Steelers' Secondary Problems Exposed in Loss to Saints

The Achilles’ heel of the Pittsburgh Steelers showed itself in a huge way on Sunday in a 35-32 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Once again it was the defensive secondary that fell flat on its face and put the rest of the team in a hole that was too much to dig out of.

The Steelers pass defense has been average statistically most of the season but less than that on the field each week. The Steelers are No. 16 in the NFL in passing yards allowed at 241.6 per game. Not terrible by any means, but it seems that the big plays are what continues to hurt this unit—and by extension this team.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Pittsburgh had hoped to get a shot in the arm with the return of cornerback Ike Taylor and safety Troy Polamalu. Taylor had missed eight consecutive starts since breaking his forearm in Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers. Polamalu had missed the previous two weeks while recovering from a knee sprain suffered in Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans.

And they would need a spark with Saints quarterback Drew Brees coming to town with his cast of characters. Even in a down year where the Saints came into Sunday’s game at 4-7, you knew they would still be able to move the football through the air. After all, they are No. 3 in the league in passing yards at 308.8 per game.

Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau seemed to have a plan of attack to try and minimize the damage. As Adam Crowley of Steelers News Radio pointed out, even though Brees wasn’t going down, the pressure, particularly in the A-Gap, was throwing Brees off his game: 

"

The #Steelers are having some success getting after Brees. Haven't got him on the ground yet, but recent pressure causes errant throw.

— Adam Crowley (@adamcrowleySNR) November 30, 2014"

Unfortunately, when the pressure didn’t come, problems started to arise. Ideally, a defensive front and secondary work in unison to stop an opposing offense. However, that isn’t the case here. When things aren’t working up front, there is very little LeBeau can do with the talent he has at his disposal.

One player in particular who seemingly had his way with the Steelers secondary was second-year wide receiver Kenny Stills. Stills finished the game with five receptions for 162 yards and one touchdown. 

"

Drew Brees + all kinds of time = Kenny Stills TD. Give Brees a #KABOOM! #NOvsPIT

— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLfantasy) November 30, 2014"

For all of the attention that the Steelers secondary gave to wide receiver Marques Colston and tight end Jimmy Graham, it was Stills who took advantage of the mismatches and mistakes by the Steelers secondary.

There are really two questions to ask with four games left to go. Can this secondary improve over the next four games? And regardless of the answer to the first, what can be done in the offseason to fix things for 2015?

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To answer the first, there is very little that can be done with only a month in the regular season to go. This is a unit that is aging and lacking severely in athleticism. This is compounded with poor technique and tackling.

Even the veteran Taylor couldn’t make the fundamental plays needed to help this team, as pointed out by Bleacher Report’s Matt Bowen: 

"

Ike Taylor jumped the double-move in Quarters coverage. Wasn't a great route, but anytime a DB puts his eyes in the backfield, it's trouble.

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) November 30, 2014"

A point reinforced by Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller:

"

Ike Taylor destroyed by Kenny Stills

— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) November 30, 2014"

If I am a part of the Steelers front office, I am scouring NFL practice squads and free agents in hopes of finding a hidden gem or two at cornerback and/or safety to add to this team down the stretch. Even if they don’t play right away, they might push some of the current roster to play with some sense of urgency.

Players like safeties Mike Mitchell and Troy Polamalu have become more of a liability than anything else for the defense. As great as Polamalu has been, this team must address the future at that position.

And Mitchell has been dreadful. The next great play Mitchell makes in the secondary will be his first. Unfortunately, his contract is structured in such a way that the Steelers are stuck with him through the 2015 season.

Looking beyond this season, Pittsburgh has to seriously rebuild this group. Financially things aren’t ideal, but that doesn't mean there cannot be some changes. Here are the 2015 free agents in the secondary as of now:

• Ike Taylor, CB
• Brice McCain, CB
• Antwon Blake, CB
• Will Allen, S
• Robert Golden, S

In addition, cornerback William Gay will be a free agent in 2016, and his release would give the Steelers $1.67 million in cap relief if he were released. Will anyone be shocked if the majority of these guys are either released or not re-signed? I won’t be.

Don Wright/Associated Press

This means the Steelers will have to make defensive backs with elite long speed a top priority. Watching opposing wide receivers run away from these cornerbacks is incredibly frustrating. There won't likely be a lot that can be done in the free-agent market, so expect multiple draft picks committed to the secondary. And that is fine by me.

This unit has some serious challenges ahead of it in the final four games. Two against the Cincinnati Bengals means a double dose of A.J. Green, and the Atlanta Falcons will bring Julio Jones to the party. If the Steelers want to make the playoffs, it is going to take a mix of more pressure, less passive coverage and some good fortune.