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Yahoo
a day ago
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- Yahoo
DK Metcalf says Steelers defense was so loud, he couldn't hear Mason Rudolph's adjustments
Minkah Fitzpatrick's 'communicate or get benched' warning seems to be working — as DK Metcalf claimed the Steelers defense was so loud, he couldn't hear his QB's adjustments. At mandatory minicamp, Metcalf spoke highly of Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay Jr., and Fitzpatrick — before switching gears to detail how loud the Steelers' defensive communication was (courtesy of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette): Advertisement 'The defense is great, just going against them after yesterday — high energy group, very communicative,' Metcalf said. 'I was joking with Calvin [Austin III] that for the first play out there, I couldn't hear any of the checks that Mason [Rudolph] — or the snap count that Mason was saying, 'cause the defense was talking so much. It's just refreshing to see a defense that communicates, and we're just trying to model our game after them.' Fitzpatrick previously argued that the defensive struggles of 2024 fell squarely on the shoulders of poor communication — with Metcalf's recent comments serving as proof of a massive step in the right direction for the unit. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' DK Metcalf says defense was so loud he couldn't hear Rudolph
Yahoo
4 days ago
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- Yahoo
Former Texas Standout Inks New Extension With Pittsburgh Steelers
Former Texas Standout Inks New Extension With Pittsburgh Steelers originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Pittsburgh Steelers took care of some business on Monday night. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Steelers signed strong safety DeShon Elliott to a two-year, $12.5 million extension. The deal includes $9.21 million guaranteed. Elliott was a great find by the Steelers in 2024 and paired nicely with free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Elliott finished the season with 108 total tackles, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, an interception, and six passes defended. Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott (25).© Brett Davis-Imagn Images He was heading into the final year of a two-year contract before inking this extension. Advertisement Before signing with the Steelers, he spent one season with the Miami Dolphins, one with the Detroit Lions, and three with the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens drafted him in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Texas. Elliott played at Texas from 2015-17 and appeared in 30 games, compiling 106 tackles, nine interceptions, 14 passes defended, four forced fumbles, and 2.5 sacks. Six of those interceptions came during his junior season in 2017. He has found a stable home with the Steelers and will look to repeat his success from 2024 when the 2025 season starts in September. The Steelers made the playoffs for the second-straight season last year but failed to win a playoff game, losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round. They have made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons but haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Advertisement Elliott will try to help the Steelers break that streak this upcoming season. Related: ESPN's FPI Predicts Who Will Have Most Wins in College Football This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
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Steelers sign S DeShon Elliott to two-year contract extension
On Monday night, NFL reporter Tom Pelissero posted that the Pittsburgh Steelers had signed starting strong safety DeShon Elliott to a two-year contract extension with a total value of $12.5 million and $9.21 million in guarantees. Technically speaking, the Steelers tore up Elliott's current contract that had one year remaining and gave him a new three-year deal that includes the 2025 season with a total value of $15.5 million. Locking up Elliott after a strong 2024 season at this price point is a bargain. Elliott started 14 games last season and finished second on the team with 108 total tackles. The Steelers signed Elliott in the 2024 offseason and he has been a perfect fit since day one. Elliott is an ideal pairing with Minkah Fitzpatrick and had his best season as a pro in 2024. Elliott and Fitzpatrick provide one of the best all-around safety tandems in the AFC. In addition to Elliott Fitzpatrick, the Steelers have excellent depth with free-agent addition Juan Thornhill, who can back up both spots. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers sign S DeShon Elliott to contract extension
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Steelers OTAs/ minicamp takeaways: Defense evolving, position battle updates
PITTSBURGH — Wearing dark sweat pants and a hoodie in the middle of June, new Steelers defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander jogged off the field with a purpose following the last practice of the offseason. The 40-year-old former NFL safety rejoined the Steelers in February after a one-year stint with the Las Vegas Raiders. At the time, it might have been easy to overlook the shakeup as a minor tweak to the coaching staff. But during OTAs and minicamp, Alexander was nearly impossible to miss. Advertisement 'He's a guy who's played the game,' safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. 'He doesn't just know the X's and O's of the playbook; he knows the ins and outs of the game. He knows how to put us in position to not just execute our playbook, but make plays.' Alexander's hands-on approach and energetic coaching style aren't the only things that are new on the Steelers' defense. