For the better part of the last half century, the Steelers have been a team synonymous with playing an ultra-physical brand of football known as “smash mouth”, featuring a punishing, ball control-style of offense and a smothering, punch-you-in-the-mouth brand of defense. From the dynasty “Steel Curtain” Super Bowl squads of the 70s to the early 2000s versions featuring Defensive Players of the Year Winners like James Harrison and Troy Polamalu, it’s been the bread and butter of the Pittsburgh Steelers for quite some time now.
Last season, the defense yet again led the league in sacks, but other than that, weren’t ranked very highly in much else, a lot of that due to injuries.