LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Is it just because of the drills the Steelers are running at camp? Or are some of the splash plays we’ve seen from rookie linebacker Nick Herbig translatable to an NFL field? Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is a believer.
“I think it’s real,” Austin told 93.7 The Fan. “I think it’s real. We will find out once we get into the preseason. He’s shown that against all linemen, it doesn’t matter who are tackles are-first group, second group.”
Austin continued that he hopes it’s real because he said it would give the Steelers four really good edge rusher. Friday night at Latrobe High School Herbig burst around LeRaven Clark and tackled Najee Harris for a loss during 11-on-11 drills. He’s also shown well in one-on-one drills.
“That (man) is quick man, he’s fast,” said Steelers tackle Broderick Jones using another descriptor we can’t use to describe Herbig. “Just being in the same room with TJ I think it helps him with his rush and game play. I feel like that’s what makes him good, just having that speed and the get-off that he has to get-off the ball. The mental he has is crazy. I feel like he’s going to be a really good player.”
Watt says they talk all the time in the linebacker room. He said Herbig has put together some good days, right now it’s about finding consistency. Watt said it’s one thing to have one good pass move, but he needs to, and is starting to, put together series of moves that he can disguise.
“The way he wants the knowledge,” said veteran linebacker Markus Golden. “He always wants knowledge. He is always in your ear trying to get help. Trying to see what he can do to get better. His pass rush is getting better and better, every day he is going hard. He has a bright future for sure. I love playing with him. He’s a young rookie that is ahead of his time.”
“He’s a dawg. He’s got a dawg mentality. Anytime you can be a dawg and play in this time of defense, you can have some success.”
The Steelers have gone from major question marks behind Watt and Alex Highsmith to having Golden, nine years in the NFL with 47 career sacks, along with Herbig who would make an impact this season. Austin said the addition of Golden should not be overlooked.
“We get a good veteran who can rush the passer, who is strong,” Austin told 93.7 The Fan. “He comes with a kick-your-butt attitude and that is nice. He brings that to the room. That’s good I think because you have TJ, Alex, two established guys. Not that he’s not an established guy, but he’s in the back-end of his career. He can help when he’s over there.”
“When he’s running with Nick, those guys can help each other. He does his thing and helps that young guy grow. He’s been good for that room and I really like that addition, I think it’s going to be a good factor for us.”
He pushes the left tackles at practice as well. Broderick Jones said he’s been good work for him to have Golden over there. He said he needs someone to push him to make him better. Jones says the 32-year-old has a motor and prepares him for the challenge of winning the starting job. Not that Golden thinks at all about being a factor in that decision.
“I don’t have a role to help people battle,” Golden told 93.7 The Fan bluntly. “I’m here to get people better every day because it’s camp. I ain’t my role to do nothing in that. It’s my role to get better.”
“If I want this guy to start am I going to go light on him and if I want the other guy to start I will go hard on him. That’s not under my control, that’s in their control. We are just going to compete against each other and go hard against each other every day.”
For the first time in a few years the Steelers appear to have depth at outside linebacker, which should help them improve from 14th place in total sacks in 2022.