Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Keeanu Benton had a rough start to the season, but on Sunday in Ireland, the third-year pro dominated with a sack-and-a-half in the Steelers’ 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Benton feasted on the Vikings’ makeshift offensive line.
Overall, Benton had four tackles (1 solo) and 1.5 sacks. Benton came into the game with just two career sacks.
“I wouldn’t call it a snap-back. Just getting into my groove and actually finishing those plays, something that I knew I was capable of but just showing the world is what I did today,” Benton told reporters after the game.
“I don’t think it’s nothing different. Just being more comfortable and being ready to make those plays. I feel like sometimes you get in the game, you get lulled away, the play’s not coming your way, and then when you hit a move and you’re clean, you’re not always able to make those plays, but I was ready every single play today.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin threw cold water on the idea of moving nose tackle Keeanu Benton around after a disappointing performance in the Week 1 win over the New York Jets.
“There’s no real strong consideration of moving people around at this juncture, and Keeanu is expected to get better from Game 1 to Game 2 like everyone else,” Tomlin said. “I think it’s a reasonable expectation. At least it is for me. I think once you’ve been in the stadium and you’ve played 60 minutes of football, you know something about yourselves that you didn’t going into it. And I think that knowledge, that experience — individually and collectively — is a catalyst for improvement between Game 1 and Game 2.”
The Jets gashed the Steelers on the ground for 182 yards (4.7 average), and Benton was a big culprit in the defense getting trampled.
Former Steelers nose tackle Chris Hoke called out Benton on the Steelers Extra Point postgame show.
“He’s got to be a little bit better. He was short on some of his gaps. He tries to make plays and he’s got to play with technique and that’s one of the things when I watch the film, keep pushing, keep pushing,” Hoke said. “Get in your gap. Don’t come off to try and make plays, you get yourself out of position and that opens up a gap in the middle of the defense, and that’s what you saw today.”
Benton was impressive against the Vikings, but Minnesota’s offensive line was hampered with injuries and playing from behind. Time will tell if Benton can dominate against an elite offensive line or run-heavy team like the Baltimore Ravens.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Young Steelers Defender Has Massive Bounce Back Game vs. Vikings
