Steelers Move Away from 3-4 as Spread Offenses Force More 'situational Football'

Steelers move away from 3-4 as spread offenses force more 'situational football'
Submitted by 60 Max Power O Staff
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The Pittsburgh Steelers defense is known for its 3-4 base formation; however, with the explosion of spread offenses around the NFL, the need has lessened linebacker heavy personnel for more substitution packages.
As most offenses operate with three wide sets, it forces the defense to bring in a nickel package that features an extra defensive back at the cost of removing a linebacker.
This also forces the defensive line to change as the outside rushing linebacker becomes the fourth down lineman.
“I think our nickel package is more of a four-man line,” defensive lineman Cam Heyward said, via Alan Robinson of Tribelive.com.
“If we have to beef it up, we have some different fronts where we can add another defensive lineman, take a corner or a linebacker out. It all depends on the situation.”
coach Mike Tomlin says it's all about 'situational football' and now the offense dictates what the defense has to do personnel wise.
“I think in today's NFL, it's about situational football and what offenses do, and how many receivers they have on the field,” Tomlin said. “Oftentimes we spend a lot of time in sub-package football, whether you are in a 3-4 or a 4-3.”
“Mike (Tomlin), his strength is a 4-3 team,” NFL Network analyst Jamie Dukes said. “They haven't been able to find the personnel that fit the style of defense that Dick (LeBeau) likes to play.”