In 1st year with Steelers, Steven Nelson emerging as shutdown cornerback

Steven Nelson is happy to be part of the most disruptive defense in the NFL, one that leads the league with 33 takeaways.

He’s thrilled to be among a secondary that has excelled at creating havoc, the Pittsburgh Steelers ranking second with 18 interceptions.

He’s quick to join teammates in the end zone when they pose for those staged group photos after making such game-changing picks.

It’s just that Nelson would like to be the reason for such celebrations.

Despite being such a steady presence in the Steelers secondary and one of top-ranked corners in the NFL, Nelson’s next interception this season will be his first. After 13 games, he trails slot corner Mike Hilton, dime corner Cameron Sutton, reserve safety Kameron Kelly and even running back Trey Edmunds, who got one on a special teams pass attempt.

“The turnovers will come,” Nelson said Thursday morning. “They haven’t come yet like I’ve wanted them to come. Hopefully, they’ll come soon down the stretch.”

Nelson is running out of time. Beginning Sunday night against Buffalo, the Steelers have just three games remaining.

Fellow corner Joe Haden can sympathize with what Nelson, a fifth-year veteran, is going through. In his second year in the NFL, Haden went the entire year without an interception. This season, in spite of leading Steelers cornerbacks with four interceptions, he didn’t get his first one until the ninth game.

“Just continue to play your technique,” Haden said. “Don’t try to go out of position because that’s when you start getting beat on things you’re not getting beat on now. On the inside, everyone knows how good Steve is doing.

“He might not be seeing it in the numbers, but you can see it in the way that he’s not getting beat. I tell Steve just continue doing what you’re doing, and they’ll come in bunches. Once you get that first one, the ball is going to keep coming at you.”

The obvious reason for Nelson’s lack of interceptions is the lack of opportunities. Last year, his final one with the Kansas City Chiefs, Nelson was the most targeted cornerback in the NFL. Quarterbacks threw in his direction 113 times, or more than seven attempts a game, and he finished with four interceptions.

In his first year since signing a three-year, $25.5 million contract with the Steelers, Nelson has solidified the cornerback spot previously occupied by Artie Burns. Nelson has been targeted just 49 times in 12 games – he missed one due to injury – and has allowed 26 receptions and one touchdown.

According to Pro Football Focus, Nelson ranks third among cornerbacks in snaps per target, which equates to quarterbacks throwing in his direction once every 10 snaps. He ranks fourth in snaps per receptions, with receivers catching passes on approximately one out of every 18 snaps that Nelson is on the field.

Nelson also has yielded the eighth-fewest yards after the catch among all corners.

“He’s always in great position, and he’s not getting beat over the top,” Haden said. “As a corner, you want to get those interceptions, but sometimes the best thing is when your name is not being called. It means they’re not throwing the ball your way.”

Mike Tomlin envisioned such reliable play when he scouted Nelson in 2015 at the Senior Bowl and invited him to Pittsburgh for a predraft visit. The Chiefs, though, selected the former Oregon State corner in the third round.

“The professionalism, the attention to detail, the mature approach was evident,” Tomlin said.

Benefiting from Haden’s veteran presence at the other outside corner spot and the addition of play-making free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, Nelson has emerged as a shutdown corner.

“When I hear that term, that’s what I strive for,” Nelson said. “In the offseason, it’s what I worked toward, to gain that title. You don’t get that from being up or down, you get it from staying consistent.”

The Steelers’ success, winning seven of their past eight games, has usurped any individual goals that Nelson had for his first season in the organization.

“You go out each game and have high expectations,” Nelson said. “When you don’t get it, you’re like, ‘Awww,’ but then you get to help the team win so you’re happier that you were a part of that.”

Perhaps the interceptions will follow suit.

“My opportunities will come,” he said. “Whether they come down the stretch, the next game, I’ll be here a little while so maybe they’ll come next year. You never know, that’s how those things go. I’m staying optimistic about everything.”