Rookie OLB Nick Herbig got his first sack of the regular season last Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, winning the corner around LT Alaric Jackson to take down QB Matt Stafford. Herbig was asked earlier this week if he was supposed to rush on that play, as he didn’t know what his actual responsibility was with the Rams going hurry up.
Herbig also mentioned to the media that he is maximizing his opportunities on defense while playing behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith as well as fellow backup pass rusher Markus Golden, focusing on being a stellar special teamer to make as much of an impact as he can in his current role. DC Teryl Austin was asked about Herbig’s performance this past weekend and if he’s earned the right to more snaps on defense.
“He’s starting to, I think so,” Austin said to the media Thursday, according to an official transcript provided by the Steelers. “We know that from the preseason that he has rush ability. It’s just hard to get some time behind some of those guys that are ahead of him. So, we’ll continue to fit him in when we can, but he is deserving.”
Herbig has only played 67 snaps on defense so far this season, but he’s made them count in relief of Watt and Highsmith. He plays with all-out effort on every play, relentlessly pursuing the quarterback, and continues to study his mentors when on the sidelines, looking to mimic their pass rush moves and add them to his arsenal. We saw this pass-rush upside from Herbig in the preseason as he recorded 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss in just 63 snaps, easily being the team’s preseason, if unofficial, defensive MVP.
Herbig would likely be seeing more than 15% of the defensive snaps if it weren’t for the fact that he’s a rookie playing behind two highly paid, proven pass rushers like Watt and Highsmith. Pittsburgh likely won’t take away snaps from Watt or Highsmith to put on Herbig’s plate. What they could do is look to incorporate more packages where they get three outside linebackers on the field at one time in a NASCAR package, like we have seen from other defenses who deploy 3-4 pass rushers in obvious passing situations to go hunt the quarterback.
Herbig doesn’t have an obvious path to more playing time, but he’s certainly earned it. It will be interesting to see how Austin and the Steelers look to increase Herbig’s usage in the coming weeks, and what the corresponding actions may be to get him on the field more over the course of a game.
