The question on the minds of everybody as the Steelers open up training camp here at St. Vincent College with new defensive coordinator Keith Butler running things is what kind of stamp will he put on the unit.
Butler, who replaced Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau in January, already alluded to having defensive ends Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt do more than just occupy blocks. He wants them to make plays. That’s a good first step, that’s for sure.
However, other than that, we all really don’t know what Butler will do to get back to being one of the top-ranked defenses in the NFL – something they haven’t been over the past two years.
When I say nobody, I mean nobody.
“In OTAs, you know what it is like with the installation process,” linebacker Arthur Moats said. “Whatever we install that day we are going to run 100 times. One day, we are like, ‘Oh man, we are a blitzing team.’ The next day it is ‘We are just a coverage team.”
Now that the Steelers are at training camp, that identity will likely come into focus a little more.
“During camp we are going to definitely lock in to what our identity will be,” Moats said.
For Butler, his biggest adjustment is going to be game day plays calls – something he has never done.
What’s he going to dial up on a 3rd-and-5 at midfield? What personnel is he going to use? Will he play more bump coverage? Will he blitz corners and safeties?
Only Butler knows.