The Pittsburgh Steelers have invested heavily in their defensive line. They ought to have, after all. It’s where their talent had coalesced. Neither Cameron Heyward nor Stephon Tuitt got anything less than they were entitled to during the years in which they were given extensions.
With that reward also comes responsibilities and obligations. They bear the load. The success or failure of the line begins and ends, largely, with them. Or so it does when they’re healthy. Tuitt was injured in the sixth game of the season.
In spite of the reality that Heyward and Tuitt represent the bread and butter of the unit, the Steelers had every intention of making good use of the depth on the line, namely Javon Hargrave and Tyson Alualu, with Daniel McCullers taking some snaps as well.