Committed to the defense: It seems like since the beginning of time the Steelers have had a strong defense. Well, at least since the 1970s.
And that hasn't changed in recent years. Defense has always been a big focus for the Steelers through the years, and it's paying dividends as they are now the No. 1 ranked defense in the NFL through Week 7.
"We have a commitment there," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "If they can't score, you can't lose. It's the kind of approach that we take. That commitment goes back to player acquisitions, the development of schematics, just the nuts and bolts things when you build your program. I just think good, winning, consistent football, top-notch defense, particularly defense that is stout against the run, is a significant component of that."
Opportunity knocks: Vince Williams leads the Steelers in tackles with 32, including 25 solo stops, through six games. He has 12 tackles for a loss, which leads the entire NFL.
He is playing some of his best football right now, and it might not be because of a huge change in his approach, but rather more opportunities coming his way.
"Vince is really consistent," said Tomlin. "I don't know that he is all around better. I think he is getting more opportunities this year. He was part of a three-man rotation a year ago with he, Devin (Bush) and Mark Barron. He is not a part of a rotation this year. In the spaces that he plays, he has been an all down and every situation player. He is playing at a high level for us. He is paying like a veteran who has experience and knows how to play."
Take a look at the best photos from the Steelers' Week 7 game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium
The Pittsburgh Steelers during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Vince Williams (98) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden (23) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool (11) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Vince Williams (98) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden (23) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner (30) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud (14) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Eric Ebron (85) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Tyson Alualu (94) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt (91) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt (91) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool (11) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Vince Williams (98) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90), Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Robert Spillane (41) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree (48) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Matt Feiler (71) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Vince Williams (98) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell (9) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Chukwuma Okorafor (76) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90), Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree (48) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Matt Feiler (71) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers guard David DeCastro (66) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
The Pittsburgh Steelers during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Benny Snell Jr. (24) and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Benny Snell Jr. (24) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jordan Dangerfield (37) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Vince Williams (98) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jordan Dangerfield (37) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva (78) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Vince Williams (98) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden (23) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell (9) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree (48) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) and Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner (30) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Eric Ebron (85) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
The Pittsburgh Steelers during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Matthew Maxey / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Eric Ebron (85) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Marcus Allen (27) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner (30) and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Learning from a legend: Tomlin only spent one season working with Hall of Fame Coach Tony Dungy, as his defensive backs coach in Tampa in 2001, but it was the start of a friendship and mutual respect that grows stronger by the day.
Tomlin was asked about what he learned from Dungy, and he was as honest as can be when he answered.
"We don't have enough time to chronicle the things I have learned from Coach, in a very short period of time I might add," said Tomlin. "I only worked for him for one season."
Tomlin did however highlight some of the things he learned from Dungy, one of the most well-respected men in NFL circles.
"His approach to business, the thoroughness, the clean communication, particularly in difficult times," said Tomlin. "The clarity of thought, the commitment to a style of play and a plan, all things I have held onto over the years and think about often."
