LATROBE, Pa. -- It became clearer by the passing day throughout the offseason that the Steelers wanted two things to happen with respect to their outside linebackers room.
One, the priority of signing Alex Highsmith to a long-term extension before reporting to Saint Vincent College, and doing so locked in one of the best pass-rushing duos through at least the end of the 2025 season when T.J. Watt's latest mega extension is set to expire.
Two, the deliberate thematics of physicality and getting back to -- as assistant general manager Andy Weidl worded after the draft -- "our kind of players" that will contribute and strengthen a room with depth.
As the second week of Steelers training camp nears a close here in Latrobe, Nick Herbig has held up his end of the bargain on that second count.
At least, that is the claim from the former Defensive Player of the Year:
“I’d say right now the consistency of it," Watt said Thursday at Saint Vincent College. "It’s one thing to have one good pass rush move but he’s putting together a nice little repertoire of a couple different things that all look the same at the beginning. Who knows, we’re going to see if he can do it back-to-back days for sure.”
Throughout camp, Herbig has done it for more than just one day.
Herbig stood out in his first "backs on backers" session this week by consistently getting by Connor Heyward and then by beating Darnell Washington on a rep. He has consistently worked with the second team throughout camp as the backup to Watt, but has rotated in some with the first-team defense.
Such was the case on Thursday. In the Steelers' second period of 11-on-11 ball, Herbig had a case for claiming a sack of Kenny Pickett while operating with the first team.
"It's exciting to see a young guy coming in and getting quality reps and taking advantage of it," Highsmith said. "He's rushing well, so I'm excited to see how his growth continues to develop during camp. ... He's always asking questions during the meetings and on the field, hanging around us, as well. That's what I did as a rookie. I was always around Bud (Dupree) and T.J., so I think it's good that he's surrounding himself with T.J., me, older guys on the team. It's important to be a sponge and soak up as much information as you can."
With Watt missing seven games last season because of a torn pectoral muscle, Highsmith became the breakout player of the Steelers' defense and earned a massive contract extension. While Highsmith was able to pick up most of the slack with his 14.5 sacks, the Steelers finished in a tie for 14th in the NFL with 40.0 sacks as a team, a far drop after leading the league in sacks every season from 2017 to 2021.
Aside from Highsmith and Cam Heyward's 14.5 and 10.5 sacks, respectively, only Watt had registered 5.0 or more sacks last season. Malik Reed recorded just one sack to lead all outside backers not named Watt or Highsmith.
Clearly, that had to change, and Herbig was thought of as a perfect solution. He had come from the same Wisconsin program that molded Watt and Herbig turned in a productive career, racked up 36.0 tackles for loss and 21.0 sacks in 31 career games with the Badgers. Watt posted 17.0 tackles for loss and 11.5 for loss in 22 games. Their best individual seasons at Wisconsin were nearly identical to each other from a production standpoint. In 2022, Herbig posted 15.5 TFLs, 11.0 sacks, and forced two fumbles. In Watt's final year in 2016, he had 15.5 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, and also forced two fumbles.
"There was a lot of NFL likeness, and the way we ran our defense is kind of NFL style," Herbig said last week. "They prepared me really well for this."
It also has benefitted Herbig to have a former Defensive Player of the Year to mentor him. Herbig said he picked up one of Watt's pass-rush moves from watching film and approached Watt about it.
"Yeah, I learned that from T.J.," he said. "If you watch him he does that move a lot, and I'll work on it with him a lot. So, yeah, I've been trying to work that."
I asked Watt about that same move, and whether Herbig approached him about it:
“Yeah, but we’re always talking shop," Watt said. "It doesn’t matter if it’s Nick or (David) Perales or one of the younger guys, Toby (Ndukwe), we’re always talking shop in the linebacker room.”
On and off the field, Herbig is doing more than enough to seize the top rotational spot behind Watt and Highsmith come Week 1, but there is still a ways to go to cement that spot.
For now, though, he is off to a hot start.
"I feel like the same way we put in plays and installs here is the same way we did in college," Herbig said. "I just feel like Wisconsin really got me ready for that."
MORE FROM PRACTICE
• Thursday's practice was much, much lighter than the first two this week. No pads. Days off for most of the veterans, including Watt, Isaac Seumalo, Allen Robinson, Diontae Johnson, Cam Heyward and Patrick Peterson.
• DeMarvin Leal had his left ankle wrapped up and did not practice.
• The offense put together a drab showing in seven shots. Defense won it, 5-2, but it would have been 6-1 had Kenny Robinson not have been flagged for taunting after breaking up a pass intended for Ja'Marcus Bradley. Pickett fired a strike to George Pickens in the corner of the end zone for the offense's lone touchdown on Play 2. Pickett was batted by Highsmith at the line of scrimmage on Play 1, Tre Norwood broke up a pass to Pat Freiermuth, and Chris Wilcox broke up a pass intended for Calvin Austin off of a slant on Play 4 to round out the seven shots for the first-team offense and defense.
Norwood broke up a Mitch Trubisky pass intended for Connor Heyward, and Hakeem Butler dropped a pass in the end zone to finish the period.
• The Pickens vs. Joey Porter Jr. rivalry continued in a drill following seven shots. Porter was flagged for pass interference on Pickens, who had to adjust to try to make a tough catch near the sideline. The pass was ruled incomplete as Pickens couldn’t keep his feet inbounds, but the flag for illegal contact stood on Porter.
"Highly competitive young people trying to get better," Mike Tomlin said after practice.
• Porter rallied and intercepted Pickett on the sixth play of a two-minute drill near the end of practice. He made a diving toe-drag grab on the sideline as he cut off a comeback route from Cody White. Porter made an excellent read and showed tremendous closing speed on the play.
• Porter also went over the top of the 6-foot-5 Butler for an interception in a drill.
• This exchange from Tomlin to Pickens at the end of practice, which I overheard:
"Hey, GP! Joey won today. ... Young gun’s getting better. See your a** tomorrow.”
Get your popcorn ready for the night practice. It will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.
• The offense ended practice on a high note. Trubisky connected with Washington up the seam for a 21-yard touchdown in the two-minute drill to conclude the day. The official ruled Washington short of the goal line because of contact, but Tomlin gave the rookie the touchdown.
"They're not going to stop that big guy from falling in that end zone," Tomlin said. "Some people make suggestions, some people make decisions. I decided he scored."
