While each position presents unique difficulties, linebacker in the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense calls for a particularly specialized set of abilities. One has to be an off-ball linebacker, who is also quick and a good communicator; Ryan Shazier embodied each of these traits. Since Shazier's career-ending injury, the Steelers have employed a number of linebackers in 2023 who are capable of putting in the same work he once did.
Defense has long been Pittsburgh's defining characteristic. In the 2008 Super Bowl, their winning defense included a number of legends, including Troy Polamalu and James Harrison. The "Steel Curtain" era of the 1970s would be another renowned phase in defense prior to that. The defense now, headed by All-Pros like T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick to name a few, is still one of the team's main strengths today.
With their eyes set on making the playoffs this year, the Steelers will operate around Watt, whose history with the team is already being developed and who will continue to assist them. A pectoral tear that kept him out of seven games was a major factor in his inability to compete last season. However, Alex Highsmith made a name for himself as a game-changer while Watt was out, who finished the 2022 campaign with 63 tackles, a team-high 14.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles. This year, playing alongside a healthy Watt will be a valuable asset for Highsmith to continue improving his performance.
Having someone like Watt on the team is sure to be a big help for them. The former first-round pick has played in five Pro Bowls in his first six seasons, has been named to three All-Pro teams, and in 2021, he became the seventh player in franchise history to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors. In that same year, one of his best plays was made against Pittsburgh's biggest rival, when he rushed the Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on a potential game-winning 2-point conversion, helping the Steelers to win in a 20-19 victory.
Steelers Linebackers Bring Physical Presence
The Steelers will be counting on their other linebackers in addition to Watt and Highsmith. Alan Saunders discusses the linebacker situation for the Steelers and how it will be a strength for the defense in a recent episode of Locked On Steelers Podcast.
Since the loss of Pittsburgh's top three players from last season at the inside linebacker position (Devin Bush, Myles Jack and Robert Spillane), their replacements Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander are sure to be an improvement. All of these guys are at the level of competition necessary to force turnovers and stifle the offense of opposing teams. Any additional gains the Steelers make this season could also depend on how well the newcomers they signed in the summer perform.
The 2023 preseason has seen a lot of playing time for all three. Alexander, who joined the Steelers in late July, has arguably put up the best performances and is well-positioned to play a prominent role in the defense this coming season. He presents a compelling prospect to play every down for the Steelers, thanks to his propensity to create plays at the line of scrimmage and his ability to cover receivers in tight spaces. Having said that, Roberts was unquestionably the best inside linebacker in the preseason win against the Atlanta Falcons, so he will be seeing a lot of time on the field as well. Holcomb also brings a lot to the Steelers' defense as a capable run defender who reliably tracks the ball's path and reaches it.
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