{"id":153576,"date":"2025-06-24T01:07:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T01:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/153576\/"},"modified":"2025-06-24T01:07:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T01:07:09","slug":"can-minkah-fitzpatrick-make-a-splash-again-in-the-steelers-secondary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/153576\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Minkah Fitzpatrick make a \u2018splash\u2019 again in the Steelers secondary?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In his first 60 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick recorded 17 interceptions. But in Pittsburgh\u2019s past 28 games, the former Alabama <\/a>All-American has one interception.<\/p>\n

When asked during the NFL team\u2019s offseason program what it will take for the return of \u201cMinkah ball\u201d to the Steelers secondary, Fitzpatrick said<\/a>: \u201cI just got to play football. That\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh defensive-backs coach Gerald Alexander had a lot more to say after getting that question.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of that is not necessarily dealing with the chasing of the results,\u201d Alexander said<\/a>, \u201cbut just how do we continue to master the process that puts him in position to make plays? A lot of that comes with alignments, assignments, being a great communicator, whether it\u2019s putting himself or his teammates in positions of success or for whatever the opportunity presents itself. And then when those techniques and those opportunities align, that\u2019s when splash plays happen. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so I\u2019m not in the process of trying to chase results for Minkah or really for anybody. It\u2019s really an opportunity to just develop the details that come with the responsibilities that we have that will lead to the results that we seek.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fitzpatrick also spoke about communication when reviewing the 2024 season, saying the Steelers <\/a>had \u201ctoo many instances where one guy thought one thing and one guy thought another and we weren\u2019t on the same page and that led to a big play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fitzpatrick\u2019s solution to that is \u201cleave no gray<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFootball, I think, should be black and white,\u201d Fitzpatrick said<\/a>. \u201cThere shouldn\u2019t be, in regards to execution and schematics, there should be no gray. It should just be this is how we\u2019re doing it, this is how we\u2019re communicating it. If I give you a thumbs up, you give me a thumbs up back. If I give you a thumbs down, you give me a thumbs down back. And it\u2019s as simple as that. So when guys aren\u2019t doing it, it\u2019s establishing \u2018No, this is what we\u2019re doing, and if you don\u2019t want to do it, then you ain\u2019t going to be here.\u2019 Or you\u2019re not going to be on the field. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really pressing down and instilling that in everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

As far as alignment and assignment, Fitzpatrick said<\/a>: \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to see once we get closer to the season.\u201d<\/p>\n

The major change for the Steelers secondary this offseason was the signing of cornerback Darius Slay to pair with Joey Porter Jr. A six-time Pro Bowler, Slay comes to Pittsburgh for his 13th NFL season off a Super Bowl victory with the Philadelphia Eagles.<\/p>\n

Fitzpatrick\u2019s interceptions can\u2019t necessarily by correlated to the Steelers\u2019 defensive stats. In 2022, when Fitzpatrick tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions, Pittsburgh ranked 10th in points allowed and 13th in yards allowed among the NFL\u2019s 32 teams. In 2024, when Fitzpatrick had one interception, the Steelers ranked eighth in points allowed and 12th in yards allowed. <\/p>\n

Game results line up better. In games played by Fitzpatrick, when he has an interception, Pittsburgh has an 11-5 record, and when he doesn\u2019t, the Steelers have a 46-43-1 mark.<\/p>\n

On its summer break now, Pittsburgh opens training camp on July 23 at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The Steelers start their three-game preseason schedule on Aug 9 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.<\/p>\n

FOR MORE OF AL.COM\u2019S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE<\/a><\/p>\n

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1<\/a>.<\/p>\n