OLB Nick Herbig had a fantastic training camp and preseason, likely being the MVP of the team as he stacked impressive performances on top of one another in exhibition play. However, the reality was that no matter how well Herbig played, he had no shot at a starting job for Pittsburgh with the likes of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith above him, two proven vets who are among the highest-paid at their position with both having double-digit sack seasons on their respective resumes.
Still, Herbig hasn’t been deterred in his current situation as he told the media on Wednesday, stating that he is making the most of his opportunities when he gets them on the field as a pass rusher while continuing to carve out his niche to make an impact on this team.
“Oh man, I just try to stay ready,” Herbig said to the media via video from the Steelers’ YouTube channel. “I’m just there for Alex, [T.J. Watt], and [Markus Golden]. Whenever those guys need a break, whenever they need a breather, I just gotta be ready to go in there and give it my best. Because I really just try to focus on special teams, you know, ’cause that’s my biggest role on this team right now. So, I’m trying to focus in on that and be better and that every week. But obviously when those guys need a breather, that’s when I have a chance to show what I’ve been working on.”
In three preseason games, Herbig recorded 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss in 63 snaps. According to Pro Football Focus, Herbig graded out at a 92.5 overall in the preseason, including a 78.5 against the run, a 90.8 rushing the passer, and an NFL-high 27.3% pass-rush win rate. He was constantly whipping opposing offensive tackles, showcasing a blend of speed, power, and finesse off the edge as he looked to copy the moves of Watt, his mentor.
While flashing as a young, promising pass rusher, Herbig has learned to accept his role as a core special teamer, being Pittsburgh’s fourth outside linebacker on the depth chart. OLB Coach Denzel Martin stated that he has been pleased with Herbig’s development prior to the team’s bye week, saying that he’s been putting a heavy emphasis on his special teams play and has been excited to contribute there.
“It is just helping me find my role on the team, you know, find that security in how I can help this team every week secure a W,” Herbig said regarding his role as a special teamer. “I think that just translates over to the way I go about practice and the way I approach every day, you know? And Danny Smith… he’s a tough coach, so he’s gonna be tough on you, but it is all love at the end of the day. So, I think everything’s gonna fall into the same place.”
So far, Herbig has played 67 defensive snaps (15%) along with 127 special teams snaps (78%). He has become that viable fourth pass rusher and core special teamer Pittsburgh has been looking for, flying down the field while attempting to make plays on kick and punt coverage units while giving a good pass rush when Watt and Highsmith are out of the game. He got his first sack of the season last week against Los Angeles, winning with pure speed around the corner. It’s been a good start for the fourth-round rookie out of Wisconsin, finding his role on the team while maximizing the opportunities he gets to show the pass rusher he can be.
