Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers are known for their defense. When Mike Tomlin took over as head coach in 2007, he inherited a defense from Bill Cowher that ranked in the top five of the NFL seven times in the previous 15 years looking to continue that trend. In his first six seasons as head coach, Pittsburgh’s defense would rank in the top five of the NFL every single year. That brings the organization to 2013 and the curious case of Pittsburgh’s linebacker problem.
In Tomlin’s first draft in 2007, he selected Lawrence Timmons (No. 15 overall) and LaMarr Woodley (No. 46 overall).These two players would be instrumental in making Pittsburgh’s defense the juggernaut it became. They were added to an already impressive corps of linebackers in Larry Foote, James Farrior and James Harrison.
It’s not like the Steelers didn’t know players got older.
In 2010, Pittsburgh used the No. 52 overall pick in the draft to select DE Jason Worilds. They would convert Worilds to an OLB, and he would have a modest career at best before retiring after the 2014 season.
In 2012, they drafted Sean Spence (No. 86 overall). Spence would have a devastating knee injury and not return completely healthy to the team until 2014. Even when healthy, Spence did not provide Pittsburgh with the spark or talent to secure the position.
The Steelers used back-to-back first-round picks on Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier the past two drafts. Jones has been an enigma at best, and Shazier struggled with injuries and did not show the explosiveness that one would have hoped for out of such a high draft pick.
In 2014, Tomlin relied on Timmons and a returning Harrison to shore up his defense. They finished in the bottom half of the NFL in yards allowed, pass yards per attempt and rush yards per attempt.
The truth is, Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert have completely missed on their defensive draft picks. This is a huge cause for concern as Pittsburgh has not been a team that brings in notable or high-end free agents. They have always built through the draft.
Excluding the 2007 draft class and linebackers previously mentioned, these are the only defensive contributors Pittsburgh has attained through the draft in the past seven years: Cameron Hayward (No. 31 overall, 2011), Cortez Allen (No. 128 overall, 2011), Shamarko Thomas (No. 111 overall, 2013), Vince Williams (No. 206 overall, 2013) and Stephon Tuitt (No. 46 overall, 2014).
Allen was benched last season after getting a new contract. Thomas has yet to see any meaningful and productive playing time. Heyward has made great progress that past two years, and Tuitt looks like he can be a solid anchor on the defensive line. Williams, who plays hard and has earned fans’ respect, has been counted on to do too much already in his young career.
Pittsburgh is in quite the bind; Ben Roethlisberger is only getting older and the defense is potentially wasting the best years of his career. Retirements in the offseason in the defensive backfield, coupled with an older Timmons and Harrison and a departing defensive coordinator in Dick LeBeau mean Pittsburgh is going to need a great draft this year.
Otherwise, the Steelers might start looking like the team of the 80s that fans have all tried to forget.
