Overview
- Head Coach: Mike Tomlin
- Defensive Coordinator: Keith Buler
- Defensive Back Coach: Carnell Lake
- Base Defense Scheme: 3-4
- Transactions: S Jordan Dangerfield signed, S Isaiah Lewis waived/injured
- Draft Picks: CB Senquez Colson and Doran Grant FS Gerod Holliman
Projected Starters
| CornerBack # 1: | William Gay | |
| CornerBack # 2: | Cortez Allen | |
| Strong Safety : | Will Allen | |
| Free Safety : | Mike Mitchell | |
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The Numbers
Total Fantasy Points Allowed to WR: 375.04 Average Fantasy Points Per game against to WR: 23.44 Total Receiving Touchdowns Allowed: 15 Total Receiving Yards Allowed:2,835 Average Receiving yards per game against: 177.19
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Strengths
Remember the glory days of the steel curtain where the Steelers defense was a force to be wrecking with? Well that’s no longer the case and this defense has become one of the most vulnerable ones in the NFL. The Steelers surrendered the fourth most receiving touchdowns (30), only intercepted the ball 11 times, allowed 23.44 fantasy points per game to opposing receivers, and gave up over 265 receiving yards per game last year. William Gay is really the lone adequate player left in this backfield.
Weaknesses
Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor both retired this offseason. This stings as they were a big part of this defense in previous years despite struggling to stay healthy and being efficient in recent years. On the outside William Gay and Cortez Allen will try to lock down receivers, but they have been far from elite. Gay could be considered the better defender of the two but they are worth targeting early on. Cortez Allen was absymal in 2014 and for his performance he has been handed the starting corner position again. This should be news to DFS players ears as he can be targeted week in and week out until something drastically changes or he goes down with injury. The interesting name here is Brandon Boykin who was formerly a stud slot corner for the Eagles. He has apparently struggled in minicamp and training camp and some are reporting he is currently the 4th corner on this team. That would still surprise me quite a bit so I expect him to at least start the year as the nickel slot corner.
Overall Outlook
This secondary could struggle once again in 2015 and it would be wise to start opposing receivers against them until this defense shows that they can be more efficient.
