In the aftermath of a disappointing loss to the Chicago Bears, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching staff is facing blistering criticism from analysts who describe the team’s approach as outdated and ineffective.
During the latest episode of the “Steelers Breakdown” podcast, PennLive Steelers beat reporter Nick Farabaugh didn’t mince words when evaluating the team’s performance, particularly on defense.
“That is a coaching malpractice,” Farabaugh said, referring to a crucial defensive play call where the Steelers were in nickel formation at the two-yard line and were “steamrolled up the middle” for a touchdown.
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The podcast highlighted multiple instances where the coaching staff’s decisions appeared to handicap the team. Farabaugh described the Steelers’ approach as fundamentally obsolete compared to more innovative NFL teams.
“The Steelers scheme and philosophy in which they operate is just. It’s a dinosaur like that. That is what it is. It is not a modernized effort,” he stated.
Among the specific criticisms were the team’s predictable defensive formations, including running “Cover 3 to trips” which Farabaugh called “a malpractice play” because it creates an unsolvable mathematical problem for defenders.
“You do not run cover three to trips. You just don’t do it,” he explained. “It becomes a math problem... there’s a math problem there. You don’t have enough players to cover the ground that those guys could run.”
The podcast also highlighted concerns about personnel deployment, pointing out that despite Jalen Warren being described as “the best player in this offense,” he has been out-snapped by Kenneth Gainwell in three consecutive games.
“They don’t even get the layups right, John,” Farabaugh told his co-host. “That’s the issue here. You won’t. We talk about basic things on this podcast that no other staff in the National Football League does.”
The analysis extended to questioning why multiple players have thrived after leaving Pittsburgh. “Kevin Dotson becomes an all pro guard after leaving Pittsburgh. George Pickens, as mercurial as he is, we knew he was talented. This is how you should be using him,” Farabaugh noted, adding that Pickens “caught two crossing routes off last year. He’s caught 15 this year in Dallas.”
The podcast discussion moved beyond just identifying problems to suggesting that significant changes could be on the horizon, particularly for defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
“We are on a collision course right now for I think, a real staff shake up defensively this offseason if this continues,” Farabaugh predicted.
He added that the defense has become overly dependent on generating turnovers or dominating with their front seven. “If the Steelers don’t get turnovers or the front doesn’t dominate, they’re dead. I mean, that’s really what this defense has been,” he said.
The criticism comes amid a stretch where the team’s highest-paid players appear to be underperforming, raising questions about whether it’s a talent issue or a coaching problem.
“Did everybody think that this is all just roster construction or did everyone just get worse at the same time? When that happens, John, you go to the C word, we say it again. It’s coaching. Coaching,” Farabaugh concluded.
Despite these concerns, the Steelers remain in playoff contention with a 6-5 record. The team will face the Buffalo Bills in their next matchup, a game Farabaugh described as “winnable” despite the team’s ongoing struggles.