With offensive changes already happening, it seems odd the Steelers wouldn’t do the same on defense

Many Pittsburgh Steelers fans did a big fist pump when they heard the team was not giving offensive coordinator Todd Haley a new contract. In this case, Haley wasn’t technically fired, but was just not retained.

You say ‘tomato’, I say ‘tomato’.

Believe it or not, there have been plenty of Haley apologists, mainly in the media, coming out after his dismissal sporting stats about Ben Roethlisberger’s health, how he learned to get rid of the ball faster and even how the team hung 42-points on the highly touted Jaguars’ defense last Sunday.

They all make valid points, but what constantly is in the back of my mind his how the defense has been the polar opposite. Sure, they set a new franchise sack total, but they were shredded by Blake Bortles and company, to the tune of 45-points last Sunday.

You might think the team would be making some changes within the defensive coaching staff as well, right?

Wrong.

According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mike Tomlin told all his defensive coaches their jobs are safe.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has told his defensive coaches he is not going to make any changes and intends to bring that portion of his staff back next season, per a team source.

Dulac does bring up Bruce Arians’ situation, when he was forced out as the team’s offensive coordinator. According to Arians, Tomlin told him, more than once, the team was going to bring him back as coordinator, until the Rooneys decided to move in a different direction.

This certainly could happen, but Dulac states Butler, who has two years remaining on his current contract, isn’t in jeopardy of losing his job.

While this will likely ruffle plenty of feathers among the fan base, even with Butler reportedly “safe”, some of his assistants could be shown the door. Plenty have talked about Carnell Lake (secondary) and Joey Porter (outside linebackers) as coaches who could, while some say should, be let go to find others who could possibly do their jobs better.

Either way, with Haley now gone, and the offseason just getting underway, it is safe to say the Steelers moves are far from over. Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest on these developments, and more, surrounding the black-and-gold.