At each Pittsburgh Steelers practice, defensive players know the drill.
Or drills, as the case may be.
“We do turnover circuit’” cornerback Donte Jackson said, “every day.”
The turnover circuit?
“You’re gonna have a ‘punch-out’ (drill), you’re gonna have a ‘tip-pick’ drill, you gonna have a ‘rip’ (out the ball) drill … ” Jackson explained, adding even more.
“All the types of ways to put you in position to get to the ball. And that’s important.”
It is, and particularly for the Steelers defense. And even moreso this season.
Continuing a trend that dates through much of the past decade, the Steelers are among the league leaders in forcing turnovers. Their 13 takeaways through seven weeks ranks tied for third in the NFL, highlighted by nine interceptions that also is bested by only two teams.
“It’s definitely emphasized,” Jackson said of generating opponent turnovers. “It’s just the way of football around here: to go after the ball.
“Whether you punch it out, whether you take it out of the air, whether you got to strip it off the quarterback, takeaways have always been the way to go around here. So, just leaning into that has been important.”
The propensity for creating turnovers plus an offense that ranks tied for third in the league for the fewest giveaways (six) has led to a plus-9 turnover margin that is second best in the NFL.
That is no small reason why the Steelers are 5-2 and tied for first place in the AFC North.
“I think it’s just a culture that’s established here,” rookie linebacker Payton Wilson said of seeking takeaways, “and it starts with coach Mike (Tomlin) to (defensive coordinator Teryl Austin), all the way to (secondary coach Grady Brown) — those are our ‘ball culture’ guys, and you see it with the best players on our team. They are so ball aware.”
Jackson leads the Steelers with three interceptions. Another 2024 acquisition, safety DeShon Elliott, has an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery. Perennial All-Pro T.J. Watt has three forced fumbles, including two forced takeaways in one game.
In all, 11 Steelers defensive players have been involved in at least one takeaway.
“Hunting the ball — (Steelers coaches) preach hunting the ball,” inside linebacker Patrick Queen said. “We are all just rallying to the ball and trying to get to the ball, just creating havoc.”
Two interceptions by rookie Beanie Bishop over a three-drive span last week did the heavy lifting in turning a 15-6 deficit into a 23-15 Steelers lead over the New York Jets. The offense took over near midfield with 1 minute, 15 seconds left before halftime after the first Bishop INT. Bishop returned his second interception of Aaron Rodgers to the Jets’ 1-yard line early in the third quarter.
The Steelers never looked back in cruising to an easy win.
“You definitely want turnovers. Turnovers are a big part of the game,” veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts said. “As a defense, your job is to get the ball back. Period. However you go about doing it, the job is to get the ball back to the offense. And turnovers, man, when you can be that type of defense for the team, it’s big. We thrive in that. We practice that day-in and day-out.”
This season isn’t an anomaly, either. The Steelers have ranked among the top half of the NFL in takeaways each of the past six seasons, including finishing first and second, respectively, in 2019 and 2020.
Only twice since 2014 have the Steelers ranked lower than eighth in turnovers forced.
Over the past 5 ½ seasons (90 games), the Steelers lead the NFL in total takeaways (150) with the second-most interceptions (96) over that time span. They have an NFL-most 49 two-takeaway games in that time. The importance of that is emphasized by a 10-2 record over the past two seasons when forcing multiple turnovers.
“You’re seeing more of a ball-searching culture growing around the league,” Jackson said, “and we want to be the guys out in front of that. That’s really been the message since I got here (via trade) in March — go get the ball.”
