Steelers’ defense making splash plays

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Every Pittsburgh Steelers practice on Thursdays and Fridays start with the same drill. They call it “Seven Shots.”

The ball is placed at the 2 and offensive coordinator Todd Haley and defensive coordinator Keith Butler get seven snaps to outsmart each other.

There is nothing on the line but daily bragging rights and the chance to get better in 2-point conversion situations. Which side has won more often is up for debate.

Linebacker Vince Williams insists the defense is “definitely up” on the season. Fullback Will Johnson allows there was a stretch when starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sidelined with a sprained left knee that the defense may have had the advantage, but no longer.

Either way, the results have been spectacular. The Steelers have already set an NFL record for 2-pointers this season, breaking the mark of six when a surprised Johnson caught one from Roethlisberger during a 45-10 demolition of Indianapolis two weeks ago. Johnson has the ball in his locker, all prepped and ready for whenever he gets a man cave to call his own.

Yet the constant focus on those short-field situations has produced another far less-hyped byproduct. While Pittsburgh’s revamped defense is susceptible to giving up massive chunks of yards, opponents getting into the end zone is another matter entirely.

The Steelers (8-5) moved into a tie with the New York Jets for the NFL lead in red-zone takeaways (six) when defensive end Stephon Tuitt stepped in front of a screen pass in the first quarter of last Sunday’s victory over the Bengals. The pick was also the 12th time this year Pittsburgh ended a goal-to-go situation on defense with something other than a touchdown.

Those kind of momentum-shifting stops have kept Pittsburgh in the thick of the AFC playoff race despite a series of injuries that could have derailed its season before it really started.

“It’s mostly because of our offense,” Tuitt said. “We know if we can get stops against them in practice, we can get stops against anybody. Our offense can score whenever it wants, really. When they don’t against us, it builds up our confidence when we’re playing other teams.”