Steelers Burning Question: Will the 2025 defense be better than 2024?
Last season I did the Friday Night Steelers Six Pack and wondered if it was worth doing further. After all, interaction was not great, and sometimes you just have to adjust. So I decided to call an audible, and not just abandon the Friday night meeting of the black-and-gold minds.
Instead of six questions, I wanted to focus solely on one question.
We’ll still do the preamble of what you’re eating/drinking/listening to, but we’ll focus our attention on the one Steelers question of the week. Don’t worry, most weeks I’ll do a bonus/extra credit question for fun. With all that out of the way, let’s get to the question!
Is there a chance the 2025 defense is better than 2024?
Thursday’s Pittsburgh Standard Time podcast with Dave Schofield and Greg Benevent talked about how good the 2025 Steelers defense could be this upcoming season. It got me thinking. Could the 2025 defense be better than 2024?
When I thought about it more, I can actually see the 2025 version being better than last season.
Hear me out…
The defensive line was bolstered by two rookies and the expected step up by Keeanu Benton. Cole Holcomb returning, Payton Wilson going into Year 2, and Carson Bruener being added only make that room deeper and more impressive. Juan Thornill his a step up at safety over Damontae Kazee. Darius Slay will help Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice Jr., and Jack Sawyer being a rotational pass rusher will help keep T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith fresh.
I’m all-in on the 2025 Steelers defense being better.
What say you?
As for what I’m eating we’re getting Chipotle, a great way to end the week. As for drink, it’s going to be store bought kombucha and the Spotify DJ on the bluetooth speaker!
Happy Friday everyone!!
Okay, Pgh defense in ’24 ranked 8th in points allowed, 12th in yds allowed (6th rush and 25th pass) and 1st in turnovers (1st in FR, 3rd in INT). Keep up w/turnovers. 10th in sacks (40) and 12th in QB pressures, opportunities to strongly improve defending passes. Seems Pgh added four or so men to address the pass (and run) defense, are the defensive coaches going to be about letting them piay to win instead of not to lose?
They should improve, by gum, at least versus mediocre teams. Wife’s coming home tonight from Europe, don’t know what she’ll want to eat.
Drinking GFJ from Sun King! :gasp: Later I will be making a 1/2 pound semi smash burger. With cheese. Jalapeno colby cheese.
As to the question. I DO believe the Steelers will be better defensively this season. I think they shored up a few positions (DL, ILB, maybe DB) that could have used a little help last season. In fact, I think they are going to have to make a few cuts along the DL and at ILB that are going to be very tough to make. Of course, I say this now in June when the training camp will be the real determining factor. But, on paper there appears to be some tough cuts upcoming.
I will even go so far as to say I think the offense also is better this year. For me, it starts on the OL. Some of it is wishful projection in hoping this mostly young line matures and gets better. And an argument can be made that the offensive pieces are better situated for a true Arthur Smith offense. So, I’m hopeful!
There’s cause for hope. Definitely there is secondary improvement on paper. Wife and son on ground!
Did AARod pass the physical? Haven’t heard.
I have not either.
Finally heard the management was pleased with his conditioning. Thumbs up.
1/2 LB burger with jalapeño colby? Oh man, your doin it right SY.
When you get to be my age JoeBwan, you’ve gotta live it up and enjoy each moment my friend! 😉
Listening to Yacht Rock.
Eating BBQ brisket with mac and cheese, and coleslaw, with a little cornbread.
Drinking Founders Centennial IPA. I’m a fan. I’ve had it many times, and it’s a great value when on sale for less than 20 bones for a 15 pack. 7.2%, It’s got a great honey color, but it’s a tad harsh – not for IPA beginners.
So the question is “Will the D be better in 25”? Made some much needed coaching and personnel changes in the secondary, so I sincerely hope so; because, I believe they’re going to see a whole lot of what kicked their asses for the last third of the season last year until they prove they can adjust to it. I am not at all sold on the notion the D line is better. Far too many unknowns for me to bet on it. This is the area I am most concerned with.
Yes, scheming DL may help, would be nice if Butler could be consulted. Ended up having a BLTA sandwich, unsweetened iced tea, and blackberry pie, the last of which I really wanted.
I love me a BLT, but what’s the A? Asparagus? Anchovies? Unsweetened tea, and pie too. Pretty nice MattCat. Pretty nice indeed.
A for avocado, it’s good enough for me. Was good to have wife and son home. Tomorrow, Slovenian tea. I like brisket, the other foods on your menu must be careful with,sadly. Underrated BBQ in NC.
I ALSO love me a BLT — heavy on the B!! I must admit I have never ventured into BLTA land though. Don’t think I’d say no though. And yes please on the brisket!
Avocado! Yeah that makes a lot more sense than what I said.
NC definitely has some good BBQ. Especially the vinegar based sauce.
Eastern-style is my preference, too
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Going to be in Baltimore for Billy Strings concert on Halloween weekend. Would be cool to meet up for a beer(or multiple)and some food if you would like to.
Holloween is a ways out, and I barely know what I’m doing next week (just found out a couple weeks ago that I’m in Arkansas for three weeks starting Monday) but if I’m around I’m in! Sounds like a good time.
I think I’d be fun to have an SCN get together type thing. Like a season kickoff BBQ kinda deal where you can meet the writers, and other community members. I don’t have logistics figured out, I’m just an idea guy, I’ll let Jeff handle the details.
That would be fun
Hope you fellas can work it out, crabcakes to be on menu?
I’m never against ideas like this…it’s the logistics which sometimes get in the way.
I’ve toyed with a charity golf scramble (you don’t have to be good, or even a golfer to attend) where we can all have a meet-and-greet, do some live shows, and raise some money for a good cause.
As for the cause, it would likely be somewhere for ALS research. Not just because the Steelers lost Tunch to the disease, but I lost one of my best friends 11 years ago at age 37 to it as well.
I’ve thought about this for sure…
I’m halfway across the country from Baltimore, but this sounds like a fun time!
Also Jeff, I just want to say how damn excited I am to see all the commenting activity on MANY of the articles! I can remember back in the beginning when I was sometimes the only “outside” commenter! You guys have created something awesome here and are doing amazing work! Just wanted to say that.
Agreed.
I’ll add that I needed aTV before posting. Old Tizen crashed when I tried to post with the old one.
Thanks SY!! This is just the beginning!
Modelo as always along with pizza from Jet’s pizza in Greenville, NC.
The defense should be better just by the added help on the line. Stopping the run is key along with tying oline during passing situation.
The Steelers defense would greatly improve if they were to replace Teryl Austin with a better defensive coordinator. Out of any position on defense, he is easily the weakest. Fortunately for him, we have such outstanding players that they are able to put up respectable numbers but that doesn’t mean that they looked good or won games. Philly, KC, and Baltimore ran all over us, three games in a row and there were zero adjustments. Just doing the same thing over and over.
Tomlin might dislike that idea, LK
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s the Steelers defense shuold be much better in 2025 against the run and pass if Mike Tomlin start rookies day one Derrick Harmon and use CB/S as a good chest piece in the Steelers secondary and I also hope that CB Cory Trice Jr. can stand stay healthy and start in the Steelers secondary along CB Joey Porter Jr.