The first week of preseason was almost all positive for the Steelers. However there were some players that had notable performances both good and bad. These 5 polarizing Steelers players were Nick Herbig, Keeanu Benton, Kwon Alexander, James Pierre and Calvin Austin III.
Nick Herbig
Herbig has been dominating early in training camp and this continued in the preseason. He blew up two plays against the Buccaneers. Herbig is already extremely proficient in using his speed to accelerate around offensive tackles.
In 2023, he should slot right in as the third best pass rusher on the team right ahead of free agent addition Markus Golden. In future years, he could develop into a great edge rusher that could split time with both Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt.
The star potential in Herbig comes from his coverage abilities. At Wisconsin, Herbig showed great ability to play in coverage, albeit in very limited snaps. If the Steelers can find a way to put in on the field with both Watt and Highsmith because of his versatility, he could become one of the most dynamic players in the NFL.
Keeanu Benton
Another Wisconsin rookie has been shining in the preseason by the name of Keeanu Benton. Benton was eating the Bucs’ interior defensive line alive the entire time he was on the field. It seemed like every time you looked up, Benton was in the backfield.
Benton was originally thought to be a rotational player while he develops. It is now looking more and more likely that Benton will be getting the start at nose tackle week one and will continue to start until he loses the job.
Kwon Alexander
Alexander was the most recent addition to the team, only signing with the Steelers about three weeks ago. The thing that fans were really looking for with Alexander was his ability to move. Alexander certainly brought that and much more.
Alexander was only in the game for 23 snaps, but he was around the ball on almost all of them. Unlike previous Steelers linebackers (Devin Bush), it was extremely refreshing to see Alexander running around and hitting people.
As a result of this, Alexander was taking first team reps in the first practice after the game. He projects to either start or take significant snaps against San Francisco.
James Pierre
In contrast to the previous three defensive players, James Pierre has really been struggling. Pierre has good athletic traits, but he is wildly inconsistent in coverage and lackluster in run defense.
Against the Buccaneers, he led the team in tackles. This is mostly due to him tackling the players that he let up receptions to. His experience inside of the Steelers system may save him from the practice squad, but with the Steelers adding 4 solid cornerbacks in the offseason it will surely be close.
Calvin Austin III
Austin is arguably one of the most polarizing Steelers players in a long time. Last season, fans were calling him a bust and a waste of a draft pick. After this preseason game, some fans are comparing him to the likes of Tyreek Hill and Mike Wallace.
Allen Robinson is currently Austin’s competition for the third wide receiver spot. If Austin can continue to impress in preseason and camp, he should play a significant role in the regular season.
Stay tuned for more exciting NFL content, including roster moves, in depth analysis, and more news from around the league.
Feature image courtesy of Steelers.com
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