Moving Mike Mitchell to SS Won't Solve Pittsburgh Steelers' Secondary Issues

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been patiently awaiting word from longtime strong safety Troy Polamalu about his future in the NFL. But whether he chooses to retire or the Steelers instead release him from his contract, it's not likely that the eight-time Pro Bowler will be playing in Pittsburgh this year.

Though it's been long thought that fourth-round 2013 draft pick Shamarko Thomas would ultimately supplant Polamalu, he played only two defensive snaps for the Steelers in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus. He was primarily a contributor on special teams.

It's not out of the question that Thomas could become the Steelers' starting strong safety in 2014. However, it looks like the Steelers are leaning in a different direction—moving free safety Mike Mitchell to the strong safety position. Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin, speaking at the NFL owners meetings in Arizona last week, said that he is "not opposed" to Mitchell making the positional switch this year.

Snaps	Comb. Tackle	PD	INT	Tgts.	Rec.	Rec.%	Yds. Allow	YAC Allow	TD Allow
977	71	3	0	24	18	75%	210	58	2

However, simply moving Mitchell to strong safety and leaving a gap at free safety—one that could be filled by Thomas, or even Robert Golden or Ross Ventrone, should the draft not produce a rookie-year starter—doesn't solve the Steelers' problems in the secondary.

Though Tomlin expressed optimism in Arizona that Mitchell will have a better second season in Pittsburgh, optimism won't change what Mitchell is—a limited-range safety who shined brightest with the Carolina Panthers (where he played before joining the Steelers) because the front seven was so ferocious.

In 16 games played in 2014, Mitchell totaled 71 combined tackles, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles. He didn't have an interception. He ultimately ranked 62nd out of 87 safeties by Pro Football Focus, allowing 18 catches on 24 targets for 210 yards, 58 yards after the catch and two touchdowns.

Karl Walter/Getty Images

Mitchell ranked in the bottom 15 among safeties in run stopping, which was his main weakness. In coverage, he was in the top 13. So moving him from having heavier coverage responsibilities as a free safety to more in-the-box duties as a strong safety may not enhance what he does best. It would simply be a response to his experience advantage rather than an acknowledgement that strong safety would be a better fit for his skills.

What has been made apparent after one year with Mitchell in the fold is that if the Steelers want him to replicate his production in his one season with the Panthers—66 combined tackles, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions—then they will need to beef up their pass rush. 

What may have Tomlin intrigued about Mitchell as a strong safety are his pass-rush numbers. He has seven career sacks, including his time spent with the Oakland Raiders. An important component of Polamalu's game was his usage as a blitzer, and perhaps Mitchell has the same potential to close in on quarterbacks if he's positioned closer to the line of scrimmage.

However, "hoping Mitchell plays better in his second year in Pittsburgh," and "move the free safety to strong safety" are not the strategies of a team that is confident in the safety position.

The Steelers need to determine, and quickly, how ready Thomas is for a promotion to starter. They need to find additional depth—at the very least—in next month's draft, a draft that is thin at the position. And cornerback—also known as the position that can assist Mitchell or any other safety in coverage—is also a glaring need.

The Steelers are clearly looking for quick fixes for their problems, and if it works, even for just a year, then they'll be praised for their ingenuity. But right now, it looks like the Steelers are scrambling even though they are in a situation they likely anticipated well before this point in the year. Moving Mitchell might prove necessary, but it may not prove to be the right solution.