Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Derrick Harmon is familiar with Dillon Gabriel. Not yet with the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ AFC North rivalries.
The Steelers’ first-round draft pick, who has joined the defensive line in the past two games after healing up from a knee injury suffered in the preseason, will make his regular-season home debut against his former Oregon Ducks teammate and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Harmon detailed the threat that Gabriel provides after the Steelers’ practice on Monday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
“Great football player, man,” Harmon said. “Hell of a guy off the field, too. I’m just excited to see him and go to battle with him. … Very smart quarterback, man. He’s very smart. I feel like he knows his weaknesses and his strengths, and he’s gonna use them and he’s gonna make sure that you don’t use his weaknesses against him.
“Like I said, very smart football player. We’re just gonna have to keep him in the pocket and stop that run at the end of the day.”
Harmon said he has heard that AFC North clashes are “very competitive.” He reiterated the importance of muffling the Browns’ ground game, which is paced by rookie Quinshon Judkins (86.8 yards per game).
“Teams are gonna try to run that ball in this (division),” Harmon said. “This D-line has to stand up and stop that run, which we’re gonna do.”
During a 21-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday, Gabriel went 19 of 33 through the air for 190 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his NFL debut. He didn’t throw an interception, either.
Harmon and Gabriel arrived at Oregon as part of the same transfer class ahead of the 2024 campaign. The latter was a Heisman Trophy finalist and the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Gabriel is also the FBS’ all-time leader in total touchdowns (189) and shares the record for most career passing touchdowns (155) with former Houston Cougars passer Case Keenum.
With the Ducks, Gabriel completed 72.9% of his passes — the third-best rate in the nation — for 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns, both of which at least tying career-highs.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers’ Derrick Harmon Knows How to Counter Browns QB Dillon Gabriel
