Steelers’ weakened pass defense faces challenge
Patriots will face a thin secondary short of experience.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Sean Davis in the second round last spring, defensive coordinator Keith Butler reveled in the possibilities.
Here was a 6-foot-1, 202pound guy who could play both safety and cornerback depending on the situation, someone with the size and the speed to keep up with — if not totally neutralize — players such as New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Davis may very well develop into such a player, but he’s not there yet.
“You would like to think we could put him on Gronk and say we got him,” Butler said. “I don’t think anybody can do that.”
Particularly on the NFL’s 30th-ranked pass defense, one that faces Gronkowski, Tom Brady and the rest of the NFL’s most diverse offense Sunday when the Patriots (5-1) visit Heinz Field.
Brady has lit up the Steelers for 24 touchdowns against just three interceptions in 10 meetings with the Steelers (4-2), most of them against variations of the “Steel Curtain” that were far more imposing than the current iteration.
The growing pains have been evident. Davis has seen his playing time fluctuate and didn’t play one defensive snap in last week’s onesided 30-15 loss to Miami . He may not get back in the lineup this weekend either.
Cornerback Artie Burns, a first-round pick, is improving but still very much a work in progress. Special teams ace Rob Golden is in his first year as a starting safety and his main backup is Jordan Dangerfield, a former practice squad player.
Throw in linebacker Ryan Shazier and the balky knee that’s kept him out of the lineup for a month plus a pass rush that’s been more rumor than fact in Pittsburgh’s two losses (zero sacks) and the prospect of facing a dominant Brady seems like a mismatch.