We, Not Me: Elandon Roberts Loves Enjoying For Steelers Protection Due To Selfless Attitudes

For a protection ranked within the high three for opponent factors per sport, the Pittsburgh Steelers protection doesn’t have any league leaders. Even with out OLB T.J. Watt piling up the stats, the Steelers protection continues to be taking part in at a very excessive degree, permitting solely 16.9 factors per sport.

A giant purpose for the Steelers’ defensive success is their defensive entrance. Despite the fact that Watt and DT Cameron Heyward will not be placing up loopy counting stats this yr, they’re taking part in staff ball at a excessive degree and permitting different gamers to make routine performs, which in flip makes it more durable for opposing offenses to drive down the sphere.

Steelers LB Elandon Roberts was just lately on Breakin’ Home Guidelines and spoke about what a pleasure it’s to play with a protection like Pittsburgh’s.

“It feels nice to have that kind of group simply in your entrance as a result of man, them guys actually, actually take their job severe,” mentioned Roberts. “They usually’re not ‘Me’ guys, so that they’re large on, ‘Hey, what do we have to do for the staff to have success stopping the run,’ or when it’s cross conditions, ‘What do I have to do to get to that quarterback and create an enormous play for my protection?’”

Figuring out how stats get gamers paid in skilled sports activities may make it very simple for Steelers gamers to chase stats, particularly youthful gamers or gamers approaching free company. Watt is chasing his second Defensive Participant of the Yr award, he may simply say screw run protection and go arduous after the quarterback each play to inflate is sack numbers. However he doesn’t try this. Watt is having a down yr in dashing the quarterback, with solely 7.5 sacks by 11 video games. Nonetheless, he has been unimaginable within the run sport, already tallying 13 tackles for a loss and 4 pressured fumbles, two of which got here towards operating backs.

A protection apprehensive solely about particular person stats gained’t achieve success, however a protection involved with doing the little issues proper and realizing that in the event you do your job, your teammate will make a play to forestall offenses from gaining vital yardage is what Tremendous Bowl-winning defenses do. Heck, that was principally the mantra of the 2000s Steelers defenses.

For Roberts, having a defensive entrance so apprehensive about doing their job and never chasing stats makes his job simpler, as he can merely run to the ball and often gained’t should cope with too many offensive linemen operating free to dam him. Roberts’ numbers this yr are down attributable to him and rookie LB Payton Wilson splitting time, however he nonetheless has 31 tackles and three tackles for a loss regardless of solely seeing 40 p.c of the defensive snaps this yr. As compared, Roberts performed 54 p.c of the defensive snaps final yr.

Roberts, like the remainder of the protection, gained’t complain. Their aim is to win, regardless of the way it’s completed or who’s taking part in or making the performs. As he mentioned, there isn’t a “me” on this protection.