Aaron Rodgers came to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he didn’t come alone. Mike Tomlin‘s team went and brought a certified number one weapon for him in wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. After a few practices, the wideout has given an honest assessment of what the team’s defense is capable of.
Speaking to NFL Network, the wide receiver assured that going on 11-on-11 drills against the Pittsburgh’s defense in training camp is the toughest challenge he has faced in the league so far. He also paid compliments to cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay.
“That reckless defense that we’ve got on the other side of the ball, every play I get to go against JPJ, Jalen or Slay, so I’m always getting better in that aspect,” Metcalf confessed. “I think they’re the best defense I’ve ever seen. They come to work every day and we don’t have any choice but to get better.”
Metcalf is experiencing Tomlin’s method
Three things are certain in life. Death, taxes, and Mike Tomlin having a great defense in place. Metcalf is now experiencing it first hand. Porter Jr., Ramsey and Slay project as one of the best secondaries in the whole NFL. They bring experience, All Pro selections, Super Bowl rings, speed, size, and physicality to the roster.
All those characteristics, while guided by Tomlin’s leadership, make this unit one of the absolute best in the NFL. This, as Metcalf said, forces the offense to do better. This means that iron sharpens iron, and as long as the defense is elite, Aaron Rodgers and company will be good too. The Steelers have the potential to be one of the most feared rosters in the NFL right now.
Metcalf praises the secondary, but what about the rest?
Alongside that tough secondary, the Steelers are well prepared to give opposing teams a very bad time on the trenches. T.J. Watt is ready to add another double-digit-sack season to his Hall of Fame career, Cam Heyward is a veteran, but the defensive tackle still made All Pro last season. Add first-round pick Derrick Harmon to the mix and the defensive line might be elite.
In the middle of the field, the linebacker corp is filled with good players too. Patrick Queen is fresh off a 129-tackle season with a Pro Bowl selection included. Payton Wilson, Malik Harrison and Cole Holcomb are good depth-pieces to have as well.