Steel City Blitz
An annual rite of passage… Our Training Camp Previews for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The concept here is pretty straightforward; we’ll take a look at each position. Who is vying for a place on the 53-man roster and how will that happen? Obviously there are some spots much each easier to break down than others but we’ll do our best to cover it all. Today we cover the Linebackers.
Now in his third season, Nick Herbig absolutely is what he is. He’s a relentless pass rusher who gives opposing pass blockers fits with his speed, quickness and effort. But he’s also a liability against the run. It’s not for lack of effort or aggression because setting the edge is not easy. At 6’2″ 240lbs, he’s just not big enough to do it on a regular basis. In my eyes, he has a very defined role on this team. Get the QB and be a key member of Special Teams as well.
I have to admit, I’m still a bit surprised by this addition to the defense. Malik Harrison is a nice linebacker who will also contribute heavily on Special Teams, but I really thought Elandon Roberts had done more than enough to warrant a return to the Steelers. What Harrison has working for him is athleticism, at least more than what Roberts had. Harrison was a three-year starter at quarterback in high school… My assumption is that he’ll be used as a bit of a jack of all trades because he has experience and is aggressive. But he’s also slow to react against play-action and can struggle with recognizing what’s happening in front of him period.
The son of former Steelers’ Tight End and current West Coast Scout Mark Bruener, Carson has created a nice living for himself on the other side of the ball. He’s built more like a big safety weighing in about 230lbs so how the Steelers choose to use him defensively is important. He’s not going to be your classic downhill, run-stuffing LB. Instead, they’ll need to use him in passing situations where he can take advantage of his skills in pass coverage. In order to make the roster, he must be a demon on Special Teams.
Harper has NFL-style range and speed which he relies on heavily. He’s not the most instinctive linebacker and his lack of roster time over four seasons demonstrates this. He’s been with five teams now and has played in just 12 games. The deck is stacked against him in terms of making the roster.
Is it just me or is it hard to believe that Alex Highsmith has been around this long? He’s been a solid compliment to T.J. Watt for most of his career despite missing six games last season with an injury. Highsmith is not flashy. He’s a lunch pail type of guy that works...
