On a day when safety DeShon Elliott expressed regret for not keeping his reactions to the Steelers’ loss to Kansas City more private, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin welcomed the display of emotion from his players. “I would much rather have them be emotional and be upset about things not going their way than not giving a (expletive),” Austin said. He emphasized that such emotions indicate a desire to improve and are important.
The defeat marked the Steelers’ third consecutive loss, with the defense allowing at least 27 points in each game. Despite this, Austin is not worried about internal blame among the team members. “I think we have good enough relationships in this building that we won’t point fingers at people,” he explained, crediting open dialogue and transparency within the organization as key factors.
Elliott mentioned an additional walk-through session planned by the defense before practice, which Austin supported. “We’ll do whatever we have to do to try to get right,” he stated, highlighting player-driven initiatives aimed at improvement.
As they prepare for Saturday night’s regular-season finale against Cincinnati, sacks and turnovers remain priorities for Austin’s defense. The Steelers currently have 36 sacks but only four in their last three games combined. They lead the NFL in takeaways with 31 but managed just three during recent losses.
“Sacks and turnovers change the game,” Austin stressed, noting their impact on stopping drives and altering outcomes. He remains confident that consistent effort will yield results despite recent challenges: “We know if you do give it the attention it deserves like we do, that the results will come.”
