Steelers have a lot to be excited about after rookie Derrick Harmon confirms suspicion regarding his Week 1 playing time
A good omen for Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense has yet to perform up to its expectations. Sunday against the New England Patriots was a start, however, as the team recorded five turnovers and five sacks to go along with a whopping 24 pressures.
Well, one of those sacks and three of those pressures came from rookie Derrick Harmon. Starting in his first-ever NFL game, it was impossible to ignore the big man. But here’s the thing: he played only 34 snaps, confirming the suspicion that he was on a snap count after the game.
Derrick Harmon impresses despite limited snaps during his debut
To record a sack in your first game is a great omen for your career. Harmon looked the part in his 34 reps, recording a tackle for loss and a sack despite facing a double team on a play that I broke down below.
Now, the next step for Harmon and really, the Steelers’ defense as a whole, is to be better against the run. Again, there was improvement there as the Patriots’ top rusher was quarterback Drake Maye, but they still let up over 100 yards on the ground despite forcing four fumbles.
I mean, take the Cam Heyward plays alone. If he doesn’t reach out and swat the football to force an interception and then do it again on the goal line, the Steelers let up 14 points. He single-handedly saved them there, before Aaron Rodgers set up the game-winning TD throw.
And the Steelers defense has undoubtedly dealt with attrition. We know they are missing starters, if not critical players like Alex Highsmith, Joey Porter Jr. and DeShon Elliott. Obviously, not having Harmon the first two weeks hurt that unit.
But there are still too many good players to be making these kinds of mistakes. Too many T.J. Watts and Cam Heywards and Patrick Queens to be letting every team go over the century mark on the ground so far this season.
That’s what the Steelers are hoping to change the most with the arrival of Harmon.
Pittsburgh Steelers News
Cam Heyward says the quiet part out loud when asked about what’s gone wrong in the middle of the Steelers’ defense
Heyward keeps it real.
