PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Alex Highsmith is likely back at outside linebacker Sunday for the Steelers against Cleveland. However, it doesn’t mean Nick Herbig will go away.
Early last year when Highsmith was healthy Herbig’s snap counts would be in the teens or low 20s at best. Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said Thursday it will be different
“He's earned the right to be on the field as much as we can get him on the field,” Austin said. “And so, as we get going in this season, a long season, he's gonna play a lot of snaps for us and play a lotta football.”
Those snaps are dictated by productivity, Herbig started against the Patriots and finished with a sack, two tackles, a tackle for loss and four quarterback hits. Against Minnesota, it was 1.5 sacks, five tackles, a tackle for loss and three quarterback hits.
“It's my job to find ways to get him in there to keep him on the field with what he's done, because he's a splash player,” Austin said. “He's always around the ball, he makes it miserable for offensive tackles, and he's playing well. And so, guys that play well get rewarded by playing more.”
Instead of that directly eating into Highsmith’s time, it could be all three on the field at the same time.
“It’s a great package that we have,” Highsmith said. “We did it some last year. When all three of us are out there, we can make splash plays. Looking forward to seeing how we can keep building on that. Whether that’s switching us all around, different positions, someone rushing on the guard, someone rushing on the edge. I think we have a lot of versatility with all of us out there at the same time.”
Highsmith said they had that plan in against Seattle, but against the Browns is when it might really show up.
Part of the reason there is that comfort with all three in or just more snaps for Herbig is his improvement playing against the rush. What they refer to as the ability to set the edge.
“He's a powerful, explosive young man,” Austin said. “And so, as he's a couple years in the NFL, he understands it a little better.”
“I think I lean on older guys, guys who have done it for a long time,” Herbig explained of his improvement. “Guys like TJ, guys like Alex, Cam. I ask them the tips and tools, what they do and just go to work.”
Austin believes Herbig’s knowledge allows him to anticipate where defenders will be and beat them to the punch by using that speed and power. He’ll likely never be a guy who can do that with size and strength alone, but he can use his quicks and leverage to get where he needs to. Austin said he’s not only developed into a pass rusher that can play the run, but be effective against the run.
“Nick is a good football player,” said Steelers outside linebackers coach Denzel Martin. “He can do everything. People like to think he’s just a pass guy, but if you watch the tape from (the Vikings game) he was run, pass, anything we need him to do, special teams. He just does it all and he is going to continue to get back every week.”
For a defense that was discussing all of the options with looks in the secondary, now it’s getting creative with the outside linebackers.
“I just can’t wait to get out there with the guys and join the sack party,” Highsmith said.
So, will it be Herbig moving around? Highsmith? Watt? How exactly is that going to look?
“You’ll have to wait and see on Sunday,” Herbig said.