If you were watching the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 then you figured out at least two things. First, Kenny Pickett is the franchise guy in Pittsburgh, and second, they cannot afford another TJ Watt injury slump in 2023. It is impossible to simply plug another player into Watt's spot due to the former Defensive Player of the Year's irreplaceable impact.
So, the answer was to build a reliable rotation of athletes who could combine to bring at least something close to what Watt wrecks games with. A looming question mark had been who would be the third outside linebacker behind the duo of Watt and Alex Highsmith? If you ask Patrick Peterson, the Steelers found their man in newly signed linebacker, Markus Golden.
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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith
Steelers Have A Junkyard Dog Now
Peterson, who will be playing his 13th season in 2023, has certainly seen enough in the NFL to know when something special is happening. He was already ecstatic about coming to Pittsburgh, citing Mike Tomlin as a massive draw for him after being a fan of the longtime coach for years.
"Watching from afar, you want to be around a coach who is never out of it, and Coach Tomlin is never out of it. He just finds a way to motivate the players, give them the confidence they didn't even know they had to go out and play their best football and let the rest of it take care of itself."
As the Steelers enter the practice field part of the offseason, the recent addition of Golden has Peterson grinning from ear to ear all over again. Peterson and Golden played for the Arizona Cardinals together during two stints, first from 2015 to 2018, and then in 2020 during Peterson's return to Arizona.
Those years together formed a bond between the two that is just as strong today. Peterson was unable to contain his glee at Golden's arrival when he joined his cousin, former Steelers' cornerback Bryant McFadden on their podcast All Things Covered. The moment Golden was brought up early on the show, Peterson had a huge smile on his face as he cheered the signing with Golden's nickname in Arizona; Junkyard Dog.
“My guy! Junkyard Dog! Here’s why he got the name of Junkyard Dog. When he was a rookie for us in 2015 that’s when we made our run. But this guy was a – he was literally a freaking hound around the quarterback. Like, he was a pest for the quarterback.”
The praises didn't end there. Peterson told McFadden how Tomlin begins every morning with the team by saying that it is a "great morning" because that sets more of a successful mindset than a "good morning" would. Considering that lines right up with Peterson's philosophy on life, he also prefers "great" to "good" for the sake of a positive mindset, he understands the importance of setting that tone early. If there is anyone who matches that right off the bat, according to Peterson at least, it's Golden.
"His mentality is unmatched!"
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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, Markus Golden
Steelers May Have Found Their Rotation Trio
Golden doesn't just bring positive reviews to Pittsburgh, he has the numbers to back it up. During his nine NFL seasons, he has put up 47 sacks, including 11 in 2021, meaning a high productive level isn't too far removed from the newest Steelers' linebacker.
From Peterson's perspective, Golden brings all the qualities that are necessary to allow the front seven to create chances for the secondary. When linebackers and the defensive line can have a consistent impact, the likelihood of mistakes increases quite a bit. Watt is no stranger to tipped passes and Cameron Heyward even got himself an interception in 2022, but it's the small things that set up a defense to make a game-changing play. With Golden in the rotation behind Watt and Highsmith, Peterson expects those little things to become a major factor for the defense.
“So having a guy like that in the lineup, in the rotation, that’s gonna do nothing but add more value to the secondary. Cause as a secondary player, that’s what you want. You want the quarterback to be forcing those ill-advised throws, those errant throws, tips and overthrows.”
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Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt has become one of the best players in the NFL.
Steelers Ready To Bring A Steel Curtain Feel In 2023
The Steelers are known throughout their history for having a formidable pass rush, leading back to the storied days of the 1970s team, so the yearning to bring that kind of dominance back to Pittsburgh runs deep in everyone wearing the black and gold. There is no doubt that the combination of Highsmith and Watt has shown production during their time together, but Peterson sees another dimension to that attack being added as Golden becomes a regular part of that pass-rush rotation.
“I believe Markus definitely adds another element to our pass rush, to the TJ and Highsmith, and with him coming around the edge now, it’s doing nothing but adding depth to our already-high-powered pass rush.”
While 2023 will be Peterson and Golden's first season with Pittsburgh, the history of the franchise isn't lost on them. Any newcomer to the team enters with the understanding that a standard was set long ago and everything is about maintaining and bringing pride to that. From the back-to-back championships (twice) to the "Blitzburgh" chants, Bill Cowher's chin, and everything else along the way that has made Pittsburgh all it is - that is what sits in the mind of every player. They have the chance to bring that kind of history into the present, and with the addition of Golden to the mix, Peterson believes they may be closer than some people think.
“Obviously, this is my first year being a part of the Steel Curtain history. That’s what those guys brought to the table – intimidation. Those guys brought a big bat when it was time to walk out of the tunnel wherever they was at, and he’s one of those guys that added ammunition to this defense, and I’m excited to have him.”
The season is still a ways away, and there are training camps and much more looking ahead to come, but at the moment there are whispers of greatness circulating among the Steelers and it might not be too hard to believe. It's all about building a roster that gels and truly works as a unit, and when Peterson and Omar Khan touched on the subject, it seems that both of them believe as well.
“Omar [Khan] asked me, he was like, ‘Is he one of us? Is he one of the guys?’ I said, ‘He’s one of the guys, and if you got any problems out of him, I got him."
Do you think Golden is the answer at third linebacker? What kind of success will that signing bring in 2023? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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