The Pittsburgh Steelers took a chance on undersized edge rusher Nick Herbig by drafting him in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The move is paying early dividends for the organization as he's shown off his propensity to get to the quarterback in the preseason as he leads the team with 2.5 sacks through two games. His exhibition play has forced one team beat writer to change his expectations on the kind of role the rookie from the University of Wisconsin will have in 2023.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers outside linebacker Nick Herbig escapes a block to try and make a tackle during a training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers insider for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Ray Fittipaldo, joined Christopher Carter for a Monday edition of the North Shore Drive Podcast to break down what he saw in the team's 27-15 preseason win over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night and to give a bit of a status update on his feelings about different players. Fittipaldo said when the team added veteran pass rusher Markus Golden, he thought Herbig would be limited to special teams work and maybe the odd snap on defense as the number four man on the depth chart.
"That's out the window now," he said of his previous evaluation. "This guy can rush the passer. If people watch the highlights, not only is he a great student of the game, but he's out at practice working with TJ Watt to perfect his craft."
Herbig is acting like a sponge to learn everything he can from the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year including borrowing the superstar's signature sack celebration which Watt said is not going to happen again.
Jeffrey T. Barnes / AP Photo
Steelers’ TJ Watt gets a strip sack on Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen during the 2021 season opener in Orchard Park, NY.
While Watt and Alex Highsmith are sure to get the majority of the edge rushing snaps, Herbig is showing the ability through two exhibition contests to be able to go in and not miss a beat when one of the established veterans needs a break.
Steelers' Herbig Shows Veteran-Like Savviness With Strip Sack In Preseason Week 2
Herbig has started to get some national attention for his strip-sack of Bills backup quarterback Matt Barkley in the third quarter of Saturday night's game. Fittipaldo said that play shows off the underrated athleticism that Herbig has.
"The way he bends under the offensive tackle, braces his arm against the ground to stay on his feet and then have the presence of mind to find the quarterback with his eyes and get the ball out, that's the stuff of a veteran," he said.
The writer added if he can continue to make plays like he did against the Bills, there's no question that he can make it work at the professional level. He said he thinks Herbig is a fantastic find by General Manager Omar Khan and the scouting staff and will be a hidden gem for the team out of the 2023 draft class.
Pittsburgh Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin told the media on Monday that he feels "a lot better" about the outside linebacking group going into the 2023 season. Having a diamond in the rough type player like Herbig certainly has to play a factor in that, along with having a veteran presence like Golden that the team didn't have backing up Watt and Highsmith in 2022.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers pass rushing duo of TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith will be better supported by the depth at the position in 2023.
It's important to remember that these are preseason reps, some of which are against offensive linemen that are at best going to be backups. Still, to be able to show the veteran-like savviness that Herbig has in his technique is certainly promising. Herbig should also continue to benefit from having experienced players, each with double-digit sack seasons on their resumes, like Highsmith, Watt, and Golden to continue to absorb information from in practice.
What did you think of Herbig's strip sack against the Bills? What kind of a role do you think the edge rusher will have for Pittsburgh in 2023? Comment below!
#SteelerNation
