Keith Butler looking to fill in missing pieces while maintaining Steelers' defensive production

A defense that led the NFL in sacks and was second in forcing turnovers in 2020 received a jolt this week when inside linebacker Vince Williams abruptly retired on the eve of training camp.

Williams became the fourth starter, counting nickel corner Mike Hilton, to exit a Pittsburgh Steelers unit that allowed the third fewest yards and points scored last season.

It wasn’t the news defensive coordinator Keith Butler was expecting — not after his defense added veteran edge rusher Melvin Ingram III earlier in the week. Williams wasn’t being counted on to start if he had returned for a ninth season, but he was expected to share snaps with Robert Spillane.

“I had empathy for him,” said Butler, who spent 10 seasons in the NFL as a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. “I felt the same thing when I retired. We all think we can play longer than we can play. Vince just realized his body wasn’t ready to play, and he wasn’t ready to play.”

Williams’ departure will leave the Steelers looking for capable tacklers at inside linebacker to play with Spillane and Devin Bush, who is returning from an ACL tear. It’s no different than in the secondary where the Steelers are trying to replace corners Steve Nelson and Hilton.

“We’ll be OK inside,” Butler said. “We’re got a couple good guys. Spillane did a good job for us. Fifty-five (Bush) should be ready to play. We’re counting on him being ready to play. There are a couple more guys we drafted and some young guys we want to see in pads.”

Buddy Johnson of Texas A&M was drafted in the fourth round. Converted safety Marcus Allen is spending his second camp at inside linebacker. Ulysees Gilbert and Tegray Scales have some NFL experience.

“That position is determined by how much they do in pads, what kind of personality they have with the pads on,” Butler said. “I’m a guy that likes to see people hit. If they’re not going to hit, they’re going to play for somebody else.”

While Butler doesn’t have a dependable third option inside, he got one on the outside when the Steelers signed three-time Pro Bowl selection Ingram. Although Ingram didn’t have a sack last season, he was limited to just seven games because of knee injuries. The five previous seasons, he totaled 43 sacks and 92 quarterback hits with the Chargers.

“We always want to have three guys that can play,” Butler said. “We did last year.”

Highsmith was the third option in 2020 until Bud Dupree was lost to his season-ending ACL injury in early December. With NFL Defensive Player of the Year runner-up T.J. Watt manning the left side at outside linebacker, Highsmith and Ingram will fill the right. One also will move to the left side when Watt needs a breather.

“I think (Alex) understands,” Butler said. “Last year we mingled him in with Bud and T.J. when those guys were tired. It’s difficult to send two outside linebackers out there and let them play the entire game when they are wrestling guys that are 300 pounds.”

Until the Steelers signed Ingram, journeyman Cassius Marsh and rookie Quincy Roche were candidates to be the No. 3 outside linebacker. Ingram didn’t participate in OTAs or minicamp, but defensive captain Cameron Heyward doesn’t think it will take him long to settle into the rotation.

“You can move him around,” Heyward said. “You can use him at some really unique things. He’s been able to be that rover type of guy who can penetrate through the B gap and get guards one-on-one. We’ll see what Coach Butts has cooked up for him.”

Under Butler’s tutelage, the Steelers have led the NFL in sacks for four consecutive seasons, a first in league history.

Challenging for a fifth sacks title in a row will depend on how well they replace Dupree, Williams and Hilton, who combined for 14 of the team’s 56 sacks. Meanwhile, Hilton and Nelson combined for five of the Steelers’ league-high 18 interceptions.

Cameron Sutton is getting the first look at outside corner after primarily playing inside in subpackages in his first four seasons. Antoine Brooks and free-agent addition Arthur Maulet have rotated as first-team nickel corners during the first two training camp workouts.

“There are always going to be concerns about depth because new players are coming in,” Heyward said. “Other guys have to step up.”