A defense is at it’s best when it can get home with a four-man rush, but a creative defensive coordinator will find opportunities to bring a blitzing linebacker. Whether that is sending one right up the A gap from the start, or twisting with a defensive lineman, a well-timed blitz can blow up a play before it has a chance to begin. Last season, the Steelers barely made use of their inside linebackers in this way.
In 2023, the Steelers were 23rd in pass rush snaps from their inside linebackers. They had just 125, which, when compared to the Detroit Lions’ league leading 341, is a very small amount.