Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Darius Slay voiced strong frustration with the team's defensive approach during the 2025 season. Speaking on his podcast, Slay described the outside leverage tactics as unusual and ineffective for cornerbacks.
Slay appeared on his Press Coverage podcast Thursday, where he said the scheme did not align with what former defensive coordinator Teryl Austin taught in Detroit. He noted that players were instructed to play outside leverage on every call, particularly in the red zone, leaving cornerbacks chasing receivers on inside catches. Slay added that the strategy relied on defensive linemen batting down passes, a skill he did not favor depending on during games.
