Steelers will try to clear up tackling issues against Jets running back tandem

At first blush, the New York Jets would seem to be the antidote for the ailing Pittsburgh Steelers run defense.

As much as the Steelers have struggled trying to establish a running game, the Jets have fared worse. They have totaled 18 fewer rushing yards than the Steelers during a 1-2 start and take a No. 26 NFL ranking into the game Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.

The Jets, though, are averaging a middle-of-the-pack 4.4 yards per carry, an indication they haven’t shown a commitment to running the ball as evidenced by a No. 30 ranking in attempts.

The Steelers, coming off a performance in which the defense allowed 171 yards rushing at Cleveland, expect that emphasis by the Jets to shift this weekend.

“Whenever you put something on tape, somebody is going to look at it and try to attack it,” inside linebacker Devin Bush said. “We have to be ready for those challenges.”

The Jets are another in a line of opponents that will throw a running back tandem at the Steelers as they rotate between Michael Carter and Breece Hall. For the New England Patriots, it was Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson combining for 118 yards. The Browns followed with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, who combined for 160 yards.

Carter, a fourth-round pick in 2021 from North Carolina, has rushed for 122 yards in three games and is averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Hall, a rookie second-rounder from Iowa State, has 112 yards rushing and a 5.3 average.

Each back has a long run exceeding 20 yards this season, something Najee Harris has yet to do while leading the Steelers with 128 yards rushing. Carter and Hall also have 13 catches apiece, which is tied for third on the Jets.

“Young and explosive,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “Those guys can do it. Catching it, running it, they’re really good backs. The key is to keep them bottled up and make sure when you tackle that you wrap. We’re got to do a really good job of tackling and wrapping and bringing guys to the ground. You can’t shoulder bump people in this league, so we’ve got to be strong in tackling and really strong in our pursuit angles because these guys are shifty and fast.”

The Steelers were credited with eight missed tackles in the run game against Cleveland, the highest single-game total since Week 10 last season when they had nine missed tackles in a tie with Detroit. The eight missed tackles matched the total from the first two weeks of the season.

“When you run the ball, you’re basically seeing who is going to out-physical who,” Bush said. “When you get into those type of games, it’s man-for-man and you have to beat the other man. I think the challenge is separately on all of us, but collectively we have to work together to stop the run.”