“We’re not going to restrict Nick Herbig.” These have been defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s phrases on October 1st.
Within the phrases of nice thinker Maury Povich, the lie detector decided that was a lie.
Thursday evening in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals, Herbig was definitely restricted. The sport was the primary true check of the Steelers plan to stability its high three EDGE rushers: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Herbig. Whereas all three performed in opposition to the Cleveland Browns the week prior, recreation script made it straightforward to get Herbig his work. Pittsburgh held the lead all through all the recreation and up two scores within the fourth quarter, sat Watt with 10:30 to go, giving him essential relaxation for a fast Thursday turnaround. Herbig logged 50 snaps, greater than Watt or Highsmith.
It was a distinct story within the follow-up. Increasing on Joe Clark’s Saturday article, Herbig performed simply 29 snaps to Watt’s 62 and Highsmith’s 53. However that doesn’t inform all the story. Dig deeper into the info and the dearth of utilization really reveals. Combing via our charting, right here’s a pair info to think about.
– Of the Bengals’ 52 drop backs (together with penalties) Thursday evening, Herbig performed 22 snaps.
– Herbig rushed the passer simply 19 occasions, recording two pressures. Watt had 37 rushes with three pressures and Highsmith 34 rushes with zero pressures. That offers Herbig the best stress charge, as soon as each 9.5 makes an attempt.
– Of the Bengals’ 22 fourth quarter snaps, Herbig performed solely six.
– And of the Bengals’ game-winning drive, Herbig didn’t see the sphere as soon as.
The one phrase to explain that is “restricted.”
Most curious is the final-drive determination. Pittsburgh opted in opposition to utilizing its three exterior linebacker “Bronco package deal” it had been utilizing in apparent passing conditions. As a substitute, the staff used its conventional 2-4-5 nickel grouping as an alternative.
If questioned, I do know what their response could be. That the Bengals have been nonetheless in place to run the ball, down only one level with two timeouts forward of the two-minute warning. And Pittsburgh had been getting gashed in opposition to the run the entire recreation. A pass-heavy grouping would go away the Steelers weak.
It’s a good level. However in a recreation the place Joe Flacco and Ja’Marr Chase have been cooking, it’s a must to decide your battles. Flacco and Chase have been the larger threats. And there’s a precept of getting your finest folks on the sphere. That ought to embody “twelfth starter” Nick Herbig.
Mix that with all the opposite above elements and it’s clear Pittsburgh isn’t finest positive the right way to deal with issues. In a means, it’s similar to the staff’s dilemma of the “Justin Fields package deal” final season as soon as Russell Wilson turned the beginning quarterback. On paper, it sounds sensible and simple to say “we’ll have a package deal of performs for Fields.” To acknowledge the necessity to using all expertise. As soon as the sport begins and selections get made in actual time, issues are quite a bit tougher and extra difficult.
Pittsburgh has work to do. The widespread response from the surface is to bench or commerce Alex Highsmith and open the door all the way in which open for Herbig. However Pittsburgh has loads of confidence in Highsmith and are paying him handsomely. It’s additionally unfair to name Highsmith simply the “run man” the identical means it’s unfair to name Herbig only a “cross rusher.” Pittsburgh has riches at exterior linebacker and have to determine the right way to stability all of them. An excellent downside to have however one to unravel all the identical.
Clearly, Herbig can’t be sidelined like this going ahead. Particularly in video games the place Pittsburgh’s rush was muted, sacking Flacco on the primary drive and by no means once more. And in large passing moments, he does have to see the sphere. Possibly which means treating Herbig like that situational rusher on passing downs, even when it’s one thing the Steelers haven’t carried out prior to now. That doesn’t imply Herbig ought to solely play in these moments however he ought to be leaned on above Highsmith. Herbig is solely the higher rusher of the 2.
Pittsburgh has quite a bit to work on on this recreation. There are greater issues than this. However a training employees’s job is to unravel all points, and that is definitely one in all them. Particularly for a staff that’s gone out of its strategy to spotlight Herbig’s position and worth and profess their want for him to be on the sphere. Proper now, that feels like an empty promise.
