Emphasis on takeaways paying off for Steelers defense

Talk to a handful of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive players. There will be at least two primary takeaways about their abundance of takeaways:

• Creating turnovers was heavily stressed throughout the summer and preseason

• Fumbles and interceptions can be contagious

As for the latter, the proof is in the results. A year after only two teams forced fewer turnovers, the Steelers rank second in the NFL in takeaways with 22.

“We just wanted to put an emphasis on that this year,” said linebacker Vince Williams, whose team has won three straight games and sits at 4-4. “So we really focused on it a lot this offseason, and it’s started to carry over.”

The pass rush was outstanding. They forced turnovers. Special teams out-performed the opponent. And more feats of strength in #Steelers win over #Colts https://t.co/4WVUXVRHe2

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) November 4, 2019

After having only 15 takeaways last year, the Steelers have roughly 1½ times that in half a season. The most recent time the Steelers had forced more than 22 turnovers at the midway point of the season? Bill Cowher’s first season as coach, 1992.

The Steelers lead the NFL in fumble recoveries with 11, and they are third in interceptions with the same number.

“That’s something that we worked on in the offseason,” safety Terrell Edmunds said, “and now it’s transitioning into the regular season. We’ve got to keep on doing it, keep on developing, keep stacking wins.”

The Steelers have forced 20 turnovers in their past six games. Their 11 interceptions over that span — at least one every week — matches the number they had over their previous 22 games.

It’s far from a coincidence the stretch began with the acquisition of safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for a first-round pick from the Miami Dolphins. Though the deal was heavily scrutinized, the Steelers sound content it was a worthwhile trade.

96-yard pick-six for Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Has four interceptions, six pass deflections and a forced fumble in his first five-and-a-half games with the Steelers.
pic.twitter.com/cMACdxPkZL

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) November 3, 2019

“Minkah needs no endorsement from me,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “The tape is his storyteller. He has been really rock-solid.”

Fitzpatrick has four interceptions in six games with the Steelers, including one he returned 96 yards for a touchdown in Sunday’s 26-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. No Steelers player has had four interceptions in an entire season since Troy Polamalu in 2010.

Linebacker T.J. Watt has three forced fumbles this season and has an NFL-leading nine over his past 12 games. Rookie Devin Bush is tied for the league lead with four fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown).

“They’re good at creating turnovers and negative plays,” Colts coach Frank Reich said after the loss.

Sunday’s victory, Steelers defensive players said, was an example of how they feed off one another and almost try to “one-up” each other in a friendly competition with forcing turnovers.

“We are all just around the football,” Watt said. “A bunch of ballhawks. We are trying to punch the ball out, tip the ball up, just not let it fall to the ground, just try to help this team any way possible. We have a lot of unselfish guys who are just trying to do their part.”

Against his former team, Minkah Fitzpatrick continues to help Steelers pile up turnovers https://t.co/ezlrIBd4LC

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 29, 2019

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