Mike Tomlin breaks down Saints' defensive challenges

The 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers have faced their fair share of woes offensively. The team is managing the best they can on that side of the ball after several departures from last offseason. It hasn’t looked great through their first eight games and it won’t get any easier this weekend when they host a New Orleans defense that’s always stout.

Mike Tomlin shared his thoughts on the Saint’s play defensively during his weekly press conference. He believes their defense has evolved in a way that gives modern NFL offenses more to worry about.

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

“I see some evolution in these guys that’s dramatically different from the last time we played them. They’re still a four-down front. They do a great job of pressuring the quarterback with Cam Jordan and company. But I see some end-of-the-line awareness and some edge play. Some evolution, some hybrid things evolving in their defense,” said Tomlin. “(They’re) oftentimes playing in a two point stance. I think quarterback mobility and some of the jet sweep things that are in vogue in today’s game is what really probably pushed them toward that.”

The changes that New Orleans may have made haven’t necessarily translated to the statistics. As of now, they’re currently ranked 28th in the league in points allowed. Still, there’s no questioning their talent on that side of the football. Tomlin went on to go position by position to compliment the unit that features names like Jordan, Marcus Davenport, Demario Davis, Tyrann Mathieu, Marshon Lattimore, and Chris Harris Jr.. While the changes Tomlin sees will be difficult enough to handle, New Orleans’ flexibility has him just as worried.

“There’s some schematic changes to deal with. And they’re a much more versatile group maybe than they used to be in terms of the amount of front and things that they’re willing to throw at you,” Tomlin said.

Pittsburgh will need to mind their p’s and q’s when testing the Saints come Sunday. Coming into this week, they’re averaging just 15 points per game which ranks second to last in the NFL. If Tomlin’s team wants to end their latest two-game skid, points will be a premium if they can find any against this New Orleans defense.