Steelers’ First Day In Pads Sends Massive Warning From The Trenches

The Pittsburgh Steelers spent the offseason discussing new schemes, position flexibility and different ways to create pressure. Their first padded practice stripped the conversation down to something much simpler. Once the contact became real, Pittsburgh’s defensive front produced the kind of movement that can alter an offense before the ball ever reaches the quarterback.

The opening days of camp allowed coaches to study assignments, conditioning and communication, but defensive linemen cannot fully reveal themselves in helmets and jerseys. Their value appears when they have to strike a blocker, control the point of attack and separate quickly enough to finish the play. Monday’s first session in pads finally gave the Steelers that evaluation.

Two of the clearest answers came from Derrick Harmon and Keeanu Benton. Harmon looked more imposing once the physical portion of practice arrived, while Benton’s quickness inside became more noticeable when blockers could no longer move through a controlled offseason tempo.

Mike McCarthy highlighted both defensive linemen during his media availability, pointing to the traits that surfaced as soon as Pittsburgh put on the pads.

“When I look at Derrick… they all look a little different when they put the pads on, and he’s definitely one of those guys. He’s an impactful player,” McCarthy said. “The same thing with Keeanu Benton. I thought both those guys—their ability inside, the twitch, some of the explosiveness, getting off blocks—I thought that showed up.”

Harmon’s rookie season offered evidence that his impact extends beyond basic statistics. He finished with 27 tackles, 3 sacks and a fumble recovery despite missing time with knee injuries, then received the Joe Greene Great Performance Award as Pittsburgh’s top rookie. The defense was more stable when he was available because his strength and hand usage made it harder for offenses to create clean movement inside.

The next step is becoming more disruptive. Harmon can already absorb contact and hold his ground, but Pittsburgh wants him escaping blocks quickly enough to affect more plays in the backfield. McCarthy noticing his explosiveness in the first padded practice suggests the second-year lineman is beginning to show more than the steady presence he provided as a rookie.

Benton presents a different type of problem for blockers. He has always possessed unusual movement skills for an interior defender, and his 5.5 sacks in 2025 showed how dangerous he can become when allowed to attack. His first step and lateral quickness can stress guards and centers before they establish leverage.

Pittsburgh has not always placed Benton in the role that best displays those traits. He has spent significant time handling nose tackle responsibilities, which often require him to absorb blocks rather than defeat them immediately. The new staff has discussed creating more freedom across the front, and Pittsburgh’s earlier look at Benton’s expanded role suggested he could receive more opportunities to penetrate instead of remaining tied to one assignment.

McCarthy’s observation supports that direction. Benton’s twitch becomes more valuable when the scheme gives him chances to cross a blocker’s face, attack a gap or move before the snap. A defensive lineman who can threaten several areas forces the offense to identify him instead of treating him as a stationary part of the front.

The pairing could also make life easier for Cameron Heyward. Pittsburgh cannot ask its veteran captain to create every interior disruption during his 16th season. Harmon and Benton producing consistently would allow the Steelers to rotate bodies without losing the power or quickness needed to control the line.

Their growth would reach beyond the defensive line. Linebackers play faster when blockers cannot climb cleanly to the second level. Edge rushers receive better one-on-one opportunities when protection has to account for pressure through the middle. The secondary can disguise more aggressively when the defense creates difficult down-and-distance situations.

Steelers May Have Found Their Next Defensive Core

The first padded practice cannot settle how the front will perform over a full season. Offensive linemen are also learning a new system, practices do not include every form of live tackling and the workload will become more demanding as camp continues. Harmon and Benton still have to repeat the performance rather than treating one strong day as proof the job is finished.

The early look carries weight because their strongest traits appeared under the conditions designed to reveal them. Harmon’s force became more visible. Benton’s quickness translated when the rep required actual block destruction. McCarthy did not have to project what either player might look like once the pads arrived. He saw it immediately.

Pittsburgh has invested premium draft capital in both players. Benton was selected in the second round in 2023, while Harmon became the 21st overall pick two years later. The Steelers made those choices while trying to build a younger defensive line capable of eventually carrying more responsibility from Heyward.

Monday offered a glimpse of that transition. Harmon looked capable of becoming a more impactful second-year player, and Benton showed the movement skills that can make him difficult to contain when used aggressively. If both players continue getting off blocks with the same urgency, the Steelers may have found the interior combination that allows the entire defense to become faster.

The pads did not create their ability. They finally gave Pittsburgh the right setting to see it.

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