The Sports Xchange

LATROBE, Pa. — Three weeks and two preseason games into training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers have shown just about what most expected them to before it all started: They are really good on offense and not so good on defense.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his first unit have been lighting it up in practices at Saint Vincent College and did so in their brief and only appearance in a preseason game Friday night in Jacksonville. It took them six plays to cover 80 yards on the opening drive. Roethlisberger was 3-for-3 for 59 yards, ending it with a 44-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Martavis Bryant. Roethlisberger then capped it with a two-point conversion pass to Markus Wheaton.

Most of the first team — including Roethlisberger, running back Le’Veon Bell, wide receiver Antonio Brown, tight end Heath Miller and center Maurkice Pouncey — departed after that first series, although the rest of the line hung around for one more.

The defense, on the other hand, has not been as efficient in practices or in games. Ranked a 21st-century low of 18th last season, the defense under new coordinator Keith Butler is in transition to a much younger group and it has showed. Although still not intact because of some minor injuries, the defense allowed Jacksonville to score on three straight first-half series for 17 points Friday night.

The two safeties scheduled to start have not played together yet. Shamarko Thomas missed the first game and Mike Mitchell missed the second, both with minor injuries.

“Those guys need to play,” Butler said. “They need the experience. We were hoping to get Shamarko more snaps, but he was hurt. We need to get Mike Mitchell some snaps, the guys that are new to this defense. There are some new things in the defense, but the new guys need to play. The only way for them to get better is for them to play.”

Butler has not been happy with the tackling that has been spotty through the first two preseason games.

“We can’t allow people to push the pile on us,” Butler said. “That’s what I’m most disappointed in. We didn’t keep our feet moving. We kind of hit and stopped, and they didn’t stop. They kept on going. They were turning 2-yard gains into 6-yard gains.

“We have to do a better job. It happened to us in practice a couple of times, too. Usually, when it happens (in practice), it will show up in the games. We have to get it corrected and soon.”

–Veteran kicker Garrett Hartley, signed last week to replace injured Shaun Suisham, was 2-for-2 on field-goal attempts vs. Jacksonville, including a 48-yarder. He also connected on his lone extra point.

Suisham tore his left ACL in the first preseason game while running under his second-half kickoff. Teammates blamed the 11-year-old FieldTurf in Canton for the injury.