Losing inside linebacker Cole Holcomb isn’t the body blow that losing a pillar of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense is, something they’ve felt over the last two years. The lack of pressure without T.J. Watt, the poor run defense without Cam Heyward, the communication breakdowns without Minkah Fitzpatrick.
But Holcomb and this new-look Steelers’ inside linebacker group have been a night-and-day difference compared to the non-existent results from this group a year ago. This year, Pittsburgh’s defense hasn’t been elite, but the Steelers have been among the league’s best in generating splash plays, a critical reason why this team sits two games above .