The Pittsburgh Steelers players have all reported to training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. The organization made many roster changes during the offseason, which has created a lot of anticipation for the new players and some increased expectations for the returning players.
Some positions are getting increased looks, such as the cornerback room. The Steelers let several players go, including veteran Patrick Peterson, during the offseason, and many expected them to draft a top-tier corner to pair with Joey Porter Jr. However, that didn't happen. Instead, the Black and Gold chose to take Donte Jackson as part of a trade package for wide receiver Diontae Johnson and sign the recently released and currently suspended, Cam Sutton.
After practice, Porter was asked about the relationship with Jackson, according to a video posted on X by Chris Adamski from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Porter said there is a great deal of respect between them.
"Going good," said Porter when asked how things are going with Jackson. "You know, that's my dog. I was always a big fan of him so the fact that I'm on the same side of the ball as him, playing with him, is a dream come true on my part. I just try to learn from him every day as much as possible."
Jackson was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2018 in the second round out of LSU. On move-in day, he shared that he feels like Pittsburgh is home; this is where he belongs. In his mind, the Steelers and Jackson value the same attributes—a strong work ethic, toughness, and passion. Here, on a one-year deal, Jackson is intent on winning over the fans, the coaches, and his teammates.
The Panthers never had much success when Jackson was with them, but he provided solid and consistent gameplay. Since being drafted, he has had 303 tackles, 46 pass deflections, 14 interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. When Porter was asked what he likes so much about Jackson, he shared that he feels they have much in common.
"I just liked his game play," added Porter. "I like his chirpiness; you know he goes after people. That's what I kind of do, too. So we kind of got the same similarities like that. I just liked his game overall."
In 2023, the Steelers' secondary did not consistently perform well. The defense suffered numerous injuries, which made things worse. Sharp Football Analysis said that without pressure, the Steelers were the worst in the league, with a 63.2% competition rate on throws of 10 or more yards.
Porter seems poised to take a big step forward this season. With the inside linebacker room improved and Minkah Fitzpatrick back healthy, the Steelers should have a boom in defensive production.
Is The Steelers Defense A Top 10 Unit In 2024?
The Steelers currently have the highest-paid defense in the league, with players like Fitzpatrick, T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Cameron Heyward on the roster, that is no surprise. During the 2023 season, they presented some unique challenges for opposing offenses, but it wasn't enough. They struggled with consistency and injuries all year.
With all of those players returning and healthy and teammates like Keeanu Benton ready to step up, they look to be an even bigger problem. Their biggest weakness in 2023 was the inside linebacker position, but with the signing of Patrick Queen, they hope to have remedied that problem.
All of these upgrades have moved the needle on the Steel City's defensive rankings. According to Pro Football Network, they have the third-best defense in the league heading into the season, with only the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets ahead of them. Sportsnaut.com has them ranked a bit lower at eight in the league, but agrees that the improvements they made make them among the best.
