PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He’s been in the NFL for nine years, yet he expects the Bengals to pick on him. It’s the veteran safety who had no idea he would be starting for the Steelers in a key game in December.
31 year-old Eric Rowe was signed to the Steelers practice squad a month ago and elevated on Friday. Now with injuries to Minkah Fitzpatrick, Keanu Neal and Trenton Thompson and the suspension to Damontae Kazee, Rowe will likely be starting against the Bengals Saturday.
“This is a division rival, both teams know each other pretty well,” Rowe told 93.7 The Fan. “They know I’m coming off the practice squad, really haven’t played much. They know I’ve played, but obviously are going to test me with how much of the defense do I know? Can I communicate?”
“I’m expecting it.”
Rowe has played 4,549 snaps on NFL defenses and says he knows how faast the game is played, how fast it moves. He also knows adjustments happen quickly and ‘coordinators are smart’ and they will find a weak link. He feels he’s up to speed, especially with a lot of work with Patrick Peterson with the first-team defense this week.
“I got a lot more comfortable since the start of the week of practice,” Rowe said. “In terms of communication, how Pat and I have kinda worked things out in certain plays and certain formations. Really just running the defense and getting more reps than I had been getting.”
Peterson has 13 years of NFL experience, but all at corner. Now after a crash course in full-time safety work against the Colts, he’s not only playing safety, but counted on to be THE safety Saturday. He says after watching the film, he feels pretty good about his performance.
“Coach Grady and Coach Tomlin did a great job of putting me in position throughout OTAs, mini-camp, training camp to make sure that, if this position did present itself, I wouldn’t be out there running around like a chicken with my head cut off,” Peterson said. “I feel pretty comfortable back there. The visual is a little bit different. The more reps I get, the more comfortable I get.”
What he likes about it is the ability to read the quarterback. He says he really reads his shoulders and then has an opportunity to break on the football where at corner it was guarding a receiver or playing a side of the field. He thinks he can be more effective now with the ball in the air.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin praised Peterson for being excited about trying new positions even at age 33. He believes Peterson has a skillset to make some plays at safety, not full time, but given the situation, he can step in now.
The other options are Miles Killebrew, who is the leader of the special teams and safety Elijah Riley was activated off Injured Reserve Friday. He started his 21-day practice window on Monday and went full in practice. Both have experience at the position, but it’s been a month since Riley was in the mix.
“We are diligent in our preparation, we want to make sure we are on the same page, especially because we all haven’t been on the field together,” Riley said. “We are not dumbing it down. We have very capable guys back there that are going to be able to communication and make the necessary adjustments and ball.”
“This is one-a division rival and two-a big week for us keeping playoff hopes alive.”
Nowhere in any meeting in any scenario did the Steelers have Rowe and Peterson at safety with Mykal Walker and the previously retired Myles Jack at middle linebacker. But that’s what the depth chart looks like. Cam Heyward, TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith noting they have to be on their game. Make it hard the Bengals to sit back and dissect this group with 608 combined games of NFL experience, but none together.
“It’s going to be 110(%),” Rowe told 93.7 The Fan. “I’m going to have a lot of juice on Saturday. Watching this game, growing up and playing, this is always a hostile game and those are the best.”
The middle of the Steelers defense hasn’t been the best. Maybe the new combination will help end the losing streak.