The Steelers led the NFL in takeaways and sacks in 2019, ranking fifth in the league in total defense.
And they did it with an offense that was one of the worst in the league.
Playing without Ben Roethlisberger for all but six quarters in 2019, the Steelers held a lead of more than two scores -- eight or more points -- for just over 102 minutes in 2019.
Their interceptions increased to 20, up from eight the previous year. Overall, they forced 36 turnovers.
That lack of offensive production figures to change in 2020 with Roethlisberger back behind center. And that could create more opportunities for players in the secondary such as Minkah Fitzpatrick and Steven Nelson.
Fitzpatrick, acquired prior to Week 3 in a trade with the Dolphins, recorded five interceptions and forced two fumbles in his first seven games with the Steelers, while also recovering two fumbles in that span. Over his final seven games, he accounted for just one fumble recovery as teams avoided throwing at him, knowing the Steelers offense wasn't going to be a challenge.
For Nelson, brought in to help improve the Steelers' turnover numbers as a free agent, he had just one interception in 2019 after recording four the previous season with the Chiefs. Like Fitzpatrick, he noticed opponents making a concerted effort not to force many passes later in the year.
"I did kind of notice that in the middle of the year I wasn’t getting as many targets," Nelson said Tuesday. "If I did get a target, I felt like it was an opportunity for me to get the ball. This year, I hope that changes."
A healthy Roethlisberger will make a difference. So will having the secondary return intact, with Fitzpatrick getting a full offseason program with which to get completely up to speed with what the Steelers do defensively.
Because he was a late addition, the Steelers took things slowly with Fitzpatrick in 2019. He wasn't asked to do much other than play deep centerfield. That could change this year.
"I think he is a phenomenal football player. Checks all the boxes, made a lot of turnovers early and teams tried to stay away from him," Steelers defensive assistant and secondary coach Teryl Austin said Tuesday. "I think what we will do is we will be able to move him around a little bit more. Getting him Week 3 like we did last year, you were just trying to throw him in and just trying to get him lined up and all that other stuff. But I think this offseason has been helpful for us and for him and for the group.
"We have been able to talk some things out and really get down into the details of our defense and I think that will give him a little bit more ability to show up in a couple different positions than he was last year, which will help him get around the ball a little bit more and keep that production."
That might mean making Fitzpatrick and strong safety Terrell Edmunds a little more interchangeable. Edmunds was almost always in the box or near the line of scrimmage last season. He recorded 105 tackles, but failed to record an interception.
"That's the only thing he lacked in his game last year was ball production," Austin said of Edmunds. "The guy's always around the ball. He's a good leader, a good player and great teammate."
It's all about the element of surprise. If the Steelers can move players around a little more, they become less predictable.
"Our main mode of operation is not going to be Minkah down around the box and Terrell Edmunds in the middle of the field because that’s not a good plan for us," Austin admitted. "I think you can pick and choose your spots to move people around and get them in the different spots to facilitate maybe getting Minkah around the ball or putting him in some spots the offense isn’t used to."
That's one way the Steelers can improve on their turnover numbers of a year ago. While Fitzpatrick and Joe Haden combined for 10 interceptions, getting five each, the other two starters in the secondary, Nelson and Edmunds, combined for one.
But if the Steelers are better able to move guys around in their secondary and create the matchups they want, that could change.
"We all want to be a step better from last year," Nelson said. "The great thing we have is that most of our guys are back to play together. We just want to improve from last year. Last year, we did a great job, but there's always room for improvement. We're all on the same page with that."
And whether that comes through improved offensive play or just the defense being more on the same page with each other, the Steelers don't care.
They just want the results.
"When you are playing with a lead and you know that teams are one dimensional, then your ability to get turnovers increases," Austin said. "If that happens, that will be great. If it doesn’t, then it is our job to get the ball back in these tight games."
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