Indianapolis salvo that produced 17 points on the first three possessions of what ultimately went into the books as a 27-24 Colts' victory last Sunday in Indy.
"We didn't get off to the start we wanted, that's what I was more surprised about," Austin maintained today. "Been very happy with our guys and how we've been playing and the things we've been doing and how we've been starting games.
"It was a little bit out of the norm for us."
Another unanticipated development was veteran quarterback Joe Flacco replacing injured second-year pro Anthony Richardson during Indianapolis' second possession.
The Steelers prepare for the Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Quez Watkins (16) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Jaray Jenkins (82) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back La'Mical Perine (29) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jonathan Ward (35) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (80) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back La'Mical Perine (29) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (73) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick (66) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo (73) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. (31) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields (2) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kyle Allen (4) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones (77) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson (10) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward (83) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 5 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
"When you look at that it's going to change your decision-making and how you call the game because they're two completely different quarterbacks in terms of the skill sets," Austin said. "The young guy is gonna run around, there's gonna be more RPOs (run-pass options), you saw him, obviously, take off and scramble on the quarterback run early in the game. You don't have to worry about that with Joe. The different thing is Joe is going to have a lot more in terms, I think, of the passing game open.
"It went into how you called that game, how you managed that business. At first it took me a minute to get it under my belt and then I thought we settled down."
One aspect of the Steelers' defensive performance against the Colts that might threaten to resonate against future opponents if it isn't cleaned up is apparent miscommunication on the two touchdown passes the Steelers allowed, one from Flacco to wide receiver Josh Downs in the first quarter and another from Flacco to tight end Andrew Ogletree in the fourth.
"It's like everything, you put something bad on tape, you look at it, you figure out what were the issues, the root cause of it, and how do we fix it?" Austin said. "I think that's what we went about doing this week in terms of making sure our communication is right, making sure we're talking and saying the right things, recognizing the right formations, all those different things. You just go work at it, there's no secret to it.
"Can I sit here and say we won't blow a coverage again all year? No, I'd be a liar, I wouldn't say that. It's like anything else, we'll just continue to work at it."
Outside linebacker T.J. Watt was held without a sack for the first time this season in the Indianapolis game.
Watt finished with two assisted tackles after being double-teamed, chipped and otherwise kept at bay by any means necessary.
"It's no different than what I kind of see every week," Austin said. "The great pass-rushers get held. T.J.'s gonna get held every week. They're gonna hold him this week and they might not get (called for holding).
"We have to fight through that because that's stuff that's out of our control. We just try to put together the best plan we do to try to get him in favorable situations where that stuff doesn't affect the outcome of the game.
"There's nothing we can do about that. We just try to play ball."
