Assessing the Steelers defense and if it's truly better than we think
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
And that leads to another question limits.
Is the Steelers roster actually better than people think?
Is the Steelers roster actually better than people think? I think it might be. In fact, I think it is. But let's discover this for ourselves when we do the defense here. Let's start with defensive line, which right now is Derek Harmon, Keanu Benton and Cam Hayward prior to his newest contract dispute, which is no doubt coming up. And why a black the top reserve? Listen, man. Hayward is a phenomenon with all that his body's been through and his age, the mileage, the fact that he was really, really good last year. I think Benton, after taking a step back in year two, at least made up that step coming the right way last season. Harmon showed great promise. You know, there are times he faded out a little bit.
He had a couple of injuries he was dealing with. But I think we would all agree that there's great promise there. That's a good group. Agreed? Agreed. Yeah, it's good. I still have some questions about Benton moving forward, but Cam Hayward's an all-pro. Derek Harmon was their unsung hero last year. The difference in rushing yards per game was like 100 when Harmon was in the game compared to not. I don't see, you know, Keanu Benton might not be Casey Hampton, but give me those three linemen. Who's better in the division, for example?
What makes the Steelers defensive line a strong unit?
How many defensive lines altogether have a ton more talent than that? I don't know. My question is Cam. How long can he do this is one question for me going into this season. How long can he keep this up? But if he can for another year, and he did last year, right now I have to call him a really good player. And that's a good defensive line. All right. Edge rushers, unquestionably great. Well, TJ Watt had a down year. But still, you look at his numbers, and then you look at Herbig coming off the bench, and then you look at Alex Highsmith. It's a very good, let's say that, a very good group of edge rushers. Would you say that, O Limitless Wonder? I would say it is a great group, and I think this is their best positional group on the team.
Little Tom Sawyer comes off the bench, too. Yeah, because of the depth that they have, one. But also, too, Highsmith's a Pro Bowl-level player. Herbig is an up-and-coming edge rusher who I think they should pay. And TJ Watt did have one down year. Is that going to signal a passing of the guards here? Potentially. But I think Watt will bounce back and have a better year than he did a year ago in 2026. So I think it's their best unit. It's a great group still. This might be the final year. It's great. But I think it is great going into 26. Yeah, I think it's at least very good. I'm sure a lot of people would trade their edge rushers for these guys. And even TJ, you know, when we talk about TJ, It was a bad year for him and absolutely a bad year based on the money he's making.
That's not arguable. But he still had seven sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions and 48 pressures. For pretty much the whole league, that's a pretty good year. So I just wanted to point that out, limits. Not that, believe me, because of the money he's being paid, he deserves criticism for last season. Having said that, his numbers are still pretty good. All right, that brings us to inside linebacker, and that's average. I think it's below average. Yeah, maybe. I think Queen is average. And I thought Peyton Wilson was up and then down last year. So you must not really not like him, huh? And then Cole Holcomb and Malik Harrison are both still around. Is Holcomb just re-signed?
Correct. Malik is signed? Yes. I think altogether, those four, you know, with Queen clearly on the trade block here, that's an average group. Well, I think they're below average because Peyton Wilson, one of the best coverage linebackers in all of football, did not have the type of season that I think anybody expected from him. He had a poor year. We just have to come out and say it. And Queen, even though he racked up a bunch of tackles, is not a standout, elite-style linebacker that he was signed to be.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:01–0:10
2
Is the Steelers roster actually better than people think?
0:10–1:44
3
What makes the Steelers defensive line a strong unit?
1:44–7:13
4
How do the Steelers edge rushers compare to other teams?
7:13–13:41
5
What is the current state of the Steelers inside linebackers?
13:41–22:12
6
How are the Steelers corners performing this season?
22:12–22:17
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