Blitzburgh. That name conjures up memories of Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers and defensive backs driving opposing quarterbacks into the dirt. However, in recent years, it feels like the Steelers scaled that back a bit, preferring to just use their outside linebackers to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks.<\/p>\n
When that works, it\u2019s great. That means you can blanket the opponent\u2019s receiving options. When it doesn\u2019t work, NFL players find ways to get open. So, you have to make adjustments. That\u2019s exactly what beat writer Mark Kaboly thinks will happen under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you might see more blitzing,\u201d Kaboly said Friday on 93.7 The Fan\u2019s The PM Team<\/a>. \u201cI mean, forever, Mike Tomlin, even the entire staff, I don\u2019t know if it came from Tomlin or if that was just a belief of the staff, is get pressure with four, get pressure with four, get pressure with four. Sometimes that\u2019s detrimental when you can\u2019t get pressure with four, you can sit back there and pick them apart. So, I think we\u2019re gonna see more people coming off the edge.\u201d<\/p>\n The Steelers did work on bringing Blitzburgh back a bit last year. Through the season\u2019s first six weeks, the Steelers blitzed 35.5 percent of the time<\/a>, the third-highest percentage in the league. They were also very successful, generating pressure 30.9 percent of the time, also third in the league.<\/p>\n That blitzing percentage was not sustainable, though. Pittsburgh still blitzed a lot, the defense finishing the season with the eighth-highest percentage at 29.6, per Sharp Football Analysis.<\/a> The Steelers had to make adjustments due to struggles on the backend of the defense.<\/p>\n Part of that was due to the struggles in coverage for players like CB Darius Slay. The other big factor was the injury issues that plagued the safety position, forcing Jalen Ramsey to move to safety essentially full-time.<\/p>\n