The Pittsburgh Steelers impressed once again in their second preseason game of 2023, with every part of the team firing on all cylinders. Kenny Pickett and the first-team offense again looked incredible, making every drive seem easy. Jaylen Warren had the highlight of the night with a 62-yard touchdown run that made his campaign for the first-string running back even stronger. All receivers looked sharp, with George Pickens, Allen Robinson II, Calvin Austin III, and Pat Freiermuth getting some good reps. But against the Buffalo Bills' first-team offense, no part of the Steelers squad looked better than the defense, with the linebacker core excelling in every portion of play.
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Steelers edge rusher, TJ Watt (#90) celebrates after making a big play at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA.
Pittsburgh has had arguably the best linebacker in the NFL recently in TJ Watt. Watt, a Defensive Player of the Year winner, has knocked on the door of the sack record multiple times and dominates offensive lines. The Steelers have been known for their strong linebacker cores, and this new, young squad is looking to back up the storied past.
The Steelers' History
The Steelers have had some of the best linebackers in NFL history. Hall of Famers Jack Lambert and Jack Ham lead the impressive list, both dominating their positions at a time when the Steelers were the top dogs in the NFL. James Harrison, Greg Lloyd, Jason Gildon, and Joey Porter Sr. are all notable linebackers who spent a large amount of time in Pittsburgh and added to the impressive linebackers' resume. Throughout the history of the NFL, specifically the 1970s and 1980s, the Steelers defense dominated the NFL, and their linebackers were the cornerstone of those defenses.
AP
Jack Ham (59) and Jack Lambert (58) haul down Vikings fullback Dave Osborn (41) with other Steelers in support during Pittsburgh's 16-6 win in Super Bowl IX.
Ham had one of the best careers ever for a linebacker, racking up a total of 25 sacks, 21 fumble recoveries, and 32 interceptions. His 53 total takeaways are the most by a non-defensive back in the history of the NFL. Ham also was a part of six All-Pro teams, eight straight Pro Bowls, and four Super Bowl wins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the Steelers' Hall of Honor. Lambert was also recording unheard of linebacker stats, finishing his career with 1,441 total tackles, 28 interceptions, eight sacks, and eight All-Pros in 11 years. Watt has been the most recent addition to the Steelers' all-time list of linebacker greats, and some new young players are looking to be added to the conversation this year.
The New-Look Linebackers
Pittsburgh has made a recent overhaul to their linebacker core, drafting Nick Herbig in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and bringing in veteran Kwon Alexander from free agency. Herbig has made a name for himself around the Steel City, proving to be one of the top rookies coming from the draft. Herbig consistently wins his battles against the offensive linemen, wreaking havoc with 2.5 sacks in two preseason games played. He also has a handful of tackles and a forced fumble. Herbig has become a phenom seemingly overnight, and every Steelers fan is excited to see him make his regular-season debut. Herbig has a lot of hype on his shoulders, but he's up to the task.
Alexander has been a force to be reckoned with so far in the preseason, flying all over the field and making multiple tackles away from his zone, becoming the backbone of the second level. Alexander has played nine years in the NFL with four different teams before the Steelers, most recently playing for the New York Jets. Alexander has struggled with injuries for his whole career and hasn't been able to perform at the level he or his fans expect, but he seems to be making a turnaround in Pittsburgh. Alexander is also a crucial veteran on a young Steelers squad, helping to coach up some young players and teach them the ways of being successful in the NFL.
Jason Behnken / AP
Steelers' veteran linebacker Kwon Alexander makes a tackle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 2023 preseason matchup.
Fourth-year linebacker Alex Highsmith has been making some noise in the 2023 preseason too, most notably against the Bills in Week 2. Highsmith looked phenomenal in pass coverage, keeping on his man with near-perfect accuracy and batting down, breaking up a couple of passes (even ones thrown by Josh Allen targeting Stefon Diggs). Highsmith is looking to make a big impact this year, after having much quieter roles for the Steelers since he was drafted in 2020. The new linebacker core for Pittsburgh is showing signs of being one of the most complete, well-rounded cores in the NFL.
What do you think of the linebackers' start to the preseason? Will anyone exceed expectations? Tell us your thoughts in a comment.
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