For all of the Pittsburgh Steelers many changes this offseason, the franchise ran it back at inside linebacker. Same players. Same position coach. The hope, it seems, is changing everything else will be what improves the unit.<\/p>\n
A unit that must get better. Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson have flashed but neither have found consistency. Queen\u2019s tenure has been defined by ups and downs, legitimately great stretches followed by poor ones. Wilson is a decent cover linebacker but struggles against the run and has hardly played<\/a> in Pittsburgh\u2019s true base defense because of it.<\/p>\n Everything behind is depth. Malik Harrison thumps against the run but not as forcefully as Elandon Roberts and sits as a niche role player. Carson Bruener shined on special teams as a rookie but is doubtful to help out much on defense. Cole Holcomb valiantly played his first NFL snaps since returning from his 2023 knee injury, but he\u2019s not a full-time starter.<\/p>\n Inside linebacker joined quarterback as the only two positions that did not see a coaching change. Scott McCurley returns for his second season with the team. Given his deep ties to Mike McCarthy, who hired him in Green Bay in 2006, it\u2019s no surprise he stuck around. It\u2019s also fair to question if that\u2019s the right move. McCurley has tenure but hasn\u2019t been well-regarded as a coach and last year\u2019s unit performance did nothing to change his reputation.<\/p>\n So what changes? The rest of it. A new defensive coordinator in Patrick Graham with his own ideas and tweaks. Graham\u2019s coaching is rooted in front seven play, d-line and linebackers, and he\u2019ll be the primary game planner and gameday playcaller. A defensive line bolstered by free agent signing Sebastian Joseph-Day to give the Steelers better depth than recent years.<\/p>\n More importantly, the potential and hopeful second-year surge of Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black. The better the d-line plays, the better the linebackers will, too.<\/p>\n Queen and Wilson\u2019s own play could also improve. Queen\u2019s entering his 7th NFL season but doesn\u2019t turn 27 until August<\/a>. He remains in the prime of his career. If Pittsburgh finds a way to take some responsibility off his plate<\/a> and let him play more free, his performance could spike. Wilson is entering a critical third season, but it wouldn\u2019t be shocking if the light finally came on. The talent is there. He just must play more downhill and defeat blocks with regularity.<\/p>\n