PITTSBURGH -- Troy Polamalu and Mike Mitchell have each accumulated a fair share of tackles, but neither has broken up a pass much less made a big play through the first two games of the season.

Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said that will change.

"I think they’re going to give us one of the best safety combinations in the league," LeBeau said Thursday after practice. "I’ve said that all along. I still feel the same way. With the whole group we’ve got some new faces, and the sooner we can tie it all together, all 11 guys knowing where the other 10 are going to be, the sooner we’re going to get to looking like I want us to look."

LeBeau dismissed the notion that Mitchell, who signed a five-year, $25 million contract in March, is off to a slow start because he is getting used to playing with Polamalu.

"It’s still football," LeBeau said. "He’s in a new environment and a new system, and I think he’s only going to get better and better and more comfortable. But he’s always been a good football player and he’s playing good football right now."

The Steelers' defense has been anything but good following a strong first half in the season opener against the Browns.

The Steelers have given up 50 points in their past six quarters, and they haven’t been able to stop the run.

The Steelers are yielding 170.0 rushing yards per game, but LeBeau said the problems they had had stopping the run can be fixed.

"We’ve got to quit shooting ourselves in the foot. Most of the runs we have given up we haven’t gotten in our detailed assignments enough," LeBeau said. "The guys are working on that and we’ve got to get it done. You’re not going to give up those kinds of runs and be successful."