Steelers' DL Coach Karl Dunbar's Time With Organization "Might Be Short" If Position's Play Is Poor Again In 2024

The Pittsburgh Steelers have plenty of areas to improve in during preparations for the 2024 season. Super Bowl LVIII hasn't happened yet, but 30 organizations are already looking on ways to get better with the end goal of hosting the Lombardi Trophy in February of 2025. Many of the talk in upcoming months will focus on the quarterback situation with questions remaining regarding Kenny Pickett and his ability to be the quarterback of the future for the franchise. There are other areas that need to be a focus and one of those is on an aging positional group on the defensive side of the ball.

The defensive line caught a bad break in 2023 when the unit's leader, and team captain, Cameron Heyward, landed on injured reserve after the first game of the season. He would miss the next six contests and while rookie Keeanu Benton stepped up throughout the season, the group did not perform nearly as well as fans would have liked them too, specifically against the run.

Heyward returned for a Week 9 game against the Tennessee Titans and that sparked a stretch of five straight games in which the defense allowed 130 yards or more on the ground. While it appears as if defensive line coach Karl Dunbar won't be a part of the team's current coaching purge, Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo wrote in a chat on Tuesday that Dunbar's seventh season in Pittsburgh (2024) might be his last if his guys struggle again.

"Dunbar is well-respected in NFL circles, but I will admit, his young linemen haven't developed as well as the team had hoped. How much can you pin on the coach and how much can you pin on the players? I lean toward placing blame on the players, but Dunbar certainly has to see an uptick in play from his group next season or his time might be short," Fittipaldo wrote.

Benton certainly has the chance to bloom into a star, but with Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi not getting any younger, players like DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk aren't exactly making fans excited for the future at the position. Montravius Adams and Armon Watts will also enter free agency.

Heyward still has enough left in the tank to perform at a high level if he remains healthy, but there isn't too much to be excited about aside from Benton. This will make Dunbar's job more difficult. According to Fittipaldo, the Steelers may even stay away from drafting reinforcements because the 2024 NFL Draft class is not the strongest position available.

"This is not a great class for defensive linemen, so I could see the Steelers signing a DT in free agency. All depends on the value in free agency compared to how they see the draft."

Whatever the decision ends up being by Head Coach Mike Tomlin and General Manager Omar Khan, it will be a critical one. Pittsburgh allowed 4.3 yards per carry in 2023, which was tied for the sixth-worst mark in the league. The cornerback situation is already shaky as is aside from Joey Porter Jr. and the unit needs to rely on stopping the run to improve the overall product being put out on the field.

Steelers Will Need To Rely On Defense Once Again In 2024

The hire of Arthur Smith as the team's new offensive coordinator is a step in the right direction, but there's no guarantee the offense turns into a juggernaut to start off the 2024 season. The defense will be asked to hold opposing offenses in check as Pittsburgh's own offense tries to find its identity under Smith. Dunbar's group needs to find a way to be more effective against the run. A poor season from the defensive line again could lead to his termination.

Do you think Dunbar is on the hot seat in 2024? Let us know in the comments below!

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