T.J. Watt has watched rookie outside linebacker Nick Herbig chalk up 2.5 sacks in the preseason, including a strip sack against the Buffalo Bills in which he looked like the All-Pro edge rusher using one of his patented moves.
Herbig dipped underneath Bills tackle David Quessenberry to hit quarterback Matt Barkley and force a fumble that linebacker Tanner Muse recovered, leading to the Steelers’ third touchdown. Herbig said he tried the move after one of his many discussions with Watt about his pass-rush repertoire.
“He was telling me I keep setting it up with my other rushes, so it's time to do something different,” said Herbig, the team’s fourth-round draft pick. “I really just went out there and I tried it. I listened to the best edge rusher in the league in T.J., so shout out to him."
Watt said Herbig doesn’t give himself enough credit for what he’s been doing so far.
“He’s a student of the game, just like myself,” Watt said after the Steelers’ 27-15 victory against the Bills on Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium. “He loves pass rush, I love pass rush. We jell and talk about that stuff, things you can’t teach — like the bend, the effort. Those are big things for an edge rusher and just finishing at the quarterback. He’s all encompassing.”
Keep in mind, Herbig has registered his sacks against second- and third-team defensive linemen in the preseason. The Steelers will be curious to see how he fares when he gets to the regular season and has to go against front-line tackles.
But for now, he has been the most impressive of the team’s rookie class, and the Steelers will not hesitate to use him once Sept. 10 arrives.
“It’s his repertoire,” Watt said. “He’s got a bunch of different moves. He’s not a one-trick pony. He’s done a very good job of adapting well and just playing his game. It’s hard for young guys to do.
“He’s very talented, and he’s so young and still a little raw. So it’s exciting to see what he can potentially become.”
The addition of Herbig and veteran Markus Golden, a player with 47 career sacks, gives the Steelers some much-needed depth at the most important position on the defense. Last year they used a number of different players — Malik Reed, Ryan Anderson, Jamir Jones and Delontae Scott — as backups.
They haven’t had a quality backup like Herbig since Alex Highsmith was a rookie and backed up Watt and Bud Dupree.
“I’m just happy we have depth, honestly,” Watt said. “Markus had a bunch of good rushes tonight. He’s a power guy. You’re talking about a guy who had three 10-sack seasons.
“Just being able to have depth when Alex and I need blows; we don’t play our best when we’re playing 100% of the snaps. We need to take rests so we’re fresh in the fourth quarter. To have those two guys to rely on is going to help us have a successful season.”
Meantime, Herbig said he will continue to take advice from Watt, his fellow Wisconsin alum.
"I have three All-Pros in my room and some of the best to ever touch the field at this position,” Herbig said. “A wise man once said be a sponge and soak up all the information you can."
All part of the plan
Running back Najee Harris had his first two carries of the preseason against the Bills, gaining 6 yards. He played only four snaps and did not have a rush attempt in the preseason opener in Tampa, but he did catch a pass for negative yards.
Harris, the team’s No. 1 pick in 2021, said he would like a few more carries to get ready for the regular season. But he said his limited work is part of Mike Tomlin’s plan to reduce the amount of hits Harris has to absorb.
“We came in with a plan,” Harris said. “I talked to coach (Tomlin) at the start of camp. It’s all on coach (Tomlin). Whatever he says, goes.
“Of course I want to play more. I want to get my feet wet, too. But there’s always a plan.”
Meantime, Jaylen Warren had only one carry against the Bills and turned it into a 62-yard touchdown.
‘Different aspects’
The Steelers game planned a little more for the Bills, and it showed with their offensive performance. The first team ran just seven plays, gained 111 yards and produced two touchdowns.
“I think there are a lot of new guys on the team that bring a lot of different aspects to the offense,” said quarterback Kenny Pickett. “I think you’re starting to see it throughout the preseason.”
One of those is receiver Allen Robinson, who converted a 3rd-and-7 with a 9-yard catch to keep alive the opening scoring drive.
“That’s something that stuck out to me Day 1 — just his football IQ and understanding of defense and offensive football, knowing when to sit in zones, run versus man,” Pickett said of Robinson, who was signed in free agency. “All those types of things that get you open on third down.”
It has all worked smoothly and effortlessly for the offense, which has scored a touchdown on all three possessions in the preseason.
But even Pickett cautioned, “Obviously, it’s the preseason. But we put in a lot of time together.”
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com and Twitter @gerrydulac
First Published: August 20, 2023, 4:22 p.m.
Updated: August 21, 2023, 1:51 p.m.