Oct 13, 2016 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – The Steelers are off to their best start since 2010 and have acquired their 4-1 record in semi-impressive fashion outside of a speedbump in Philadelphia.

The offense has been a big part of that, averaging 34 points in the four wins.

But just as impressive has been the play of the defense, which is allowing 14.8 points in the team’s victories. Even with the 34 points the Steelers gave up in Philadelphia, and despite being 26th in yards allowed, the defense is ninth in the NFL in points permitted.

Nobody is going to confuse this current Pittsburgh defense with the Steel Curtain or Blitzburgh units of the past, but coordinator Keith Butler’s unit has been doing a good job of cobbling together good defensive efforts despite missing several key players.

Heading into Sunday’s game at Miami (1-4), because eof injuries the Steelers have started four different defensive lineups. They’ll make it five in six games against the Dolphins with defensive end Cameron Heyward already declared out of the game with a hamstring injury.

That doesn’t even take into account the different players the Steelers have shuffled onto the field in their sub-package formations in the nickel and dime defenses. Players such as safety Jordan Dangerfield, cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz and linebacker Anthony Chickillo weren’t necessarily part of the team’s plans when the season began but have been forced into action because of the injuries.

The injuries are so commonplace, Butler didn’t even realize Heyward was out of Pittsburgh’s 31-13 win last Sunday over the New York Jets until midway through the third quarter.

“Usually we rotate those guys in there so I just thought it was part of the regular rotation,” Butler said. “Then I found out he was hurt and wasn’t coming back. (Defensive line coach) John Mitchell made the necessary adjustments.”

All of the shuffling has helped players keep their focus.

“It definitely increases the sense of urgency, but injuries aren’t something any team in the league wants,” said safety Mike Mitchell. “We had our fair share last year. I would like to see us with our full clip and see what we can really do.”

That’s won’t happen again this week, even though the Steelers appear as if they’ll get strong safety Robert Golden back after he missed the past two games with a hamstring injury. Inside linebacker Ryan Shazier also could return after sitting out the past two games with an MCL sprain, but he practiced only on a limited basis Thursday.

Butler has put together packages to best fit his unit and those are constantly evolving.

This week, that will include rookie nose tackle Javon Hargrave replacing Heyward as a pass rusher, and veteran Ricardo Mathews will fill in at defensive end in the base 3-4 defense.

And in the secondary, cornerback Artie Burns appears to have earned a spot in the rotation over fellow rookie Sean Davis, a safety who moved to slot cornerback in the preseason.

Burns, the team’s top draft pick, was pressed into more action when Davis was dealing with a back injury two weeks ago against Kansas City, and has forced his way onto the field in the nickel defense. He’ll play on the outside, with veteran Will Gay moving to the slot.

Not only is it getting Burns, who is second on the team to Ross Cockrell with four pass defenses, on the field, it allows Davis, who had been learning two positions, to adjust to playing just one.

“We’re trying to put him in a position where, we don’t want him overloaded with things,” Butler said. “We’re going to try to play him in a position where he can learn and he can be comfortable playing and the people around him can be comfortable with what he’s doing, too.”

It could mean less playing time for Davis, but help him and the Steelers in the long term, not that the players are worried about the future at this point.

Because of the injuries with which the team has had to deal, they can’t get caught looking ahead.

“If you get to drinking your own Kool-Aid, you get your tails beat,” said Mitchell. “We are happy with what we’re doing but we’re not anywhere close to where we want to be.”

In addition to Heyward, wide receivers Sammie Coates (finger) and Markus Wheaton (shoulder), offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle), center Cody Wallace (knee) and safety Shamarko Thomas (safety) missed their second consecutive day of practice. … Shazier was the only player who missed practice Wednesday that was upgraded to limited Thursday. … Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was named the FedEx Air Player of the Week for his 380-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Jets.