Pittsburgh Steelers Make a Major Defensive Overhaul: Prioritizing Communication
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 season faced significant setbacks, largely due to their offensive struggles. However, equally concerning within the team was the defensive unit’s breakdown late in the year. The most alarming issue came from the defensive secondary, where a noticeable lack of communication led to numerous blown coverages and left defenders chasing wide-open receivers in the final five games.
This communication failure caught the attention of the organization and was identified as a critical area in need of immediate improvement. Enter Gerald Alexander, the Steelers’ new defensive backs coach, who joined the team with a clear mission: to enhance communication across the back end of the defense. Since arriving, Alexander has begun implementing both foundational and advanced communication strategies during the offseason.
One of the key goals is to establish a reliable nonverbal communication system to avoid repeating the mistakes that plagued the defense toward the end of last season. By introducing hand signals and other silent cues, the team aims to maintain clarity and synchronization even in loud game environments, where verbal communication can be difficult.
Alexander emphasized the importance of streamlining communication, explaining, “It’s a huge focus in our current process. We want the message givers and receivers on the field to be perfectly in sync. That way, everyone knows what’s happening, allowing us to set ourselves up for success.”
This renewed focus is aligned with head coach Mike Tomlin’s long-standing expectation that his defense must communicate effectively. Last season’s struggles in this area likely contributed to the defense’s conservative and uninspired play-calling, which made the unit appear one-dimensional and predictable.
By concentrating on the details of the fundamentals and refining their communication skills, Alexander believes the Steelers can expand their defensive playbook beyond simple coverages. This approach could transform the secondary into a more dynamic and versatile group, ultimately helping the Steelers maintain a top-tier defense throughout the season.
The revamped communication plan aims to address problems not just by teaching new techniques but by fostering a deeper understanding among players of the game plan and their roles within it. The hope is that this clarity will reduce mental errors and increase confidence, allowing defenders to react more quickly and cohesively during games.
In addition to focusing on communication, Alexander is also drilling the team on basic defensive principles, ensuring no detail is overlooked. He wants to build a strong foundation first, so the team can add complexity without risking breakdowns.
The Steelers recognize that a cohesive and communicative defense is essential to complementing an improved offense. Without fixing the defensive issues seen late last season, Pittsburgh risks facing similar setbacks in 2025.
If Alexander’s methods succeed, the Steelers’ defense could not only return to being one of the NFL’s most formidable units but also play a crucial role in turning around the team’s fortunes. As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on Pittsburgh’s secondary to see if this huge focus on communication translates into improved performance on the field.
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