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said that the Steelers have made several changes to their personnel and schematics after the highly compensated unit allowed 27.4 points per game over the final four weeks of the regular season and the playoff loss. Two of those five losses came at the hands of the rival Baltimore Ravens. 'We had a Baltimore problem last year,' Austin said. 'There's no way to get around it. They ran the ball down our throats, and we have to fix that if we want to contend in this division.' While rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon's addition should bolster the run defense, and the Juan Thornhill signing should allow the Steelers to lean more into their three-safety packages, Pittsburgh's problems went beyond Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. The other main problem? Miscommunications and missed assignments, which popped up most often against opponents like the Ravens and Chiefs, who like to flood zones with stacks, bunches and the en vogue 4×1 formation (which puts the running back on the same side as a trips formation, giving the offense four eligible receivers to one side). Isaiah Likely and the @Ravens jump out in front. 📺: #PITvsBAL on FOX📱: Stream on #NFLPlus — NFL (@NFL) December 21, 2024 'Those are the things that are trending,' Austin said. 'The 4×1 stuff and bunches, (the offense is) trying to confuse you so you don't get right on the guys right away.' That's where the schematic changes come in. Whether the new ideas came from Alexander himself or from the top, the new defensive backs coach was often responsible for the hands-on installs during OTAs and minicamp. Advertisement 'We're throwing in a couple new calls,' second-year defensive back Beanie Bishop said. 'Some new zones, a couple new mans and a couple new blitzes and things like that. … Obviously, teams aren't going to be prepared for certain things, like, 'Oh, we've never seen the Steelers run this.'' While Bishop didn't explicitly say what those changes will be, last year's tendencies provide clues. In 2024, the defense played a ton of single-high coverages that put Fitzpatrick in center field as the post safety. According to Pro Football Focus, Cover 3 was the Steelers' primary coverage, utilized on 38.4 percent of snaps (eighth-highest rate). Man coverage with one high safety was the second most common, played on 29.6 percent of snaps (fifth-highest rate). The Steelers also sprinkled in Cover 2 on about 12 percent of snaps (20th) and some other split-field coverages like Cover 6 (quarter, quarter, half). One coverage the Steelers didn't play a lot was quarters, or Cover 4 — a four-deep zone defense that has gained popularity in recent years. According to PFF, the Steelers played quarters at the second-lowest rate in the league (5.5 percent). Interestingly, they were the most effective team in the league when they did, producing a 0.28 EPA per play. That could change this year. It may not be a total makeover, but it is another tool in the toolbox. Why play more quarters? • One of the strengths of quarters is that it is malleable, allowing for various adjustments and checks to match the offensive formations. While quarters is time-intensive to teach initially, the coverage is self-regulating once players know the rules. That should help streamline communication. It's worth noting the Philadelphia Eagles played quarters at the sixth-highest rate in the league last year and obviously did a much better job than the Steelers at handling the Chiefs' unbalanced formations. The Steelers don't play the Chiefs in the regular season but will see plenty of 4×1, stacks and bunches against the Packers, Ravens, Colts and others. Advertisement • Adding quarters to their toolbox should also allow the Steelers to disguise more of their coverages. For a man-heavy team like Pittsburgh, quarters can often look like man coverage pre-snap. • This change should also benefit Fitzpatrick. He may be the defensive player with the most experience in quarters, as former Alabama coach Nick Saban helped popularize the defense at the college level. In some of these new looks, Fitzpatrick's role will evolve, as he goes from primarily a post safety to a more versatile defender. As we wait to see how the defense continues to evolve during training camp, here are more takeaways from OTAs and minicamp. Before the Steelers got Aaron Rodgers' signature on a one-year contract, Bishop had it on a pair of footballs. As an undrafted rookie out of West Virginia, Bishop intercepted the future Hall of Famer twice in a 37-15 victory last October. At a news conference after the game, he made a public request for Rodgers to sign the keepsakes. Rodgers agreed. The Steelers mailed the footballs to New York, where Rodgers signed them and shipped them back. Steelers rookie DB Beanie Bishop said he wanted @AaronRodgers12 to sign his two INT balls. The future HOF QB was a good sport and returned the footballs today. — Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) November 6, 2024 About seven months later, Rodgers himself arrived at the Steelers' facility. 'Every time he sees me, he says something funny,' Bishop said. 'He told me, 'Yeah, those two are going to be the last ones you get.'' For the 5-9, 182-pound nickel, adding footballs to his collection starts with solidifying his spot as the starter in a position battle with no shortage of candidates. While the offseason additions of former Jet Brandin Echols and seventh-round draft pick Donte Kent have complicated the nickel conversation, Bishop took a strong step forward through OTAs and minicamp. He confirmed he played extensively with the first-team defense. However, Bishop knows from last year that just because a player begins the year as the starter, it doesn't guarantee he'll finish the season the same way. Advertisement By the Week 9 bye, he was averaging 44.3 defensive snaps a game and had just intercepted three passes in a two-game stretch. However, when Cam Sutton returned from suspension, Bishop's role changed. He was still used at times in nickel. But most of his playing time came in the other sub-package, dime. As a result, he played less than half as much in the second half of the season (21.5 defensive snaps per game). Especially down the stretch, his playing time dwindled, as he appeared on the field for just six defensive snaps combined over the final two games. 