With Brett Keisel’s season ending injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers will once again have to find a way to replace a key starter on a defense that not only has been unable to find continuity on the field, but simply can’t stay healthy.
Injuries have forced the Steelers to lean on players that were not expected to play significant roles this season, some of which did not even start the season on the active roster.
Players like Will Allen, Sean Spence, Arthur Moats, Brice McCain, B.W. Webb, Antwan Blake and Daniel McCullers have all either been asked to start, or have received considerable playing time due to various injuries to Steeler starters. Though there have been a few bright spots at points, the results on the field leaning on these injury replacements has been largely disappointing.
After losing the ever dependable Keisel, the Steeler defense will once again ask the next man to step up and fill the considerable void at right defensive end. This means another player not expected to make a significant impact this season will have to get the job down the stretch filling in for Keisel.
This time it will be rookie Stephon Tuitt.
The question becomes can the second-round pick out of Notre Dame not only fill in for one of the Steelers most reliable defensive players in recent memory, can he play well enough down the stretch to help stabilize a defensive line that has struggled both with injuries and production?
Though it is rare for rookies to play in Dick LeBeau’s zone-blitz scheme, the loss of Keisel, coupled with injuries to nose tackle Steve McClendon and the awful play of Cam Thomas have the Steelers in desperation mode. The Steelers are so desperate for bodies on the defensive line that earlier this week they signed journeyman Clifton Geathers, who has played for six different teams since 2010.
In other words, with few options at their disposal, the Steelers will have to rely on Tuitt to step in for Keisel and grow up fast. This is not the usual protocol for an organization that demonstrates patience developing young defensive players, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Tuitt will not have the luxury that other Steeler defensive ends like Keisel, Aaron Smith, and Cameron Heyward had, where they were brought along with patience. In fact, it took each of those players multiple years to grow comfortable playing in the LeBeau zone-blitz scheme and be reliable starters.
Heading into Sunday’s pivotal road contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, there is simply no time for patience. The reality is each of the final four contests are essentially must win in the crowded AFC playoff race, especially if the Steelers have any plans of winning the historically competitive AFC North.
Tuitt has the size (6’5”, 305) and the pedigree after a terrific career at Notre Dame to make an impact. No question he fits to profile of a classic Steeler 3-4 end playing the five-technique, but is he physically ready to handle NFL guards and tackles as a starter?
From a “knowing the scheme” point of view, Tuitt should be fine at this point in the season. Tuitt’s primary job in the five-technique is to hold the edge, occupy blockers and allow Steeler linebackers to make plays. The real concern is if he is not physically ready to handle this for an entire game down the stretch, the Steelers rush defense could continue to take a hit.
The Steelers will face rushing offenses that rank in the top-10 in the league three of the next four weeks when then play the Bengals twice, and host the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16. As we saw last week against the Saints, when the Steelers were unable to contain Mark Ingram and allowed him to rush for 122 yards on the day, it allowed one the NFL’s best quarterbacks in Drew Brees to more easily attack the already beleaguered Steeler pass defense.
That will mean the Steelers will have to rely on a rookie to step in on the fly and play a role that Keisel had been simply outstanding at for over a decade. It’s big shoes to fill for Tuitt, but his ability to do just that will go a long way in helping the Steeler defense get on a roll over the final weeks of the season.
Photo Credit: Post-Gazette
