Steelers DC Teryl Austin Ignoring Ben Roethlisberger's Idea, Focused On The Game

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has been playing really well all season. The entire Pittsburgh rookie class of 2023 has been exceeding expectations as well. Head Coach Mike Tomlin slowly acclimated Porter to the defense using him more and more as the season went on. Since becoming a starter, Porter has shadowed some big names such as Ja'Marr Chase and DeAndre Hopkins, and limited their impact. The one knock against Porter has always been that he is a bit "handsy." He has drawn some flags for it this season, including one against Tee Higgins during their recent game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger offered a solution recently to the penalties. He suggested a wardrobe change to help alleviate his visibility, but that did not impress the coaching staff.

On a recent episode of his podcast Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, the future Hall of Famer said that Porter should be wearing gloves that are the same color as the opposing team's jerseys. He added that Porter's father, Joey Porter Sr., who was one of the most physical linebackers during his time in the NFL, should be giving his son that tip. 

Roethlisberger said that he loves how physical Porter is and how he is thriving in the NFL. He added that getting his hands on players is just part of the job and that mostly the referees just let him play. But if you are a physical player like that, then you have to expect to get some occasional flags. To Roethlisberger, none of that takes away from his incredible progress this year. He said he is doing as well as any rookie in the league.  

The media asked Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin about Roethlisberger's suggestion.

"I'm more focused on us playing clean and playing good football than trying to hide some other stuff," said Austin. "I didn't see it, but that's not what we are focused on."

During the Week 16 game against the Bengals, Porter wore bright yellow gloves as Roethlisberger pointed out. This is not what players usually wear and like Roethlisberger said, they "stick out like a sore thumb."

These bright-colored gloves make his hands easier to see against opponent's jerseys, like the white ones Cincinnati wore. Porter's teammate Patrick Peterson, who's been in his 13th season, has maybe figured out Roethlisberger's tip. He had on white gloves.  

Should The Steelers Be Worried About Joey Porter Jr.'s Penalties?

When Porter was coming out of the University of Penn State, the concern about his hands came up quite often. He was labeled by the scouts as too "grabby." It felt like Pittsburgh might be the perfect place for a very intelligent player like Porter. If anyone can coach him on using, or not using, his hands, it's Tomlin. 

In Week 16, Porter drew his 12th penalty while defending against Higgins. Out of those 12 total flags, eight of them have been accepted. He has had four defensive pass interference calls, three holding, two defensive offsides, two face masks, and one illegal use of hands penalty. 

Austin isn't wrong that the sole answer can't lie in a wardrobe change. The NFL is seriously cracking down on defensive penalties and Porter has to learn to make plays within the confines of what is allowed. However, Porter has caught the attention of officials now and could benefit from an easy assist like a glove change. 

At the beginning of December when Pro Football Focus graded cornerbacks, they had the rookie listed as the seventh-best corner in the NFL. They noted that he has consistently improved as the season has gone on. Porter has a knack for limiting separation and had allowed just a 38.5% completion rate on throws into his coverage. 

Porter has been the most consistent cornerback in Pittsburgh this season and has shown that he will continue to be disruptive to opposing offenses. While he may have a few technical things to work on, he seems to have all of the intangibles. You cannot teach passion or hunger and Porter has both of those in spades. As the Steelers head west to take on the Seattle Seahawks, Porter has already stepped up to say he has had D.K. Metcalf circled on his calendar for a while now. 

What do you think about Roethlisberger's suggestion? What do you think about Austin's dismissal of it? Click to comment below. 

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