Injured Haden’s absence proves he’s MVP of defense
night because of a penalty on Artie Burns, his second lost sack of the season. He’s often unblockable and always disruptive. The Steelers are paying him $60-plus million for a reason.
Ryan Shazier is a star. He misses a lot of tackles but makes up for it with big plays — one after another — with his tremendous speed. He should go to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season. The Steelers made him a No. 1 draft pick for a reason.
T.J. Watt is on his way to being a star. He won’t be NFL rookie of the year, but he has had a significant impact in the team’s 9-2 start. He was at it again against Green Bay with a big sack late, a pass defense, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. The Steelers made him a No. 1 draft pick for a reason.
But none of those guys is the Steelers’ defensive MVP. It’s Joe Haden, right? It’s true, you really don’t miss someone until he’s gone.
All of us know Haden quickly became a big part of the defense after joining the team late in the preseason on a three-year, $27 million contract after being released by the Cleveland Browns, bouncing back from two injury-filled seasons to again take his place as one of NFL’s great cornerbacks. “Thank you, Cleveland!” Ben Roethlisberger has gushed more than once. But few realized just how valuable Haden was until he went down and out with a fractured fibula late in the first quarter of the game at Indianapolis Nov. 12. The proof is in the mind-numbing numbers:
With Haden in the first eight-plus games, the Steelers gave up one touchdown pass of 35-plus yards. Without him in the past 2¾ games, they’ve given up six. How is your stomach this morning? The distances of those six touchdowns were 75, 61, 60, 55, 54 and 39 yards. Need more? With Haden on the field, opponents completed 59.8 percent of their passes for six touchdowns and an average gain of 8.6 yards per pass. Without him, opponents have completed 63.4 percent for six touchdowns and an average gain of 14.8 yards.
Enough, already.
I want you to enjoy your breakfast.
Here’s what is really frightening:
The quarterbacks the Steelers played the past three games were Green Bay’s Brett Hundley, Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota and Indianapolis’ Jacoby Brissett.
What do you think Tom Brady will do to the Steelers secondary if Haden isn’t back for the game against New England Dec. 17?
I hate to look that far ahead with games against Cincinnati and Baltimore dead ahead, but what the heck?
I’m feeling emboldened this week.
The Steelers insist they have faith in Haden’s backup, Coty Sensabaugh. He had a nice interception and 32-yard return to set up a field goal in the win against Tennessee Nov. 16, one of four interceptions by the secondary against Mariota. But Sensabaugh also was beaten for a 75-yard touchdown in that game and for a 55-yard touchdown in the win against Green Bay. He was released by the Los Angeles Rams last season and didn’t stick with the New York Giants for a reason.
Burnshas been a bigger disappointment.He improvedrapidly as a rookie lastseason after being the team’sNo. 1 pick, to the point Ithought he was on his way tojoining the others as a star. But this season? There hasn’t been nearly so much progress. If anything, there’s been regression. Burns is a big reason the Steelers have had the most missed tackles through 11 games, according to Pro Football Focus. He also has been beaten for big plays, the 60-yard touchdown pass he gave up against Indianapolis coming to mind.
The Steelers have left the light on for Haden — to borrow a Tomlinism —- to return at some point this season. They didn’t put him on injured reserve. It’s nice to think Haden will be back for the New England game and able to play at a high level. It’s hard to imagine the Steelers winning that game without him.