Steelers' Defense Absolutely Must Fix This Glaring Issue Before Bye Week Ends
The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense had some glaring communication issues to end the 2024 season. The problems were so severe that the team went on a major losing streak and had to make sweeping changes after the season in an effort to fix what went wrong. Coming into the year, the defense was expected to be one of the league’s best units, but through four games, it hasn’t fully lived up to those expectations.
Through the early part of the 2025 season, the same issues have lingered. Misreads, blown assignments, and general confusion on the field have shown that the defense is still not operating as a cohesive unit. What should have been a cornerstone of the Steelers’ identity has instead been a source of frustration for both coaches and fans alike.
Heading into the bye week, the Steelers are focused on addressing these issues. Analysts and former players alike have pointed to the ongoing communication problems as the biggest hurdle for the defense, highlighting that getting everyone on the same page will be critical if Pittsburgh hopes to turn things around in the second half of the season. Chris Hoke went on 93.7 The Fan on Friday to share his honest thoughts about this Steelers defense.
"There should be no communication issues," Hoke said while speaking on 93.7 The Fan on Friday. "Everybody should be on the same page. It's happening far too often, where the Steelers' defense, not everybody is on the same page."
For Steelers fans, hearing this critique will likely bring back major PTSD from how the 2024 season ended. Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott were among the most vocal players, pointing out that certain teammates were out of position and not doing their jobs.
Now, Hoke has revealed that the Steelers still have major communication issues. He believes these problems must be fixed during the bye week if the defense hopes to improve.
"They're not running the same defense," Hoke said. "If there's one thing that the Steelers need to work on this bye week, it's communication. It's everybody getting on the same page. Everybody running the same defense. It's happening too much."
The defensive communication issues may partly stem from a few new faces still trying to find their rhythm within the unit, but after four games, it’s clear that the Steelers need this defense to operate more cohesively. Mistimed assignments, misreads, and lapses in coverage have continued to pop up, highlighting that the unit isn’t yet functioning as a synchronized group.
Steelers fans will be hoping that the team can use the bye week to address these problems, tighten communication, and get everyone on the same page before the second half of the season begins.
Steelers Have Too Much Talent On Defense To Be This Leaky
Through four games, the defensive unit has given up an average of 404.8 yards per game, a number that doesn’t reflect the star power on the roster.
With superstars like TJ Watt, Cam Heyward, and several other key players, this defense should be a dominant force. Instead, the Steelers have struggled to contain opponents, and Hoke believes fixing these problems starts with addressing the communication issues that have plagued the unit. All eyes turn to Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin to see if he can fix the problem he hasn't been able to solve for many seasons now.
Can the Steelers' defense finally get on the same page, or will this be a recurring problem all 2025 season long? Why or why not?
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield Called Out for ‘Inconsistent Offense’
In one of the more “Glass Half Empty” arguments you’ll hear this football season, there is a case to be made for not being totally enamored with quarterbacks who seem to consistently engineer fourth quarter comebacks. Which certainly sounds crazy on the surface.
The problem with a quarterback who always seems to be rallying his team late, from one point of view, is that same quarterback is always behind late in games.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell pointed out as much about Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, albeit Barnwell did so while he was also evaluating NFL Most Valuable Player candidates.
And then there’s Baker Mayfield, who led three consecutive last-minute victories to start the season before nearly leading the Buccaneers back for a fourth against the Eagles,” Barnwell wrote on October 2. “Mayfield has been great in those moments, and his scrambling has both bailed the Bucs out in key spots and earned him second place in the quarterback rushing EPA ranks. But one of the reasons the Buccaneers have been in position to require those comebacks has been an inconsistent offense early in their contests. Mayfield is 22nd in QBR in the first half of games and 11th across the final two quarters.”
Mayfield, Buccaneers Could Be Exposed Quickly
The Buccaneers are about to be battling both injuries and a murderer’s row of games in the coming weeks. Things look bad enough that Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon thinks Tampa Bay’s season might be about to go off a cliff.
“We figured they’d be exposed as a pretender during a rough stretch against Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco and Detroit,” Gagnon wrote on October 3. One home loss to the Eagles down, three difficult tests to come. They did make a spirited comeback effort against the defending Super Bowl champs, but injuries, miscues (they finally turned it over twice in Week 4) and penalties are a major factor. At least the division is super weak, again.”
On offense, the Buccaneers are simply coming apart at the seams.
No less than 5 projected starters will be out when they travel to play the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5; offensive guard Cody Mauch, offensive tackle Luke Goedeke, wide receiver Mike Evans, wide receiver Jalen McMillan and running back Bucky Irving.
Mauch is out for the season. McMillan won’t be back until at least Week 10.
Massive Payday At Stake For Mayfield
It’s not a stretch to say Mayfield is playing for essentially untold riches in 2025.
With another Pro Bowl season — he’s made it each of the last 2 years — he could be in line for a contract extension that could make him one of the highest paid players in NFL history.
Currently in the second year of a 3-year, $100 million contract — a bargain for a player of his caliber — if Mayfield can somehow gut out a 2-2 record over the previously mentioned 4-game stretch, there’s a brief respite with games against the 0-4 New Orleans Saints in Week 8 and the 2-2 New England Patriots in Week 10 sandwiched around a bye in Week 9.
Over the last 2 years, Mayfield has even outpaced reigning NFL MVP and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the passing game — in that time Mayfield has 74 touchdown passes to 59 for Allen.
BAKER MAYFIELD HAS STATISTICALLY BEEN THE BEST QUARTERBACK IN THE #NFL THE LAST TWO YEARS.
😱😱😱
Baker has statistically been better than last year‘s MVP, Josh Allen.
THE MOST UNDERRATED QB EVER. pic.twitter.com/p5UOt8OWOF
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 3, 2025
