Quick film room today highlighting the strength of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie class. Defensive lineman Keeanu Benton has had a strong season, especially as a pass rusher. The athleticism for his size, his active hands, good bend, and overall energy has consistently been on display. That held true in the 24-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Officially, we have him charted for three pressures in nine pass-rush snaps and another negated by a Steelers defensive penalty. Let’s take a look at how he made them happen.
The first is his best rush of the afternoon and actually is the one wiped out by a ticky-tack flag on CB Chandon Sullivan covering WR Cooper Kupp. Here, Benton lines up over RG and ex-Steeler Kevin Dotson. Aligned as the three-tech and outside shade, he clubs Dotson’s inside shoulder to knock him off balance and then fluidly swims over him while getting vertical.
He’s able to pressure QB Matthew Stafford and causes the incompletion, though it was negated by the penalty. Still, a great rep here from Benton. Hips, hands, and feet. The quickness off the ball, the hand use to defeat the block, the hips to clear him and get vertical and upfield on his way to the quarterback.
The next two clips come late in the game on the Rams’ final drive. Here, Benton is aligned as the three-tech between left guard and left tackle. He’s the crasher on a stunt with ROLB Alex Highsmith becoming the contain guy as Highsmith hopes to get free inside. It’s picked up well by the line slide, but Benton keeps working hard. He swims over the left tackle, bends and turns the corner, and hustles to the ball.
The pressure forces QB Matthew Stafford to be flushed to his right and into T.J. Watt’s arms. Desperate to avoiding the sack, he just sidearms the ball basically at Kupp’s feet. With CB Patrick Peterson covering, the pass is incomplete.
This rush isn’t as impressive as the one above. But you again see the hands and the hips and the effort. He’s contain here, not a key part of the rush. His goal is to make sure Stafford doesn’t leave the pocket if Highsmith flies in free. But he keeps working hard to finish the play and contribute to the incomplete result.
Next play. Similar example. Now the one-tech between center and left guard, we see a similar theme. Not sure if there is a designed stunt or if DeMarvin Leal just got pushed and washed down by the right guard. But that’s not what we’re focusing on. Here, we’re again seeing Benton work hard to dip and rip through contact under the center. He’s able to again flatten and corner and hustles hard to Stafford.
He gets late pressure and forces the throw, which sails high over the intended target and incomplete. It’s a big third-down stop that forces the Rams to punt. Pittsburgh’s offense bleeds the final 5:28 to end the game and notch the upset road win.
Overall, some good individual rushes from Benton along with great effort. His run defense still needs some work but he’s already a refined pass rusher. I’ve mentioned the desire to see more power in his game, a more effective bull rush, and that’s still true, but he’s still been able to win. He’s an impressive athlete for his build with a strong motor who is consistently impacting the quarterback. And he’s only going to progress.
