To put a bow on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2026 preseason, we’re reviewing the weekly charting we conduct each week. Below are some notable takeaways from the charting of the defense from a unit and individual standpoint.

This is out of 182 snaps, excluding “no play” reps caused by penalties.

Personnel Groupings

Nickel: 61.5 percent (112 snaps)
3-4: 32.4 percent (59 snaps)
3-3-5: 2.7 percent (5 snaps)
4-3: 2.2 percent (4 snaps)
1-5-5: 1.1 percent (2 snaps)

– Personnel groupings don’t matter much in the preseason, but those are the numbers. Some of the 3-3-5 snaps came late in the preseason finale when Pittsburgh ran out of outside linebackers. Julius Welschof got dinged when Kyler Baugh collected him in a tackle, and instead of throwing Jack Sawyer back out, the Steelers put in an extra defensive lineman. Still, there was one snap of a true and intended 3-3-5 earlier in the preseason.

The 4-3 snaps were used on the goal line and on Buffalo’s two kneel-downs to close out the exhibition slate.

– Pittsburgh’s blitz rate was 33.3 percent, 37 instances on 111 chances. For comparison’s sake, the Steelers’ 2025 regular-season blitz rate came in at 35.2 percent. We’ll track the data during the regular season for a more apples-to-apples focus.

– Pittsburgh’s rate of rushing 5-plus defenders came in at 27.9 percent, 31 instances on 111 chances. Last regular season, it stood at 30 percent.

– Pittsburgh blitzed a defensive back, a corner or safety, a combined 22 times. Cornerbacks 15 times, safeties 7 times.

Defensive Line

– The two defensive linemen who played the most preseason snaps: Esezi Otomewo with 79 and Gabriel Rubio with 78.

– Kyler Baugh and Yahya Black had batdowns at the line of scrimmage.

– Though the number shouldn’t be fully credited to him, when rookie DL Kevin Jobity Jr. was on the field, opposing running backs averaged just 2.4 yards per carry. When Yahya Black was on the field, opposing runners averaged just 2.2 YPC.

– D-line pressure leaders:

Kyler Baugh: 3
Anthony Goodlow: 3
Kevin Jobity Jr.: 2

– Combined, the defensive line dropped into coverage four times this summer. Baugh, Jobity, Rubio, and Otomewo each did so once.

Linebacker

– Most snaps by the linebackers: Jamin Davis with 111 and Julius Welschof with 106.

– Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts tied for the position lead in run stuffs, tackles for zero or lost yards. Each had a pair.

– Jack Sawyer primarily played the left side this preseason. He had 81 total snaps on the left side compared to just seven on the right.

– Pressure leaders:

Jack Sawyer: 6
Julius Welschof: 4
Jamin Davis: 4

All four of Davis’ pressures came in the preseason opener.

Cornerback

– Most snaps by a cornerback: Devan Boykin with 114 and Doneiko Slaughter with 104. Worth pointing out that Boykin also saw time at safety this summer.

– Cornerback D’Shawn Jamison was the only one we charted as allowing a passing touchdown this year, giving up a late Cover Zero score against the New York Jets.

– Rookie Daylen Everette allowed two completions on four targets for 23 yards.

Safety

– Most snaps at safety: Robert Spears-Jennings with 100 and Sebastian Castro with 59. That’s despite Castro not playing in the finale.

– Spears-Jennings alignment count:

Free Safety: 54
Strong Safety: 45
Cornerback: 1