Mark Madden: Steelers need more from so-called elite defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ game plan for 2024 seems to be combining elite defense with a big-time running game as designed by new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith when he had that job at Tennessee.

When Smith had Derrick Henry in his prime. Not Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren running behind an offensive line featuring the apparently irreplaceable Dan Moore Jr.

That’s another column.

Let’s examine instead the Steelers’ elite defense, which wasn’t elite last year. You say it was. It wasn’t.

For that defense to be elite, here’s what’s required:

• Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick must be among the NFL’s top five in interceptions. He wasn’t involved in a single takeaway last year.

• Edge rusher T.J. Watt has to lead the NFL in sacks and stay healthy.

• Edge rusher Alex Highsmith has to be an even better Robin to Watt’s Batman.

• Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward needs to stay healthy and play above average. (He’s 35. Asking more would be unrealistic.)

• Second-year defensive lineman Keeanu Benton must take another step up.

• Patrick Queen and Elandon Roberts have to mesh at inside linebacker and not get hurt. It would be a godsend if inside ’backer Cole Holcomb were somehow available after having major knee surgery.

• Joey Porter Jr. has to be a top-five cornerback and effectively deployed like an island guy against the foe’s top receiver.

• Safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Donte Jackson can’t stink.

• Prodigal son Cam Sutton must solidify the sub packages and add an element of blitz nickel that the Steelers lacked last year.

• Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has to do better. He recently said Fitzpatrick needs to focus on his biggest attributes after being asked to “do too much stuff” last year. Well, duh. Get it right this time.

That’s the blueprint. It all has to add up.

Last season, it didn’t.

In 2023, the Steelers defense allowed 19.1 points per game, sixth-fewest in the NFL. That’s close to elite.

But it was 21st in yards allowed at 342.1 per game. That’s not elite.

Here’s where the excuses start: “The defense was on the field too much, yak, yak, yak.”

The Steelers ranked 20th in time of possession at 29 minutes, 26 seconds. Not great, but hardly demoralizing.

If your defense is supposed to be elite, a marginal disadvantage like that shouldn’t matter.

But it enabled some of the citizens to somehow blame then-offensive coordinator Matt Canada when the defense struggled.

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The defense ranked eighth in takeaways, just four off the lead. That’s good.

It ranked 11th in sacks, 13 fewer than the leader. That’s inadequate when you’ve got Watt, who topped the NFL with 19.

The Steelers are spending $162 million on defense, most in the NFL.

The defense wasn’t elite last year. It was solid, no better. It needs to be elite this year, because the offense might not be very good: Old, fading quarterback, worst group of pass-catchers in the NFL, outdated approach.

What constitutes “elite”?

The defense needs to be top five in three of these four categories: Points, yards, takeaways and sacks. That’s tangible. That’s elite.

Having a few elite players on defense isn’t the same as having an elite defense.

Calling the Steelers defense elite is one of those things you think you can speak into truth. Like Mike Tomlin being a great coach. Say it till you believe it.

But the defense needs to actually do it.