Middle of the Field Coverage: The Pittsburgh Steelers' Biggest Weakness

On this episode of the Pittsburgh Steelers Syndicate podcast, I discuss how the team's deep roster and lack of needs position them well for the playoffs. But as the season progresses, the Steelers will face tough challenges and unexpected twists that could leave them in a difficult situation. Will they be able to overcome these obstacles and make a run for the Super Bowl? Tune in to find out. • Discover how the Steelers' strong roster depth puts them in an advantageous position for the playoffs. • Uncover the middle field coverage as the Steelers' primary weakness that could be improved. • Learn how free agent Josh Johnson might bolster the Steelers' coverage and increase their chances of success. • Explore the possibility of a formidable five-man front defensive strategy for the Steelers. • Gain insight into various budget options the Steelers can consider, such as landing Dalvin Cook or investing in the offensive line for the next season. Timestamped summary of this episode: 00:00:00 - Introduction, Joe Rockey answers a viewer's question regarding whether the Steelers should go for Cook as he is more of a want than a need. 00:01:10 - Position Groups, The Steelers have virtually taken care of all their major needs and have built depth in virtually every position group. The Steelers compared to the Niners are in a better position because the Niners lack backups to any of their offensive talent. 00:02:27 - Middle of the Field Coverage, Joe Rockey believes that the Steelers have a weak spot in middle linebacker coverage. Getting a safety to be the third in the triangle of KZ and Minka, with the mindset that Neil is a middle linebacker, is necessary. Johnson is the best bet for this position group. 00:06:34 - Five Man Front, Joe Rockey believes that a five-man front with Benton on the roster can attack an opponent consistently. With TJ healthy and a five-man front with Okanjobi, Benton, Cam, and Highsmith, the team can force the offense to keep two extra players in to block, making it hard for the offense to win. 00:09:24 - Out of Needs, Joe Rockey believes that the Steelers are out of needs and that they have enough short-term power to win the division. The three options available to the team are to bring in a third running back, bring in an additional safety in Johnson, or save the money for next year to get people for a longer I don't see a way where this defense is ever the reason that we lost a game. - Joe Rockey The Pittsburgh Steelers are incredibly primed to make a run. They don't have any more needs... - Joe Rockey Middle of the Field Coverage Despite the overall solidity of the Steelers' roster, there's always room for improvement. One area in need of strengthening is the middle of the field coverage. By addressing this issue, the Steelers could benefit from an even more formidable defense. Teams have various approaches to solving this problem, like exploring options in the draft or free agency to reinforce their coverage. Joe Rockey suggests that the Steelers should consider signing free agent safety Josh Johnson. Johnson's skills and experience could provide valuable depth to the team's coverage, supporting starting safeties Minka and KZ. Implementing this strategy would help the Steelers solidify their defense, making the middle of the field a less vulnerable area to be exploited by opposing quarterbacks. Five Man Front Football strategy evolves continuously, and teams need to stay innovative to keep a competitive edge. One possibility for the Steelers to consider is deploying a five-man front on defense. This formation can provide exceptional pressure on the opposing offense, making it difficult for quarterbacks to find passing lanes and players to break through on running plays. In his discussion, Joe Rockey envisions Okanjobi, Benton, and Cam forming the backbone of the five-man front, with Minka and KZ providing support in coverage. By employing this formation, opposition quarterbacks would be forced to target the middle of the field, where the Steelers' coverage is weakest. However, with a reinforced middle coverage as mentioned earlier, such vulnerability could be reduced and this defensive strategy could prove very effective in limiting the opponents' options.

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