we noted the need<\/a> for the Steelers\u2019 run defense to improve to revitalize the pass rush. This would specifically aid T.J. Watt\u2019s search for a bounce-back season.<\/p>\nDigging into the numbers, the Steelers\u2019 defense didn\u2019t maximize its opportunities. Below is a third-and-long rate for the defense. The higher the number, the more often Pittsburgh put opposing offenses in \u201cand-long\u201d situations, defined as needing seven or more yards to convert on third or fourth down.<\/p>\n
Steelers\u2019 Defensive Third-\/Fourth-And-Long Rate<\/p>\n
Year
\nDefensive Third-\/Fourth-And-Long Rate<\/p>\n
2025
\n39.6%<\/p>\n
2024
\n46.0%<\/p>\n
2023
\n44.8%<\/p>\n
Last season saw a three-year low, dipping below 40 percent after sitting in the mid-to-high 40s over the past two years. Just 109 of 275 third\/fourth downs put the opposing offense in those \u201cand-long\u201d situations.<\/p>\n
That number needs to change and return to the 40-something percent figure. That begins by stopping the run on early downs. This chart catalogs rushing yards per carry allowed on first down over the past three seasons.<\/p>\n
First Down Rush YPC Allowed<\/p>\n
Year
\nFirst Down Rush YPC Allowed<\/p>\n
2025
\n4.7<\/p>\n
2024
\n4.4<\/p>\n
2023
\n4.2<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a steady increase that shows an alarming trend. When teams can run on first down, they stay on schedule and put themselves in third-and-short, if they get there at all. That makes it significantly harder for the pass rush to wreak havoc.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s reason for optimism. Derrick Harmon and Yahya Black flashed the ability to stop the run. Harmon, in particular, made a difference. Now, they\u2019re in their second seasons with the chance to accelerate their growth.<\/p>\n
Adding Sebastian Joseph-Day and run-stuffing sixth-rounder Gabriel Rubio will help, too. Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson will test the group out of the gate in the season opener.<\/p>\n
If the Steelers can show progress against the run, they can get after whichever pocket passer starts at quarterback: Tua Tagovailoa, who the team sacked four times last year,<\/a> or Michael Penix Jr as he recovers from a 2025 torn ACL.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Third-and-long is a defense\u2019s best friend. Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers frequently and frustratingly struggled in those situations,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":246432,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[73,75,74,1833,995],"class_list":["post-246431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news","tag-pittsburgh-steelers","tag-trending"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=246431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246431\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/246432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=246431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=246431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=246431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}