The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense was plagued by communication issues last season, so fans won't be happy to hear that might be a problem once again in 2025.
The Steelers' communication breakdowns were well-documented, and players have even publicly spoken on them, including linebacker Patrick Queen, safety DeShon Elliott and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.
“Can’t explain it, it’s happening. We keep talking about it. Nobody is doing a thing about it. If nobody does anything about what they are supposed to be doing then we don’t have any room for it,” Queen said. ”I don’t know if we have to keep saying it. We have said it the last two or three weeks. It is at a point where you realize it and go out there and play fast and play physical and do your job."
Now, defensive back Brandin Echols is the latest Steelers player to point out a communication issue.
According to a clip from 93.7 The Fan, Echols pointed out that the Steelers need to communicate better following their joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday. He also noted that the team's energy wasn't high enough.
"We (need to) come out, way better energy, way better swag, way better communication, he said. "We just gotta show that we a dominant group on Saturday.
Unfortunately, details are scant from the session because reporters couldn't report their observations now that the Steelers have switched to regular season practice rules.
That said, Echols' comment was more than enough to now have concern that the defense's communication issue from last season is alive and well.
After he was traded to the Miami Dolphins, a report suggested Minkah Fitzpatrick was a big culprit in the communication issues Pittsburgh's unit had in 2024.
"A lot of that was Minkah," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo said.
When asked about Fitzpatrick being behind the issue, Queen simply said, "no."
The fact that the problem still exists after Fitzpatrick's departure suggests that, at most, he was simply a small part of the problem.
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