Will the Steelers use more dime defense with their recent secondary additions?
The Steelers have stockpiled talent in the secondary this offseason, but will they deploy it in their dime defense? Once a popular package in Pittsburgh, the defense rarely used it last season. Now with a new coaching staff, it’s harder to make predictions about their preferences.
All that we know on the surface is that the Steelers have the personnel in the secondary to play dime. While they lost James Pierre in free agency, they retained Asante Samuel Jr. On top of that, they added Jamel Dean, Jaquan Brisker, and Darnell Savage.
That is on top of the returning Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey, and DeShon Elliot, most of the starting secondary. Dean and Brisker should also start in the nickel. But between Savage, Brandin Echols, and Samuel, the Steelers have enough left over for a dime package.
And that’s not mentioning Cory Trice Jr., who, when healthy, has had a role in the Steelers’ dime look before. The problem is he’s never healthy. And 2025 rookie Donte Kent missed all of last season due to injury, but could be another option.
All of this is to say that, at least on paper, the Steelers figure to have six defensive backs good enough to put on the field at the same time, which means they should be able to play an effective dime defense. Of course, what works on paper doesn’t always work as well in practice. Or more importantly, on Sunday during games that count.
Jalen Ramsey, in particular, gives the Steelers options for different dime package looks. But they have other members of the secondary who can move around, at least playing cornerback or safety, in addition to the slot.
One potential dime package for the Steelers would see Porter and Dean outside, Ramsey in the slot, and Elliott, Brisker, and Savage at safety. Or they could use Echols instead of Savage, playing two in the slot with Ramsey. Samuel is another defensive back you might be tempted to try to figure out how to stick in there, somewhere. They could mix and match personnel depending on the situation—if they decide to deploy dime this year.
The Steelers exited the playoffs in the first round yet again, a pattern going back to 2017.With seven consecutive postseason losses and no wins in nearly a decade, they are facing another long, long offseason. No doubt we will see many changes, but none will top Mike Tomlin’s resignation.
The NFL has crowned its latest champion, but for us and the Steelers, we have been in offseason mode. That’s what happens when the team you coverloses by the middle of January all the time, but you’ve been around, so you know that already. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.
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