Steelers' Derrick Harmon Reveals Secret To Slowing Down Ex-Teammate QB Dillon Gabriel

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a bye week in Week 5, but they will be hosting their first AFC North battle in Week 6. The Steelers will be welcoming the Cleveland Browns to the Steel City on Sunday. Though the Browns sit at 1-4, they remain a talented team, and any matchup with a division rival like Cleveland is always highly competitive. The intensity of an AFC North clash often brings out the best in both teams, and fans can expect a physical, hard-fought game on both sides of the ball.

Cleveland will be starting rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who will be making just his second NFL start. Gabriel’s experience in the league is limited, but he has shown flashes of potential, and the Steelers’ defense will need to be sharp to limit his impact. For the Steelers, keeping Gabriel off balance and forcing him into mistakes will be a key to securing a victory. The Steelers coaching staff has likely spent the bye week studying Gabriel’s tendencies and preparing their defensive game plan to take advantage of his inexperience.

Steelers' first-round draft pick Derrick Harmon has a unique perspective going into this matchup, having played alongside Gabriel at Oregon. Harmon spoke with Steelers media about the challenge of facing his former college teammate and shared insight into what it might take to slow Gabriel down. His familiarity with Gabriel’s strengths and tendencies could provide Pittsburgh with a slight edge, and Harmon’s confidence in his preparation suggests he’s ready to make an impact early in his NFL career. The game will be an early test for both Harmon and the Steelers as they look to assert themselves in the division.

"Great football player. He** of a guy off the field, too, man," Harmon said when speaking about Gabriel. "Very smart quarterback. I feel like he knows his weaknesses and his strengths, and he's gonna use them, and he's gonna make sure that you don't use his weaknesses against him. Very smart football player. We've just got to keep him in the pocket and stop that run at the end of the day."

The Browns are coming off a tough loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5, but the game marked Gabriel’s first NFL start, and he certainly exceeded many expectations. While Cleveland ultimately fell, Gabriel’s performance provided glimpses of his potential and has added a layer of concern for Steelers fans ahead of Sunday’s matchup. 

The rookie quarterback threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns without turning the ball over, a notable accomplishment for someone adjusting to the speed and complexity of the NFL. While his completion rate was a modest 57.6%, it’s important to consider that he was facing a disciplined and aggressive Vikings defense under Brian Flores, which is widely regarded as one of the toughest units in the league.

Steelers' Defense Looking To Make Life Brutal On Dillon Gabriel

For the Steelers, Gabriel’s first start serves as both a warning and a blueprint. The team now knows what kind of decisions he makes under pressure and which tendencies they can exploit. This Steelers pass rush should be able to make life hard on Gabriel on Sunday.

Pittsburgh’s defensive staff has likely reviewed every frame of Gabriel’s debut, looking for weaknesses, but they also know that stopping him will not be as simple as pressuring a first-year quarterback; Gabriel’s familiarity with high-level competition at Oregon, combined with his composure, makes him a legitimate threat in this division showdown. The good news is Harmon knows him well.

Do you expect the Steelers' veteran defense to slow down rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel on Sunday? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

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