Steelers defense has Stephen A. Smith ‘very concerned’ after heavy offseason investment

In the opener against the New York Jets, new signing Aaron Rodgers and the offense kept the defensive questions somewhat at bay.

However, when Arthur Smith‘s offense failed to get anything going, all eyes swung towards a defense that was being torn apart on the ground, and to an extent in the air.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense’s inability to stop the run is a major concern

Ahead of the season, the Seahawks’ running game was one of the most exciting parts of their new offense under Klint Kubiak, and it looked good against the Steelers.

However, that was in part due to the Steelers’ inability to stop the run, as was seen with Breece Hall the previous week, as the New York Jets’ run game looked excellent. Stephen A. Smith is ‘very concerned.’

Speaking on ESPN’s First Take, Smith said: “I think it’s the defense because the Steelers have already given up as many 30-point games in the first two games of this season as they did all of last season.

“I’m very, very concerned about that. And I’m very, very concerned because of injuries. Joey Porter Jr. is out. Deshon Elliott was out yesterday during the game.

“Alex Highsmith, Isaiah Loudermilk, Patrick Queen , and Payton Wilson all left the game due to injuries. And so now you’re expecting at least a couple of them to miss a couple of weeks or so because of the high ankle sprains, and they’re already depleted.

“So I’m very, very concerned about that because they can’t stop the run. They’re surrendering about 150 yards a game, 4.4 yards a carry.

“You look at Kenneth Walker III right there. That’s 19 yards. He walked into the end zone untouched, 19 yards, and nobody touched him.

“That’s not a Steelers defense that I’m accustomed to seeing, and that’s what has me concerned coming into this season.”

Damien Woody more concerned about Arthur Smith’s Pittsburgh Steelers offense

While First Take is well known for hyperbole, the concern about the Steelers is very valid, and former New England Patriots guard Damien Woody was more worried about their offense.

Over two games, lead running back Jaylen Warren has averaged 3.4 yards per carry, a yard under what their defense is allowing to opposition offenses.

Woody responded: “I’m more concerned about the offense. And here’s why… They cannot run the football, and that is the whole premise of this offense under Arthur Smith. They want to run it.

“They want play action pass. When you take away the run aspect, you basically put everything on Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Rodgers was sacked four times last week against the Jets with countless more pressures.

“That Seattle defense got after Aaron Rodgers again. Guys. We’re talking about a 41-year-old quarterback. That’s right now playing in a one-dimensional offense.

“If they can’t run the football, it will be open season on Aaron Rodgers, and he will not last throughout the season under the constant barrage of opposing defenses because they’re one-dimensional.”

Up next for the Steelers is the Patriots, who are also having serious problems establishing their run game currently under Josh McDaniels.