PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers had to make choices with their secondary this off-season with salary cap restrictions. They signed Cam Sutton. Two days later Mike Hilton signed with the Bengals for four years, $24 million.
“I had these games marked since I signed here,” Hilton said. “The first one is here. I’m excited about it. Being on the opposite side, my welcome back to Heinz Field might be a little rough. I’m expecting it and embracing it.”
While Hilton hasn’t forced a turnover yet. He is doing Mike Hilton-like things. A pair of tackles for loss among his nine season stops. Ben Roethlisberger says he looks like the guy he faced for four years in practice.
“It looks almost like he’s taken some of the Steeler defense over there and doing some stuff,” Roethlisberger said. “He’s blitzing, he’s taking away the screens, he’s doing what we came to love and expect here.”
“He’s probably going to watch the film and tell them what we’ve been doing,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler. “I don’t blame him. He wants to go to the playoffs and stuff like that.”
“Does he know a lot about our defense? Yeah, he does because he played the position. The nickel position is a very important position for us.”
“We’ve changed some. Some we haven’t. We just aren’t going to tell him what we haven’t.”
Everything he knows, he’s telling his new teammates. Hilton told them he’s an open book for whatever intel they desire.
“A lot of guys are coming to pick my brain about certain guys,” Hilton said. “Possibly concepts and stuff like that. I’m willing to give them anything they need. It’s an AFC North game. If we want to get where we want to be, we have to take a step in that direction, get our first AFC North win.”
He's bringing not only his playing ability back to Heinz Field. He’s bringing a mindset to help the Bengals get back to the post-season for the first time since 2015.
“It just taught me a lot of winning intangibles,” Hilton said of his time with the Steelers. “Being there for four years. I’ve been to the playoffs. Been deep in the playoffs. Getting that experience and learning from guys I played with-Pouncey, Will Gay, Ben. Them really just teaching me how to be a leader and help bring a different culture to the organization. I’ve brought that here. I like where we are headed.”
Steelers ate a loss in Cincinnati late last season. A game where they were out-physicalled and Roethlisberger had his lowest quarterback rating of the season.
“I think everyone knows that the strength of their team and the money that they put into it is in their front, their D-line,” Roethlisberger said. “Another tough task this week because once you block those guys—or you think you have them blocked—here comes Mike or another safety off the other side. It’s gonna be a tough challenge for us.”
“We have to give him different looks,” Hilton said. “Over his 18-years he’s seen it all. We definitely have to make him uncomfortable. Try to make him one-dimensional. Just make plays when we have the opportunity.”
Hilton made plays against Roethlisberger in practice before. There is something he has never done. Has Hilton ever thought of the feeling of sacking Big Ben?
“I’ve definitely had that run through my mind,” Hilton said. “Hopefully get that opportunity this Sunday. Hopefully will be a big play.”
“We have to be confident. If you go in there, especially a place like Pittsburgh, doubting yourself. You probably are not going to come out on top. I feel like with the guys we have in this locker room, on both sides of the ball, we will be a confident group. We are going to fly around and make plays.”
