Steelers' rising star receives ringing endorsement from T.J. Watt following breakout performance vs. Chargers
The last thing any NFL head coach, but especially one with the character of Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin will do is make excuses about injuries. So when the Steelers lost Alex Highsmith to a groin injury just before halftime of Sunday's win against the Los Angeles Chargers, it became clear that Nick Herbig would […]
The last thing any NFL head coach, but especially one with the character of Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin will do is make excuses about injuries.
So when the Steelers lost Alex Highsmith to a groin injury just before halftime of Sunday's win against the Los Angeles Chargers, it became clear that Nick Herbig would be called upon to step into a big pair of shoes.
It's safe to say he did that and then some, generating praise from T.J. Watt and Mike Tomlin following his breakout performance:
Watt Endorses Herbig
"That kid has supreme confidence in himself," Watt said of Herbig after the game. "You can't tell him anything. I respect the heck out of it. He's going to do everything that he possibly can to perform. He's going to ask every question. He's going to turn over every stone and just bust his tail. I respect the heck out of Nick, and I'm glad that he had the day that he did today."
Herbig, who doesn't even turn 23 until the end of November, has been used sparingly between his rookie season and the first two weeks of this season, but the budding star's potential was on full display on Sunday afternoon.
"You know, this guy wants to be great, but he's looking at the recipe [T.J. Watt & Alex Highsmith] every day of his life, too," HC Mike Tomlin said of Herbig after the game. "He just does, man. He's sharp enough to follow guys at his position who are doing it at a high level who have been doing it longer than him, and I think that positions him more than anything to produce what it is you're looking at."
What's obvious when watching Herbig is that his getoff and bend is not of this world, even when comparing him to other NFL pass rushers. One of the best first steps you'll see, he's in the backfield before a tackle can fully reach the landmark of his pass set.
Sure he doesn't have the run defense and power element required to be a 5-tool edge defender just yet, but as mentioned, he's still very green as an NFL player and even as an athlete.
But technically, he's far more advanced than his experience suggests he should be.
So while Alex Highmsith will return to his spot opposite of T.J. Watt when healthy, don't expect Pittsburgh to rush him back from injury.
Steelers rookie sensation to miss the rest of the season following uncommon knee injury
More on the status of the first-year standout.
