Photo: steelers.com
The Pittsburgh Steelers have won two consecutive games, improving to 4-2 heading into Sunday’s international matchup with the New Orleans Saints. While neither victory came without its share of challenges, Pittsburgh is beginning to discover something encouraging about its roster.
Players who weren’t necessarily expected to have significant roles are stepping up, and the coaching staff is finding different ways to utilize the talent available. Some of those opportunities have come because of injuries, while others have developed as the Steelers continue adjusting their schemes on both sides of the football.
Head coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged Monday that younger players often become increasingly important as the season progresses. With Pittsburgh already dealing with several injuries, those contributions could become particularly valuable over the coming weeks.
Perhaps no player has benefited more from Pittsburgh’s recent personnel changes than rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard. With Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson sidelined, the Steelers needed someone to step forward in the passing game.
Bernard has done considerably more than simply fill a spot on the depth chart. Against Tampa Bay, Bernard caught 11 passes for 87 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown, helping Pittsburgh overcome a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit.
He now has 24 receptions for 227 yards through six games, ranking second among NFL rookies in receptions and third in receiving yards.
McCarthy recognized Bernard’s performance by awarding him the offensive game ball following Sunday’s victory. Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio discussed how Pittsburgh has utilized quick throws and screens to get the football into Bernard’s hands, allowing him to create opportunities after the catch.
With the Steelers still searching for offensive consistency, Bernard is giving Aaron Rodgers another dependable target. And even when Pittsburgh’s receiving corps gets healthier, the rookie is making a strong case for remaining involved.
On the defensive side of the football, Nick Herbig continues demonstrating why he deserves a significant role in Patrick Graham‘s defense. Herbig recorded two sacks and three tackles for loss against Tampa Bay, delivering another disruptive performance while Pittsburgh experimented with different pressure packages.
Graham has occasionally moved Herbig away from his traditional edge-rushing position, creating opportunities to disguise pressure and present different looks to opposing offenses. That versatility gives Pittsburgh another weapon beyond T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, particularly when the coaching staff wants to bring pressure from unexpected locations.
Meanwhile, Keeanu Benton has become an increasingly important part of Pittsburgh’s improving run defense. The Steelers have held opposing featured running backs to 45 rushing yards in each of their last two games, with Benton helping control the interior of the defensive line.
Graham praised Benton’s ability to defeat blocks, maintain leverage and disrupt plays in the backfield. Those contributions don’t always generate impressive individual statistics, but they’ve helped players such as Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson operate more effectively behind the defensive line.
The Steelers still have work to do defensively, but the emergence of additional contributors is giving Graham more flexibility than he had earlier in the season.
Another young player making the most of his opportunities is rookie cornerback Daylen Everette. With injuries and personnel changes affecting Pittsburgh’s secondary, Everette has been asked to contribute earlier than some might have expected, and he’s beginning to show why the Steelers have confidence in his abilities.
Everette recorded an interception against Tampa Bay, joining Jamel Dean in helping Pittsburgh’s defense create turnovers during its comeback victory.
For a rookie still adjusting to the NFL, making that type of play in a close game is an encouraging sign, particularly when the Steelers have needed additional contributors in the secondary.
Patrick Graham acknowledged the contributions of both Everette and Dean following Sunday’s victory. While Everette still has plenty to learn, gaining meaningful experience against NFL competition should only help his development. And with the Steelers continuing to experiment with different defensive packages, having another cornerback capable of making plays gives Graham additional flexibility moving forward.
Sunday’s matchup against New Orleans could provide another important test. With Chris Olave and the Saints’ passing attack presenting a legitimate challenge, Pittsburgh may once again need its younger defensive backs to step up. Everette has already shown he can capitalize on an opportunity, and another strong performance would be a welcome development for a secondary that’s had its share of adversity this season.
The Steelers aren’t suddenly a finished product because they’ve won two consecutive games. Their offense remains inconsistent, and the defense is still working toward the level of performance Pittsburgh expects from that unit.
However, there’s a difference between a team simply surviving injuries and one that discovers additional contributors because of them. Bernard has given Rodgers another receiving option, Herbig is providing greater defensive flexibility, and Benton is helping anchor an improving defensive front. Meanwhile, Warren and Dowdle offer Pittsburgh different possibilities in the backfield.
Sunday’s matchup against the Saints will provide another opportunity for those developments to continue. And while the Steelers would certainly prefer to have everyone healthy, the experience their players are gaining now could pay dividends well beyond this week’s trip to Paris.
