Steeler defense lacking takeaways
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t lead the NFL in any defensive category except maybe an unofficial one: missed opportunities.
Sure, the defending AFC champions are putting up their usual sterling numbers as Thanksgiving approaches. The Steelers rank near the top of the league in nearly every major defensive category, including yards against (third), pass defense (third), run defense (sixth) and points allowed (fifth).
More than halfway through the season, a defense littered with Pro Bowlers and Defensive Players of the Year and coached by a Hall of Famer have four takeaways.
That’s four, as in the same number of takeaways by the woeful Miami Dolphins, who have played one fewer game than the Steelers (6-3).
That’s four as in on pace to set an NFL record for takeaway futility.
The Baltimore Colts generated 11 turnovers in the strike-shortened 1982 season. The Washington Redskins set the full season record by taking it away 12 times in 2006.
At their current rate, the Steelers will finish with eight; they created 35 turnovers in 2010 on the way to the Super Bowl.
