After showing signs in 2020, Haden appeared to have lost an extra step this past season, continuing to make veteran savvy plays, such as a game sealing tackle against Tennessee, yet far too often failing to show that he could contend opposing teams receivers downfield. While Haden’s time as a boundary starter in the league is likely done, a transition to a full time nickel or third safety type role in sub package could pave a path for him to remain in the league, although likely not in Pittsburgh.
Terrell Edmunds responded well this past season, continuing to improve even after the Steelers declined to pick up his fifth year option. Particularly in the run and screen game, Edmunds continued to prove that he is an above average box defender at the position, setting a new career high with 8 tackles for losses, all while continuing to provide effective man coverage against opposing tight ends. While he will never generate turnovers at a rate to justify his first round selection, Edmunds has proven to be a competent starter at the safety position, and compliments the ball hawking Minkah Fitzpatrick well, making it important for the team to retain him at a reasonable cost this offseason.
James Pierre entered the 2021 season with aspirations of taking a larger role in the defense after gaining a larger role ahead of a blowout playoff loss to the Browns. While he tackled well and showed physicality, far too often, Pierre was both unable to locate the football downfield and lacked the patience to contend with shallow and intermediate routes. After struggling mightily in a Week 12 matchup against the Bengals breakout star Jamar Chase, Pierre was demoted in favor of Ahkello Witherspoon, who was arguably the team’s best cornerback down the stretch. Entering 2022, with the potential loss of Joe Haden, Pierre will likely enter camp as a special teamer and depth piece, working to compete and regain a role in the teams sub packages, hopefully having learned from his first extensive snaps of defense.
Tre Norwood had about as good of a rookie campaign as could be expected from a 7th round draft selection, largely answering questions about his shaky tackling at the collegiate level and showing a strong ability to excel in man coverage on the inside as a dime defender. Not only was Norwood effective in assuming Sutton’s former role as the teams primary Dime defender, but he also showed the ability to play nickel cornerback on passing downs, as well as filling in for Minkah Fitzpatrick for a game at free safety, a testament to his high football IQ. Entering 2022, Norwood will continue to serve as a fixture in the teams sub packages, while also serving as a versatile top backup at both safety spots, not bad for a 7th round draft selection.
In total, while the Steelers secondary finished the year with 11 interceptions, slightly down from their previous year’s output, not having a single defensive back finish with over 10 pass breakups is the more concerning figure. As bad as things were, they could have been even worse if not for the team playing effective situational defense, finishing 11th in the league in both third down and red zone defense.
Overall, entering 2022, if the team is able to retain Witherspoon and Terrell Edmunds in free agency, while potentially getting back Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu in the front seven, they would be best suited to return to their single high, Cover 1 centric defensive scheme which had them atop the league in 2019 and 2020. Simply put, if a team can not force quarterbacks to make tight window throws and consistently pressure them with a four man rush, said team will have no chance of competing with the league’s upper echelon offenses come playoff time. Depending on what happens in free agency, cornerback could end up being a potential mid round target for the Steelers in this year’s upcoming draft.