Quincy Roche signed his rookie contract Friday, becoming the first Steelers pick of the 2021 NFL Draft to do so.
Now with rookie camp underway, he's adjusting to the role the Steelers expect him to fill as an edge defender. The only current edge defenders on the roster with starting experience for the Steelers is T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, which means Roche could see an extensive amount of snaps this season if the Steelers don't sign any remaining veterans in free agency.
Roche knows there are different aspects he'll have to learn to adjust to the Steelers' defense, and is just getting started tackling those challenges, but adjusting to roles isn't new to him.
"We haven't talked about anything specific right now," Roche said. "It's pretty much just introductory. But at Temple, I moved around a lot. Left side, right side, five-technique, nine-technique, seven-technique, so I moved around quite a bit. I can't wait to see what my role will be with the team."
"I stood up a lot at Miami," Roche continued. "I put my hand in the dirt some, but I'm comfortable with that for the most part because I've done it before. My position was titled defensive end, but I was doing all kinds of things and had all kinds of packages."
Also signing their rookie deals this weekend were fifth-round defensive end Isaiahh Loudermilk and seventh-round selections Tre Norwood, a cornerback, and punter Pressley Harvin.
Roche averaged 13.5 tackles for loss and 7.6 sacks over his four NCAA seasons split between three years at Temple and his final year at Miami. During that time he displayed several different pass rush moves and was proficient as a pass rusher.
"That's something I'm definitely ready to work on," Roche said when asked about sealing the run. "I wouldn't consider myself one dimensional, I know how to play the run. Of course I've got to improve it. We've actually already started working on it. I'm just trying to get better every day by one percent."
How fast Roche adjusts to the Steelers' defense could be a very significant part of the front-seven's depth. It's something to watch going into preseason.
• The Steelers also signed Isaiahh Loudermilk, Tre Norwood and Pressley Harvin III to their rookie contracts Saturday.