'At the end of the day, they still don't have a lot of money invested in me,' Bishop said. 'They obviously drafted a guy (Kent) this year. Brought in (Echols). So I'm never just comfortable and like, 'Oh yeah, this is my spot.' No, I'd never think like that. I always got to have the chip on my shoulder because I still don't forget where I come from.' To keep his spot, Bishop needs to improve his communication, as he was one of the players often in the middle of breakdowns. He also admitted that sometimes he had 'bad eyes' in man coverage. While his ball skills helped him earn an NFL opportunity, he'll need to become more well-rounded to have a long NFL career. The Steelers drafted Harmon in the first round, knowing they'd need a Day 1 starter. In case there was any question, defensive line coach Karl Dunbar made it clear that's where the former 6-foot-4, 313-pound defensive tackle will begin his NFL career. 'He's our left starting defensive tackle,' Dunbar said. 'You can write that.' While the Steelers have, in some instances, broken in their rookies slowly, it's no surprise to see Harmon atop the depth chart already. Offseason addition Daniel Ekuale started 16 games last year for the Patriots, but that was due to Christian Barmore's absence. Ekuale, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Dean Lowry, Logan Lee and others fit better as rotational pieces. The real question when it comes to playing time along the defensive line is: How do the Steelers split playing time among interior defensive linemen in sub-packages when there are just two on the field with two outside linebackers to create a four-man front? Harmon, who led FBS interior defensive linemen in pressures last year, looks the part with his quickness and strong hands. I'm looking forward to seeing him in pads. Advertisement In a similar way to Dunbar, wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni gave his depth-chart update. 'I think that No. 2 spot is all Calvin (Austin III)'s right now,' Azzanni said. Austin often has been the receiver first through the lines in drills. His speed took the top off the defense last year and was highlighted by Russell Wilson's deep ball. With a new QB, his detailed route running will need to shine. While Austin seems poised to build upon what was a bit of a breakout 2024 campaign (36 receptions, 548 yards, four touchdowns), a potential trade or Roman Wilson's growth could change that dynamic. Regardless of whether the Steelers add a pass catcher or not, they will use all of their receivers in a variety of roles. It's just a matter of how much more Austin is used compared to the others. When Rodgers arrived in Pittsburgh, he had a question for QB coach Tom Arth. 'The last thing I want to do is start talking in the meeting and take time away from you,' Arth remembers Rodgers saying. 'But he's like, 'If I see something, do you mind if I share what I see?' ' 'I'm like, Aaron, please,' Arth laughed. 'That's going to be one of the greatest benefits — to me, to all of us, especially to Will.' Sometimes when a veteran comes in at a certain position, there are easy narratives about mentorship. But in the case of Rodgers, his interest in helping the rookie feels genuine. Rodgers sits next to Howard in the QB room. On numerous instances during minicamp, Rodgers was giving Howard pointers on his dropback and other fundamentals. 'He's a great mentor,' Howard said. 'There's already some things he's said to me that have already helped me. I'm just excited to learn as much as I can from that guy and take everything he says and try and put it in the bank.' (Photo of Beanie Bishop: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. Praises New Defensive Addition
Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. Praises New Defensive Addition originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Coming off a season in which the defense carried the team through most of the year, the Pittsburgh Steelers improved the unit this offseason. Advertisement Pittsburgh returns standout defenders like Joey Porter Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick, but has added some new pieces as well. One of those pieces is exciting some of the veterans. Pittsburgh added cornerback Darius Slay this offseason in free agency on a one-year, $10 million deal with just under $9 million guaranteed in his signing bonus. Slay, who is entering his 13th season, played a pivotal part in the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl championship season and helped mold young players on the roster last year. Pittsburgh hopes Slay can do the same for the Steelers' young players in the upcoming season. Advertisement Porter Jr. talked about Slay on Thursday and discussed his impact so far. "I told him when he got here, I'm always going to be in his ear," Porter said. "It's just a little simple conversation we have with just certain plays that I see, or ask him if he's seen it differently, or what would you do in these different types of situations. I'm always gonna ask him to be in his ear about that, and he's a great guy, 'cause he's always gonna give me knowledge on the game, and that's what he really wants to do. So it's been great." Porter has already shown he has great potential in the NFL, but he still has a long way to go to reach that potential. Slay could be a key piece of helping the Steelers' secondary return to greatness with a lot of young talent on the roster. Related: 'Speed of the Game!' Steelers First-Round Draft Pick Reveals Biggest Adjustment Related: 'He Wants More!' Steelers 4th-Round Draft Pick Impresses Early This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
