Pittsburgh Steelers: Is Steelers Defense fastest in Steelers history?

Over the course of the past two seasons the Pittsburgh Steelers have made it a point to add speed to their defense, evident by their past two first round selections in Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier.

In the process of rebuilding an aging defense, is it possible the Steelers have become one of the fastest defenses in all of the NFL?

It is if you ask Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The Steelers finished outside of the Top 10 in defense last year for the first time this century, but Roethlisberger certainly has liked what he has seen on the other side of the ball so far.

Roethlisberger told KDKA-FM in Pittsburgh on Monday morning that this defense is as fast as any he has seen in Pittsburgh. He also had some high praise for the offensive line and wide receiver Justin Brown.

"“I thought it was a really good camp. This is as fast of a defense I have seen since I have been here,” Roethlisberger said. “Offensively, I thought the O-line played great and Justin Brown had a great camp.”"

Roethlisberger would know as he has spent years staring down his teammates on the other side of the ball, especially in OTA’s and mini camps.

Shazier is the NFL’s fastest linebacker since Brian Urlacher entered the league out of New Mexico in 2000, but he isn’t the only one that brings added speed as the defense boasts one of the NFL’s fastest players in cornerback Antwon Blake, who claims to have run a 4.18 40-yard dash at Texas El Paso.

Of course things can change once the pads come on, but speed is a priority and the Steelers are looking to be pretty darn fast on both sides of the ball in 2014.

At the end of the day it is nice to be fast, but making plays is the name of the game.

The Steelers defense will definitely be one of their fastest in recent memory. The question is can it be one of the Steelers best?

We will find out if all that speed starts to pay off in that department in a little over a month.