Dabs’ Digest: Week 8 conversation with Coach Brian Daboll

Q: You said you would have discussions this week about who would play on the offensive line. How much of that is dictated by your opponent, specifically that (premier pass rusher) T.J. Watt usually lines up on their left side, the offense’s right side?

Daboll: “Well, the first thing we have to do is focus on us and improve the things we need to improve on. T.J. Watt is a premier player in this league, one of the best defensive players in the league. He’s been going against protection schemes since he’s been in the league. We’re going to have to account for him. But (outside linebacker Alex) Highsmith on the other side is very impressive when you watch him on tape. And (defensive lineman Cameron) Heyward is a problem inside. This is one of the most formidable defensive lines in the league. (Pittsburgh defensive line coach) Karl Dunbar does a great job with them. It’s certainly a challenge. It’s going to be a big challenge to play on the road against this defense, which seems like it hasn’t really changed. The type of players they have – this is a model of consistency, this team.”

Q: Since 1982 when sacks became an official stat, 33 different players have led the league in sacks. Only three of them were interior linemen. Dex(ter) (Lawrence) is leading the league in sacks. Is he as good an interior lineman as you’ve been around in your career?

Daboll: “He is. He has all the physical tools that you could want. Big, strong, length, explosive, powerful and agile for a big man. He’s extremely smart. Each year he’s improved his technique and his understanding of the game. I think (defensive line coach) Dre (Andre Patterson) and (assistant defensive line coach Bryan) Cox do a great job with the defensive line. He’s one of the best players in the league.”

Q: Opposing teams use multiple blockers on him, but nobody can stop him.

Daboll: “I think the thing we have to continue to try to do is be able to have them be a passing team. That’s a team effort. We’ve got to play the game the right way. We’ve got to do a good job on early downs to get them in passing situations. However the other team sets up their protection scheme, what they want to do, we have to do a good job of setting our scheme up to try to help with the rush. There is a lot of times where there’s four hands on this guy, and sometimes six, and that means other people are going to have to do a good job. But he demands a lot of attention. It’s a little bit different when you’re inside. It’s hard to neutralize a really good player inside. On the edges you can use tight ends and (running) backs and jam and things like that. But when he’s inside, unless you’re always sliding to him, which causes some other things, it’s difficult. He’s done a really good job for us since I’ve been here.”

Q: (Rookie safety) Tyler Nubin has played more snaps than any defensive player. He’s missed only two all year. Leads the team in tackles. When a season starts, I don’t know if you expect that kind of production from a rookie, but he already seems to be one of your most important players.

Daboll: “When we drafted him, he had a lot of intangibles throughout the draft process that we covet as a staff and an organization as far as the type of person he is. We thought he was a good player. He did a nice job at (the University of) Minnesota. Tackler, deep part of the field and taking the ball away. But he also stood out off the field and on the field as a leader. For a young player, that’s not always easy to do. He has very good leadership qualities about him, and he’s done a good job as a rookie being in our system. He’s the type of guy we want in terms of our culture, and he just keeps improving. This is what you want out of the young players.”

Q: You added (defensive tackle) Armon Watts to the roster? What does he give you?

Daboll: “This is a guy that Dre (Andre Patterson) liked. He’s a big guy that has tools to work with inside. I think he’ll be a good addition to our team.”

Q: In (Pittsburgh quarterback) Russell Wilson’s first game of the season on Sunday night, the Steelers had season highs in points (37) and yards (409) in their victory against the Jets. What did you see differently in their offense with Wilson at quarterback?

Daboll: “Explosive plays. This guy, since 2018, he’s first in the league in 20-plus yard completions. He’s been there, he’s done that. But he gave (wide receiver George) Pickens… Pickens (five receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown) made a nice play on the one (catch). But he gives guys opportunities down the field to stretch the defense and to make plays down the field, which helps with scoring points. He is, it seems, a very calming veteran presence back there who’s played a lot of football and been very successful in his career playing the quarterback position. Russell is a good quarterback who operated their offense, particularly in the second half, getting things going. He gave his playmakers opportunities to make plays down the field and operated (offensive coordinator) Arthur Smith’s offense well.”

Q: And (running back) Najee Harris is coming off two straight 100-yard games.

Daboll: “That’s the Pittsburgh Steelers right there. Go back all the way to 1969 and (Pro Football Hall of Fame running back) Franco Harris. I mean, the list goes… (Hall of Famer) Jerome Bettis. It’s a physical football team. Physical brand of football. That really hasn’t changed for – I’ve only been in the league 25 years, but it seems like 55 years. They’re going to want to run the ball. They’re going to want to be physical. And they have a big, physical back in Najee, who I’ve been around at (the University of) Alabama. He is powerful, runs hard and runs angry. That’s Steelers football. You couple that with the play-action game and the shots down the field, particularly last week against the Jets. Two blocked field goals or blocked kicks I should say. I know one was called back. That’s Steelers football. This will be my 18th game against them.”

Q: In 18 games, has their defense changed much?

Daboll: “Well, the pieces have changed. Obviously, it was (coach Bill) Cowher when I first started in the league and now it’s coach (Mike) Tomlin. I say their track records speak for themselves. It’s the style they play with. When you line up to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers, there’s a longstanding tradition of tough, physical and sound football. It seems like every time I’m part of a team that gets ready to play them, as an assistant, not as a head coach, you go back and you review notes and it’s the same thing, the same messaging in 2000 as it is now. Tough, physical, hard-nosed team. Play great defense. Run the ball. Use your play-action game for shots. Have some good perimeter players that get the ball down the field. That’s what it’s been. When you go back and review things, they’re well coached. They take the ball away on defense. They create negative plays on defense. They have outstanding defensive players. That’s why they are where they are.”

Q: You mentioned their turnovers. Their differential is plus-9, second in the league. They get almost 30% of their points off turnovers. I know this is an emphasis every week, but it seems you must take care of the ball against this team.

DABOLL: “Absolutely. It is an emphasis every week. But they’re as good as any team taking it away. Whether it’s strip sacks, whether its punchouts, whether it’s interceptions, whether it’s pressure that forces quarterbacks into making bad decisions, they’re as good a defense as there is in the league.”

Q: Along the same vein, they have what Mike Tomlin calls a “block culture” on special teams – nine blocked kicks since 2022. They had two the other night (one nullified by a questionable penalty). Have to be alert for that?

Daboll: “No doubt. All three phases. They can create explosives in all three phases. Whether that’s the block portion of it in the special teams unit… (Cordarrelle) Patterson coming back, he’s an explosive returner. T.J. Watt, Heyward, Highsmith, the ability to rush the passer with four, take away the ball on the back end, pound you in the running game and hit explosives. That seems like it’s been a formula for a long time for them.”