Slay and Porter Jr. Could Be the Missing Link in Steelers Sacks

The Pittsburgh Steelers have never shied away from hunting quarterbacks. From James Harrison to T.J. Watt, this franchise has made a living off getting after the passer. But after a slight dip in the sack rankings, the Steelers are banking on a reloaded secondary to help bring the pressure back in full force.

Enter veteran All-Pro Darius Slay and rising star Joey Porter Jr.

With both corners bringing serious man coverage skills to the table, Pittsburgh might finally have the perfect setup to unleash its signature defensive chaos. Over the past few years, the Steelers’ pass rush has been elite, even when the coverage wasn’t. But that’s about to change. Slay is known for locking down opposing WR1s in tight man coverage, which gives defensive coordinator Teryl Austin much more freedom to send the heat.

When corners can hold their own in single coverage, it forces quarterbacks to hang onto the ball a little longer, and a little longer is all T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith needs to wreck a play.

Slay’s arrival also opens the door for more aggressive looks like Cover 1 or even Cover 0, which is perfect for sneaky blitzes from off-ball linebackers like Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, or even safeties such as DeShon Elliott or Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Joey Porter Jr. Is Coming Into His Own

Slay brings experience, but Porter Jr. brings hunger and a ton of upside. He’s already shown flashes of being a lockdown guy, with standout games against some of the league’s best.

Now heading into Year 3, Porter looks more confident, more physical, and far more consistent. With Slay on one side and Porter locking down the other, Pittsburgh finally has two legit man corners again, a luxury they haven’t had in a while.

That kind of coverage forces quarterbacks into hesitation, and hesitation leads to sacks.

When Coverage and Pressure Work Together

There’s an old football saying: rush and coverage go hand in hand. And in today’s NFL, where quarterbacks get the ball out lightning quick, especially against the Steelers, even a second of delay can change everything.

Now, with a bolstered secondary, the Steelers have the kind of defense where both the front and back end can win. That’s the formula that helped them lead the league in sacks for five straight seasons (2017 – 2021), and it’s one they’re hoping to recapture.

This defense feels deeper, faster, and more balanced than it has in years.

Slay’s Impact Goes Beyond the Field

Slay isn’t just a playmaker, he’s a pro’s pro. He brings leadership, playoff experience, and a tone-setting mindset that this young secondary can feed off. Expect him to be a vocal leader in the film room, a mentor to Porter Jr., and a steadying presence throughout the season.

It’s not just about what he does on Sundays, it’s how he raises the bar for the entire unit Monday through Saturday.

Bottom Line: The Sack Race Is Back On

The Steelers already have the firepower up front, Watt, Highsmith, Heyward, along with Nick Herbig and rookie Derrick Harmon. Now they’ve got the coverage to match.

With Slay and Porter Jr. locking things down on the back end, Pittsburgh can open up the full playbook, blitzes, stunts, disguises, you name it. And if things click the way they hope, don’t be surprised if they’re back on top of the league in sacks by the end of the year.

Right where they believe they belong.

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