They've tried double teaming him. They've tried man-to-man defenses and zones. They even tried, famously, having nobody cover him in a loss in New England to open the 2015 season.
That last plan didn't work at all. But neither has much of anything else the Steelers have come up with when it comes to stopping or even slowing down the Patriots' all-universe tight end, Rob Gronkowski.
In six regular-season games against the Steelers, Gronkowski has 39 receptions on 49 targets for 664 yards and eight touchdowns as the Patriots have gone 5-1 in those meetings.
Slowing Gronkowski will be critical for the Steelers on Sunday when they host the Patriots once again at Heinz Field.
One way to accomplish that might be the insertion of Cameron Sutton at slot corner in place of the more diminutive Mike Hilton. Sutton confirmed Wednesday he worked with the first-team defense in that position. But safety Morgan Burnett also could be in the mix to match up on Gronkowski.
"I have gone against him before. I want to say it was 2014," said Burnett, who came to the Steelers as a free agent from the Packers. "He's a tough matchup. He's as good as advertised. He is a guy who is reliable, accountable. You see them go to him time after time. Teams game plan for him and he still finds a way to make a play. He's one of those special guys in the league that's one of those guys who makes this league special. You're going to get his best shot every time you line up against him."
Gronkowski had seven catches for 98 yards on 12 targets in that 2014 game against the Packers, though Green Bay won the game, 26-21.
But the Gronk of 2018 isn't quite the Gronk of old. Now 29, Gronkowski is visibly slower than he was when he first entered the league in 2010. Back and leg injuries have limited him to 43 receptions for 637 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games this season.
He is, however, coming off arguably his best game of the season. He caught a season-high eight passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in New England's 34-33 loss at Miami, catching every pass thrown his way from Tom Brady.
And he's still 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds even if he still doesn't run in the 4.6s, as he did when he broke into the league.
"Gronk has missed some time this year, but he’s finding his rhythm," Mike Tomlin said. "He’s been playing here for the last several weeks, had a big game this past week. You know the match-up issue that he is for everyone globally, and he is and has been for us in the past. We are thoughtful of putting together a plan to minimize him and his impact on the game."