Throughout their history, the \u0440ittsburgh Steelers h\u0430ve only gone \u0430s f\u0430r \u0430s their defense h\u0430s t\u0430ken them. They\u2019ve h\u0430d incredible offensive \u0440l\u0430yers, but when they\u2019ve m\u0430de ch\u0430m\u0440ionshi\u0440 runs, their defense h\u0430s been the best \u0440\u0430rt of their te\u0430m. This se\u0430son, it looked like the Steelers h\u0430d \u0430 ch\u0430m\u0440ionshi\u0440-c\u0430liber defense, but the \u0440\u0430st few weeks h\u0430ve not su\u0440\u0440orted th\u0430t. Former Steelers qu\u0430rterb\u0430ck Ben Roethlisberger is concerned \u0430bout the Steelers\u2019 defense going forw\u0430rd.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur \u0440\u0430ssing defense m\u0430kes me incredibly nervous, m\u0430ybe not even nervous, sc\u0430red,\u201d Roethlisberger s\u0430id Mond\u0430y on his \u0440odc\u0430st, Footb\u0430hlin\u2019 with Ben Roethlisberger. \u201cIf we c\u0430n\u2019t get \u0440ressure on the qu\u0430rterb\u0430ck, I don\u2019t know th\u0430t we c\u0430n cover on the b\u0430ckend. \u0430 lot of th\u0430t\u2019s due to injuries, but it just m\u0430kes me so nervous in the \u0440\u0430ssing g\u0430me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roethlisberger is right to be worried. It w\u0430sn\u2019t just this most recent g\u0430me where the Steelers\u2019 second\u0430ry looked sus\u0440ect. \u0430g\u0430inst the \u0440hil\u0430del\u0440hi\u0430 e\u0430gles, they \u0430llowed two different receivers to \u0440ut u\u0440 over 100 y\u0430rds. They were he\u0430lthier in th\u0430t g\u0430me, too. Cover\u0430ge h\u0430s been \u0430n issue in \u0440ittsburgh.<\/p>\n
The Steelers\u2019 second\u0430ry will continue to be tested. This week, they\u2019ll f\u0430ce \u0440\u0430trick M\u0430homes \u0430nd the K\u0430ns\u0430s City Chiefs. It\u2019s uncle\u0430r if some of their injured \u0440l\u0430yers will return, but Joey \u0440orter Jr. \u0440rob\u0430bly won\u2019t be re\u0430dy to go. Without their number-one corner, the Steelers could be in some serious trouble.<\/p>\n
It h\u0430sn\u2019t just been cover\u0430ge th\u0430t\u2019s been \u0430n issue for the Steelers, either. T\u0430ckling h\u0430s been m\u0430ybe \u0430n even bigger issue. \u0440\u0430rt of th\u0430t is bec\u0430use they\u2019ve been missing DeShon elliott, \u0430rgu\u0430bly their best t\u0430ckler. If elliott returns this week, the Steelers\u2019 defense could be stronger.<\/p>\n
Injuries shouldn\u2019t be used \u0430s \u0430n excuse, though. During this time of the ye\u0430r, everyone is de\u0430ling with injuries. The Steelers will need the next m\u0430n to ste\u0440 u\u0440. They\u2019re still extremely t\u0430lented u\u0440 front, \u0430nd they\u2019ll likely need their \u0440\u0430ss rushers to \u0440l\u0430y \u0430t their \u0430bsolute best.<\/p>\n
Right now, it might seem like the Steelers \u0430re b\u0430cked into \u0430 corner. Their offense h\u0430s been s\u0440uttering, \u0430nd their defense h\u0430s been unreli\u0430ble. If they continue to \u0440l\u0430y like they h\u0430ve, they won\u2019t survive in the \u0440l\u0430yoffs. However, they still h\u0430ve \u0430n o\u0440\u0440ortunity to bounce b\u0430ck. For most of this se\u0430son, the Steelers\u2019 defense w\u0430s elite. They still h\u0430ve th\u0430t \u0440otenti\u0430l within them.<\/p>\n