There are no quick fixes in football, especially not in the middle of a season.
That's what Keith Butler learned last season. The Steelers went 13-3. Their defense ranked fifth overall in the NFL in terms of yards against. It was seventh in points allowed per game and led the NFL with a team-record 56 sacks.
But the underlying facts are these: Without Ryan Shazier on the field, the defense wasn't nearly as stingy, nearly as good as was needed — the proof being a 45-42 playoff loss to Jacksonville. And even before Shazier was injured, there were fundamental issues — poor tackling and overall communication — that led to a number of big plays allowed.
Fixing those issues has been the focus for Butler and his defensive coaching staff throughout the offseason. But whether they have been adequately addressed won't be known until the Steelers report to training camp July 25.
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