Steelers Safety is Key to Stopping Bijan Robinson

The Pittsburgh Steelers will need the entire defense working together and succeeding to pull out a victory in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. Entering a new chapter in the franchise, the team hopes they begin this era with a victory.

To do so, the Steelers have to find a way to limit Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. The 24-year-old tailback is perhaps the best offensive player in the NFL, and he's coming off a year where he recorded 1,476 rushing yards and 820 receiving yards. As the premier dual-threat running back in the NFL, he presents a unique and difficult challenge for the defense.

That's why the Steelers need a standout debut from their new safety. Jaquan Brisker joined his hometown team on a one-year, $5 million deal this offseason, but he is the key to the Steelers slowing down one of the best players in the league.

Stopping Robinson In Space

The book on Robinson is generally well-known, but that's what makes him even scarier to game plan against. He's an absolute freak with the ball in his hands. It doesn't matter if it's out of the backfield or as a receiver, give Bijan the ball and good things tend to happen.

The Falcons are going to feed Bijan all game long. The Steelers bring one of their best defensive line groups in recent memory, and they should help create a tough running situation for Robinson at the point of contact.

But Robinson creates even more damage after contact or making the catch. His entire career, he's been given very little space to create, yet he still produces. Last year, for example, he averaged 2.8 yards before contact on his rushing attempts. On his passing targets, he averaged -0.5 yards before the catch per reception, according to data from Pro Football Reference. Despite this, he posted 666 rushing yards after contact and 857 yards after the catch.

To sum things up, Bijan Robinson is a problem for the Steelers.