Mark Madden: Minkah Fitzpatrick's game isn't broken, so Steelers need not fix it

When safety Minkah Fitzpatrick wanted out of Miami, he said the Dolphins moved him around the field too much.

Now that he’s made first-team All-Pro with the Steelers, Fitzpatrick would like to spend time at “corner or linebacker, whatever it may be, that’s what I’m going to do.” Fitzpatrick isn’t fanatic about that quest, but he’d clearly like to do it.

Fitzpatrick was involved with seven takeaways during his first seven games with the Steelers last season. But that number dipped to one takeaway in the season’s last seven games as Fitzpatrick’s part of the field became a no-fly zone. Fitzpatrick was targeted just seven times in the Steelers’ last eight games.

Fitzpatrick’s intent is noble: He wants to make plays. Few safeties could effectively handle the hybrid-type role that Troy Polamalu mastered. Fitzpatrick might be able to.

But there’s no need for Fitzpatrick to do that.

The Steelers have 10 of 11 starters back on defense, and also top nickel Mike Hilton. They finished fifth-best among NFL defensive units in yards allowed and fifth-best in points allowed. They led the league with 38 takeaways.

The defense did admirably despite playing 1,030 snaps. That’s 43 more than in 2018 and 90 more than in 2017, when the Steelers played the NFL’s fewest defensive snaps.

Why should the Steelers change anything about their defense? The return of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger should turn takeaways into more points than last year’s hot mess at QB did, although the Steelers won’t get 38 takeaways again.

Luck plays a big part in takeaways. The Steelers won’t get those bounces again. The Steelers averaged 22.2 takeaways over the previous five years. The high during that period was 30 in 2015. Their takeaway total will revert closer to the mean in 2020. (The Steelers need to cut down their own turnovers: An embarrassing 30 last campaign.)

Keep Fitzpatrick’s job the same. If he moves around, others have to move around.

If Fitzpatrick got more freedom, fellow safety Terrell Edmunds would have to read and react. Edmunds is, at best, mediocre. He might improve: Edmunds was a first-round pick in 2018. He’s got tools but needs a better toolbox.

But when Polamalu roamed and dominated, his partner at safety was Chris Hope, then Ryan Clark. Edmunds isn’t close to being either, especially in terms of football IQ. He survives by being vanilla.

If Fitzpatrick moves closer to the line, Edmunds goes deep. If Fitzpatrick plays hybrid linebacker — don’t forget, Mark Barron is no longer a Steeler — then a backup safety plays. The Steelers allowed 26 pass plays of over 25 yards last season. That was the seventh-best mark in the league. That’s with Fitzpatrick in center field.

If Fitzpatrick got more freedom, it might put more demands on the cornerbacks. Joe Haden made the Pro Bowl last season. But he’s 31.

There just doesn’t seem to be a good reason to alter Fitzpatrick’s duties. Blend in a few nuances by way of giving the opposition a different look and giving Fitzpatrick a bit of variety that might increase his opportunity a bit.

But if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. The Steelers defense is anything but broke. If Fitzpatrick gets a bit bored, maybe that’s a good thing.