Dulac: Steelers’ Struggles Against Derrick Henry ‘Reflective of What’s Happened with the Defense’
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense has long been known for its toughness, aggression, and ability to shut down some of the league’s most formidable offenses. However, recent performances, particularly against high-caliber running backs like Derrick Henry, have raised concerns about the defense’s current state. According to Steelers’ beat writer Gerry Dulac, the team’s inability to stop Henry—who ran over, through, and around Pittsburgh’s defenders during their most recent matchup—is “emblematic of what’s happened with the defense.”
Henry, the Tennessee Titans’ powerful and elusive running back, is one of the most feared rushers in the NFL, known for his ability to bulldoze defenses with his rare combination of size, strength, and speed. But for the Steelers, the game against the Titans wasn’t just about Henry’s incredible individual performance—it was a painful reminder of the defense’s current vulnerabilities.
Missed Tackles and Leaky Gaps
One of the primary issues in Pittsburgh’s defensive performance against Henry was missed tackles. In numerous instances, defenders had Henry in their sights, only to watch him break free and continue his forward progress. While Henry’s size and power make him difficult to bring down, these missed tackles are part of a broader issue in Pittsburgh’s defense. The Steelers have struggled with tackling consistency all season, with gaps in fundamentals becoming more apparent in key situations.
Steelers’ defensive coordinator, Teryl Austin, has faced scrutiny for not being able to adjust to the physical style of play needed against power backs like Henry. Whether it’s a lack of gap discipline or missed assignments, Pittsburgh’s defense has seemed unable to effectively contain runners when it matters most. The Titans’ game highlighted this issue in stark fashion.
Struggles in Defensive Line Play
Another area of concern lies within the defensive line. Despite having some talented individuals, including Cameron Heyward, the Steelers’ defensive front has not been able to consistently win the battle in the trenches. Against Henry, this lack of dominance upfront allowed Tennessee’s offensive line to create open lanes for the running back, enabling him to gain significant yardage on the ground.
The Steelers have often relied on the strength of their front seven to stifle opposing run games. But against elite backs like Henry, the defensive line must hold its own and prevent runners from finding any room to operate. Pittsburgh’s failure to generate consistent pressure up front against Tennessee showcased how critical these matchups are to their overall defensive strategy.
Secondary Play and Lack of Support
In addition to the issues at the line of scrimmage, the Steelers’ secondary has struggled with providing support against the run. In recent games, including their matchup with the Titans, safeties and cornerbacks have been caught out of position, failing to properly contain runners once they break through the defensive line. Even though the secondary is designed primarily to defend the pass, defensive backs need to step up and make tackles in the open field when run plays break through the initial line of defense.
The Steelers’ defense as a whole has appeared less cohesive in these situations, with a lack of support between the front seven and the secondary. This is a critical issue against dynamic, physical running backs like Henry, who thrive on exploiting gaps in defensive coverage.
The Bigger Picture: Defensive Inconsistency
Dulac’s comment that the Steelers’ failure against Henry is “emblematic of what’s happened with the defense” speaks to the broader issue of defensive inconsistency throughout the season. While Pittsburgh has shown flashes of dominance, especially in certain games, they have struggled to maintain that same level of play week in and week out.
Key injuries have certainly played a role in some of these struggles, but it’s clear that the Steelers’ defense is not performing to the high standards that fans have come to expect. Against top-tier offenses and game-breaking players like Henry, the Steelers have been exposed—both in terms of individual execution and overall defensive scheme.
Conclusion: Looking Ahead
As the season progresses, the Steelers must take a hard look at how they’re preparing for top running backs like Derrick Henry. It’s no longer enough to rely on their past defensive prowess; the team must evolve and address these vulnerabilities in both their run defense and tackling fundamentals.
Whether through coaching adjustments, better execution from individual players, or perhaps even a more aggressive approach in defensive schemes, the Steelers need to find answers to their current struggles. The game against Derrick Henry and the Titans has laid bare the challenges the Steelers face, but it has also given the team a clear roadmap of what needs to be fixed moving forward.
If Pittsburgh hopes to remain a Super Bowl contender, their defense must regain its form and become more consistent in containing the league’s top playmakers, starting with the ability to stop players like Derrick Henry. Otherwise, the Steelers could find themselves on the outside looking in when the postseason arrives.
