If the Pittsburgh Steelers hope to get a higher quality of performance out of their defensive line as a whole, then they are going to have to rely on having everybody available to them, something they certainly didn’t have last year.
While the pass rush was not a major issue—they did lead the NFL, for the fifth year in a row, in sacks—the run defense was in shambles for the vast majority of the season, finishing dead last in rushing yards allowed and yards per rush.
The biggest difference between the 2021 season and the year prior was the absence of Tyson Alualu at nose tackle.