/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50282499/usa-today-9411162.0.jpg)
The Steelers spent five of their seven draft picks this year on the defense. And for good measure - the offense is pretty complete and is there clear strength. As we all know, the secondary is the defense's weakness, so it was unsurprising that Pittsburgh spent their first two draft picks on cornerback and safety. The Steelers are bolstering their defense and doing all they can to fight off father time.
This is not to say that the defense is bad, not by any measure. Last season the defense had 48 sacks (third best in the NFL), gave 91.2 yards per game against the run (fifth best in the NFL) and gave 19.9 points per game (11th best in the NFL). BUT, they came 30th in the NFL in pass defense, giving 271.9 yards per game. Obviously, this is a problem for the secondary, and so explaining why their first two draft picks went in that direction.
Looking at the defense as a unit, here is the respective ages, and various averages of those ages, for the 53-man roster that headed into the 2015 season:
Defensive line:
- Steve McLendon - 29
- Daniel McCullers - 22
- Stephen Tuitt - 22
- Cameron Heyward - 27
- Cam Thomas - 28
- L.T. Walton - 23
- Average age on D-line: 25
Linebackers:
- Anthony Chickillo - 22
- Bud Dupree - 22
- Terence Garvin -24
- James Harrison - 37
- Jarvis Jones - 25
- Arthur Moats - 27
- Ryan Shazier - 22
- Sean Spence - 25
- Lawrence Timmons - 29
- Vince Williams - 25
- Average age at linebacker: 26
Cornerback:
- Cortez Allen - 26
- Antwon Blake - 24
- Brandon Boykin - 25
- Ross Cockrell - 23
- William Gay 30
- Doran Grant- 22
- Average age at cornerback: 25
Safety:
- Mike Mitchell - 28
- Shamarko Thomas - 24
- Robert Golden - 24
- Will Allen - 33
- Ross Ventrone - 28
- Average age at Safety: 27
Defensive line:
- Cameron Heyward - 27
- Stephen Tuitt - 23
- L.T. Walton - 24
- Caushad Lyons - 23
- Daniel McCullers - 23
- Javon Hargrave - 23
- Average age at D-line: 24
Linebacker:
- Ryan Shazier - 23
- Lawrence Timmons - 30
- Vince Williams - 26
- LJ Fort - 26
- Bud Dupree - 23
- Jarvis Jones - 26
- James Harrison - 38
- Arthur Moats - 28
- Travis Feeney - 23
- Average age at linebacker: 27
Cornerback:
- William Gay - 31
- Ross Cockrell - 24
- Artie Burns - 21
- Senquez Golson - 23
- Doran Grant - 23
- Average age at cornerback: 24
Safety:
- Mike Mitchell - 29
- Shamarko Thomas - 25
- Sean Davis - 22
- Robert Golden - 25
- Ross Ventrone - 29
- Average age at safety: 26
"During the spring those young guys made huge strides as far as understanding the scheme ... When we get to training camp they’ll go through their growing pains obviously. But they’re definitely going to help us out. It’s going to be critical. We’re going to call on them and they’re going to have to answer the bell. I feel like we have guys who are more than capable."