Bad news for the Pittsburgh Steelers came out on Monday when it was reported that defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt suffered a torn pec on Sunday night and will be lost for the year. You could argue Tuitt was the team’s best defensive lineman through the first five games and was playing very well against the Los Angeles Chargers before suffering the injury.
The Steelers have now lost their best offensive player and one of the best defensive players and must adapt in the final 10 games. Here are three things the Tuitt injury means for the defense going forward.
We finally get to see Isaiah Buggs play
When the Steelers drafted Buggs, it really felt like they got a steal. His film is excellent and his experience in a 3-4 defense made him a natural fit in Pittsburgh. But up until now he’s been a healthy scratch because of depth. With Tuitt gone, everyone moves up, which means we could finally see if Buggs was a sleeper or just a dud.
It’s time for Cam Heyward to step up
Over the last six seasons, the best player on the defensive front has been Heyward. Through five games, he took a backseat to Tuitt, but this ends now. Pittsburgh needs the version of Heyward that racked up 20 sacks over the last two seasons.
Keith Butler has even less to work with
There might not be a defensive coordinator who does less with more than Butler. But the defense had really stepped up int he last two weeks, playing well in spite of Butler’s inability to scheme an NFL-caliber defense. Butler now has to do the same without his best defensive lineman, which could spell disaster for the defense.
