Domantae Kazee feels commitee approach could be key to Steelers secondary success
Published August 9th, 10″25 EDT
by Bo Marchionte
Latrobe, PA – Minkah Fitzpatrick is the face of the Steelers secondary. The three-time first team All-Pro is the undisputed starting free safety. Over the duration of watching practices go from minicamp to training camp one thing remains relatively cloudy – Who will be the Steelers starting strong safety?
The confusion is also connected to the variety of packages the Steelers implement into their defensive scheme. The three safety packages we can label ‘Big Nickel’ or ‘Safety Trifecta’ could see any number of safeties earning significant playing time.
“It’s different packages and different rotations,” Domantae Kazee said after practice. “At the end of the day, I play my role and I play it well.”
Coach Tomlin calls it “defensive specialization” in order to counterattack the way offensive teams are moving the football in the National Football League. Pittsburgh uses a lot of formations with three safeties or hybrid types to execute their scheme. It’s fair to say regardless of who the starter is alongside Fitzpatrick the group will get plenty of actions once Week 1 is in session.
“Everybody keeps coming up with the question who is the starting strong safety,” Kazee laughed. “Anybody. One of us. It might be one game Keanu Neal is starting or Minkah (Fitzpatrick) is starting. Might be one game where me and Minkah are starting. We really don’t know.”
Kazee plays much tougher than his 5-foot-11 and 175-pound should allow, which is why we might forget he was co-leader in 2018 in the National Football League with seven interceptions. With 14 career interceptions he is more than equipped to handle himself anywhere in the secondary.
“See for me I don’t see the difference between a strong safety and a free safety,” Kazee said. “I believe that’s the same for me. One of them is going in the box and the other is going out. It doesn’t matter. I play physical too.
“Trust me, I’ve played every position. Started at corner in college. I transitioned to safety. I played one year at nickel. I’ve done it all before. I’ll be alright. Still a ball hawk.”
Drafted in the fifth round in 2017 by the Falcons, Kazee said, “I think it was my height when they drafted me in Atlanta,” that led the team to move him from defensive back to safety. The positional switch came naturally, and his versatility allows Tomlin to emphasize “defensive specialization” amongst his group of safeties.
“I do what I need to do,” Kazee said. “I do my technique. I do what was coached and try to make a play.”
The trio of Fitzpatrick, Neal and Kazee have a wonderful working relationship and the competition brings along a “good vibe” according to Kazee. This is Kazee’s second season in Pittsburgh and Neal reached out to him prior to signing with the Steelers earlier this spring.
“I did reach out to Kaz and talked to him a little,” Neal said. “Get a feel for what he thought and about the organization, locker room and everything. He said nothing but great things. Just being a part of this organization. It’s historic with a lot of traditions. The way they play ball. I’d say we know the way we play ball (laughs).
“I just want to contribute,” Neal said. “Get on the field anyway I can and contribute. Whatever that is, I’m cool with it. I think there is an opportunity for everyone to get on the field and excel.”
The way both Kazee and Neal express their roles might be a committee approach throughout the season. They know their services will be needed collectively and the comradery they share should only enhance the cohesiveness of the unit.
