Pittsburgh Steelers’ mouthpiece Gerry Dulac reported on social media and on ‘X’ that the team was keeping Teryl Austin as its Defensive Coordinator. While I haven’t seen an official announcement from the team, Dulac is typically more right than wrong in these instances. Had it been up to me, Brian Flores would have been the Coordinator last year and Austin would have been the one looking elsewhere for work. But with the opportunity for hindsight, I still feel that way. However, let me take a minute to defend Austin.
Austin started the 2023 season by losing captain Cam Heyward for the first half of the season. Heyward is not replaceable regardless of who you put into his place. When he did return, he was never close to 100% the entire season – something he alluded to after the season. Austin’s All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick missed seven games due to injury and his other safety Damontae Kazee missed the final three games after being suspended for his big hits.
But the area that Austin’s unit suffered the most was at inside linebacker. Cole Holcomb missed the final nine games of the season with a knee injury while Kwon Alexander missed the final eight. Elandon Roberts amazingly just missed one full game and was no doubt playing hurt at the end of the year. With Mark Robinson just not clicking, Austin was forced to play guys off the couch like Myles Jack and Blake Martinez while having to use Practice Squad player Mykal Walker in nine games.
If it sounds like “excuse making” that’s not my intent. Every team deals with injuries and they deal with them at every position. It’s part of the game, but these injuries hurt an already depth-challenged unit. His defense surrendered about 115 yards per game on the game and gave up around 350 yards per game as well. Both of those are numbers that are unacceptable for a Steelers’ defense and must be addressed. That said, Austin’s unit still finished 6th overall in points allowed at 19.1 points per game and that’s largely why he is returning.
One of the misconceptions of Austin’s defensive style is that he was unwilling to blitz like many of those who came before him in Pittsburgh. Actually, his defense was sixth in the NFL in bringing the blitz at 34.1% of the time. Oddly enough, the team that led the NFL in blitzing was Minnesota, led by Brian Flores. What drives most of us nuts about Austin’s group is that is often looks as though there are few changes and even fewer adjustments. I’m not suggesting they overhaul the defense week to week, but there needs to be an improvement in there are staying healthy should assist this.
Ultimately I believe Mike Tomlin and the Steelers can do better than Austin but I’m also willing to give him the opportunity with a healthier unit and upgraded personnel.
