DC Patrick Graham understands The Standard

Nice to hear this from Graham. He's not talking about some general "standard" that we kept hearing about for the last 20 years.

Patrick Graham can sum up his lofty aspirations for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense in three words, no matter if he’s coaching his players or chatting with fans.

The Steel Curtain, he says.

Inside linebacker Payton Wilson said Graham’s message isn’t that this year’s defense is destined to be great because of those past teams. Instead, Graham holds up the Steel Curtain as an example of the greatness that is attainable.

“PG’s been really clear. He wants it to be the Steel Curtain, but we have to earn that right,” Wilson said. “That’s not something that just comes with being a part of the Steelers. Those are some great, great defenses that have earned that name.”

https://triblive.com/sports/for-ste...rd-anymore-the-standard-is-the-steel-curtain/

 

That is one helluva goal for certain. Biggest question mark is still the ILBs; particularly with Queen. He has been suspect in pass coverage for a while now and it is fair to say he is what he is. Wilson has a bit of a longer runway there but his time is also short.

For both, hopefully this is the season to breakthrough. If not, I would consider investing in that position in 2027.

 

It's possible that ILBs are a weakness, but at the same time, in recent years we've seen players like Robert Spillane and Devin Bush do well on other teams after struggling with us... So maybe the scheme was a issue for ILBs?

 

That is the hope.


I will say this, I am more intrigued about how Scott McCurley will do now given this is year two. Players like Carson Bruener and Payton Wilson will benefit more given how there is more runway with both. For Queen?! As I said, I truly believe he is what he is at this point.

 

Since I was a friend of his dad’s Carson is a feel good story. But I think his career is on ST.

 

I see Payton stepping up in his third year

 

growing pains

 

I'm cautiously optimistic about the position overall. Tomlin couldn't really figure out the ILBs after Timmons and Shazier.

 

It is very possible that Tomlin chose single high precisely because he knew the ILBs were a weakness. Graham might find this out pretty quickly and have to make a change back.
ILB should be a priority for the next draft. Especially because they won't resign Queen.

 

Will be one helluva Special Teams Player then.


Cannot ever go wrong with those types.

 

I sure hope so; for his own sake.


To me, that proverbial leash is a lot shorter than others are giving it credit for; new Coaching Staff or otherwise. Payton has to put it together this time around. Hopefully Patrick and Scott can see to that; the rest of the defense the same.

 

That is generally what happens when a Coach overestimates his own scheme and underestimates the tools needed to succeed at the position. It took Tomlin essentially a decade from 2014 to present to potentially find a good enough replacement in Payton Wilson. Devin Bush had the best Rookie Season among ILBs since Kendrick Bell but that dissipated after that.


That said, to Devin Bush's credit, he was named an All Pro by Sports Info Solutions and also received All Pro votes for the first time in his career. It is fair to say that Devin's downfall had as much to do with Tomlin than it did with himself. However, Devin Bush isn't the only player who was let down by Tomlin specifically.

 

Agreed.


Bush didn't help his case here either. However, coaches have to put players in positions to succeed. A select few ILBs/MLBs in NFL History would constitute as scheme transcendent. Devin Bush is way below that tier.

 

That because they replace smart instinctive players like Shazier and Timmons with the likes of Vince Williams and an assortment of physically gifted but dumb players coached by Jerry O and others who weren't smart enough to play the scheme. Williams when he didnt know the play just hit some and hoped ppl didnt notice. Lot of fans touted his plays because he laid the wood not realizing those hits were seldom helpful in stopping an offense. Since then its a long line of guys guessing gaps, getting eaten up on blocks and letting ball carriers gash them while blaming it on a tired scheme that teams had figured out.

https://www.steelernation.com/2026/05/23/steelers-linebacker-critical-mike-tomlin

 

I'm not trying to be mean, but...
Do you think about things before you write??.Could it be because Spillane only played 16 starts in in 5 years under two different teams, and don't give me it was because of Tomlin, because Mike Vrabel was HC of one of those early teams. Ok that's Spillane, now Bush....his 2 best years...one in Pittsburgh, and one in Cleveland out of 7 years, and multiple teams, so what are You trying to get at?? In fact there is evidence showing his best year was actually in Pittsburgh.