The Pittsburgh Steelers had many positives to take away from Sunday's Week 1 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Lost a bit in the shuffle, Arthur Maulet provided some huge plays for the defense. The biggest play was when he went untouched into the Bengals backfield, sacking quarterback Joe Burrow and forcing a fumble.
Steelers cornerback Arthur Maulet takes in 2022 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe / Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
In an unlucky fashion, no Steeler defender was near the ball, so Bengals running back Samaje Perine was able to recover it. Still, that play was able to take the Bengals out of Evan McPherson's range, so they were forced to punt. While McPherson wasn't having his best day by any means, Maulet possibly saved the Steelers' chances of winning the game on that play.
Head coach Mike Tomlin certainly noticed Maulet's impressive performance in Week 1. After Levi Wallace suffered an ankle injury that ruled him out the remainder of the game, Maulet was asked to play quite a bit more. Cam Sutton was moved to the outside, while Maulet played the snaps on the inside as the slot corner. His blitzing abilities at that position were on full display on that sack, reminiscent of Mike Hilton's days as a Steeler. Tomlin offered praise to the cornerback in his press conference.
"He's getting more comfortable in his shoes, and I think that's displayed by the extent in which he communicates. He's a good tackler, he's a good blitzer, he does the things that we need that position to do. That's why we were interested in him," Tomlin said. "I think in year two, I just feel more fluid communication from him and that's helpful for him and for those around him. Communication is a big component of interior positions. He's linebacker-like in his position from a communication perspective."
Maulet was forced into action, playing 60 defensive snaps on Sunday, as well as eight more plays on special teams. While Wallace seems likely to return to the lineup in Week 2, Maulet should still see the field a decent amount. His success in the opening game will only lead to more snaps, as guys like defensive back Tre Norwood struggled.
Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
What were your thoughts on Maulet's performance against the Bengals? Could he become the team's next Mike Hilton? Should he see more snaps moving forward? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and on our social media!
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