PITTSBURGH —On Thursday during his media availability, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive Teryl Austin provided insight on who calls the defensive plays on game days. It's been a hot topic lately among fans and the media on if it's Austin or head coach Mike Tomlin.
Austin confirmed that he calls the plays for the Steelers defense, and has since he's been here, but added that Tomlin can always add his input if he wants.
"It's been the same since I've been in this chair. I'm calling it, and if Mike wants to call something, he calls it. That's how we roll. That's how it's been," Austin said.
The Steelers currently rank 30th in total defense. They're on track to be the worst in franchise history . It's clear that the Steelers are performing below expectations on defense, and the coaching has certainly not been up to par.
Many have called for Austin to be fired. Austin is not listening to the outside noise, however.
"My concern is with the guys in the building and how I can get our guys to play better, because I care about winning and how we win," Austin said. "I don't care if it's style points. I don't care what it is; I don't care if it's 50-49 or it's 3-2, my job is to coach our guys and hold them to less points than the opponent. And that's really all I care about. And all I'm concerned with is: how are our guys doing? How are we performing? How can I help them get better?"
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin during a game against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 8, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Tomlin stood up for Austin on Tuesday.
"You know, I've known Teryl a long time," Tomlin said. "He's very capable, he's very thorough. I've largely been pleased with his work, but certainly, he and I are not pleased with where we are from a defensive unit perspective, and so we're just gonna keep working."
Tomlin also said that taking defensive play-calling duties from Austin is "not on the table." Austin is in his fourth season in his current role. Over the past three campaigns, the Steelers have ranked in the NFL's top-10 in takeaways, interceptions, first downs allowed per game, forced fumbles and rush defense.
However, the Steelers haven't forced a turnover in a month. The unit also didn't have a sack against the Packers. So how can it return to the Steelers' way?
"Really the little things that all come together," cornerback Joey Porter Jr. said Sunday night. "Just finishing to the ball, punching out the ball, trying to make stops, trying to make plays. We've gotta play that Steelers defense where we make plays and (force) turnovers. We haven't really been doing that lately, and we've gotta get back to that."
Alan Saunders and Brendan Howe provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers DC Teryl Austin Reveals Who Calls the Defensive Plays
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