5 things we learned: Steelers' familiar defensive problems resurface in loss to 49ers

Five things we learned about 49ers 30, Steelers 7:

1. Defensive dilemma

On the day the Pittsburgh Steelers reported to training camp, coach Mike Tomlin was emphatic in his belief that integrating so many newcomers into the defense wouldn’t require a learning curve.

“I’ll be very blunt,” Tomlin said. “We’re not concerned about the new faces, man. They’re veteran guys. They’re smart guys. It’s going to be a non-issue for us by the time we’re stepping on the stage.”

Perhaps the Steelers defense could have used another dress rehearsal before taking that stage. For all of the additions made on defense, with veteran acquisitions filling two inside linebacker spots, plus strong safety and cornerback, the Steelers struggled to stop the San Francisco 49ers. And this happened with the Steelers knowing precisely what the 49ers wanted to do.

The Steelers couldn’t stop the run as the 49ers rushed for 188 yards and averaged 5.5 yards per carry. Christian McCaffrey led the way with 152, including a 65-yard touchdown that restored a 20-point margin two plays into the second half.

The Steelers also allowed Brock Purdy, the last pick of the 2022 draft, to hit open receivers across the middle of the field. Brandon Aiyuk became his favorite target, catching eight passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

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Plugging the middle of the field, particularly in pass coverage, was an issue the Steelers wanted to correct, which is why they overturned the inside linebacker position while also using two players to rotate at strong safety. Yet, the results largely were the same and neither Keanu Neal nor Damontae Kazee made anyone forget Terrell Edmunds.

Patrick Peterson made some plays deflecting passes across the middle, which could be his future position in the slot. He didn’t fare as well on the outside, which could mean the Steelers turning to second-round pick Joey Porter Jr. sooner than later.

2. Scrapping the run

Among the many downsides of starting with five possessions that didn’t net a single first down is the inability to establish a running game. When the Steelers did finally muster a drive — late in the first half — they were down 20-0. When they got the ball in the second half, they still trailed by 20 points.

That deficit rendered the running game meaningless, so it’s difficult to evaluate the work done by Najee Harris. He finished with 31 yards on six carries, with one of those runs going for 24 yards while the Steelers were marching for their only score of the game.

Circumstances dictated the Steelers attempting just 10 running plays as opposed to 46 passes, providing the type of one-dimensional approach Tomlin would like to avoid in the future.

3. Happy returns

Anthony McFarland got plenty of chances to try his hand as the Steelers’ kickoff returner, and he averaged 30.3 yards on the three times he attempted a return. He touched the ball four other times but didn’t bring the ball out of the end zone.

That average represents a promising start for McFarland, whose ability on special teams helped seal a spot on the 53-man roster.

McFarland also played five snaps on offense and caught a pair of passes for 11 yards. If the offense can establish more consistency and get the running game more involved, McFarland can be the occasional change-of-pace back to complement Harris and Jaylen Warren.

4. Line dancing

First-round pick Broderick Jones made his NFL debut in the fourth quarter when right tackle Chuks Okorafor exited with concussion symptoms. Jones played the final four snaps at left tackle with Dan Moore Jr. moving to the right side and filling Okorafor’s spot.

If Okorafor remains in concussion protocol and is unable to play against Cleveland, Jones would be in line to make his first start. If that happens, the Steelers can hope the offensive line fares better than after Okorafor left the game.

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Quarterback Kenny Pickett was sacked on two of the four plays Okorafor spent on the sideline. With an extra day of preparation this week, the Steelers could use the extra time to get Jones acclimated to working with the first team. He did little of that in training camp although he did get heavy usage with the second-teamers in the preseason.

Depth hardly was tested last year as the Steelers started the same offensive line group in all 17 games, and center Mason Cole was the only one who didn’t log 100% of the snaps. Realizing that was unlikely to happen again, the Steelers added players in free agency and the draft to strengthen the line.

It might come earlier than the Steelers had envisioned, but Jones could get the chance to show how much he has progressed in the Monday night matchup with Cleveland.

5. Finding his way

After sitting out his entire rookie season with a foot injury, Calvin Austin III finally got a chance to show what he could do in a regular-season game. By winning the punt return job and serving as the No. 4 receiver, Austin got a helmet in favor of Gunner Olszewski, who was a healthy scratch.

Offensive coordinator Matt Canada didn’t waste time trying to incorporate the speedy Austin into the plan. On the second snap of the game, Pickett made a short flip to Austin as he crossed into the backfield — a passing version of a jet sweep. Austin was tackled for a 1-yard loss, perhaps setting the tone for the offense on the day.

But the Steelers kept Austin involved, and he had a team-high six catches. Austin played 35 snaps — or 56% of all offensive plays — and he was targeted three times after Diontae Johnson’s exit with a hamstring injury.