The Pittsburgh Steelers have remained probably the most persistently aggressive groups in latest reminiscence. Irrespective of who he’s teaching, Mike Tomlin has managed to maintain the workforce afloat and within the playoff race 12 months in and 12 months out. When you’re acquainted in any respect with the Steelers over the previous twenty years, you already know that’s as a result of efforts of the protection, particularly the previous couple of seasons. Former Steeler security Mike Logan appears to be properly conscious of that.
As a participant who spent 10 seasons as a defensive again within the NFL, few individuals on the planet know extra in regards to the defensive facet of the ball than Mike Logan. Logan appeared on The Draft Nation LIVE on Friday, and he spoke about his appreciation for the best way Pittsburgh is enjoying protection in 2024.
“I like this workforce defensively, the place they’re going,” Logan mentioned. “I get a bit jealous watching them guys on the market. They’re breaking information and doing issues we didn’t suppose may very well be carried out once more. Simply to observe gamers like T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, Minkah Fitzpatrick, it makes you are feeling good.”
While the offense has picked things up over the previous few weeks, the Steelers’ protection was a significant component of their wins to start the season. The Steelers have their 6-2 report now due to staunch defensive efforts early within the 12 months. They beat high quality groups together with the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers due to these efforts.
The only of metrics, factors in opposition to, exhibits how dominant the unit has been. Pittsburgh’s allowed simply 119 factors by means of eight video games. That’s tied for the second-fewest within the NFL, a median of simply 14.8 factors per sport. They’ve struggled barely in opposition to the cross, giving up the Tenth-most passing yards within the league at 1,758, and partially on account of groups throwing as they play from behind. Nonetheless, they’ve been dominant in opposition to the run. The Steelers have allowed 724 speeding yards, the fifth-fewest within the league.
Logan is aware of what an excellent Steelers’ protection appears like. Enjoying for Pittsburgh from 2001 through 2006, the ’01 and ’02 groups ranked top-ten in factors allowed. As did the 2005 protection that really tightened up for his or her playoff run, holding all 4 opponents underneath 20 factors. That included high-octane offenses just like the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks, the No. 2 and No. 1 scoring groups that 12 months. Pittsburgh is barely the third workforce in Tremendous Bowl historical past to attain that, becoming a member of the legendary 2000 Baltimore Ravens and 1983 Washington Redskins.
We’ll see if Pittsburgh’s protection continues to make Logan proud because the workforce continues their push for the playoffs.
