The Pittsburgh Steelers have some things to work on despite their win in Mike McCarthy's debut on Sunday in the Steel City. The offense was only able to muster up one touchdown as quarterback Aaron Rodgers found tight end Pat Freiermuth in the end zone in the second quarter of the contest. Now they will have to build off that performance and improve as they have their first road test in Week 2 against the New England Patriots. Despite the defense playing very well overall, there was one young player whose performance continued showing some cause for concern.
Barry Reeger / Imagn Images
New Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy looks on during a Week 1 game against the Falcons at Acrisure Stadium.
Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon was drafted 21st overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh. He got off to a slow start with his Week 1 performance, as he had just three tackles in the victory.
On Tuesday, team insider Nick Farabaugh appeared on an episode of his Steelers Breakdown Podcast. During the show, he did have high praise for the Pittsburgh defense as a whole. However, he mentioned the struggles of the defensive tackle and how there is a huge opportunity for improvement in his game as his second NFL season continues.
“[Derrick Harmon] doesn’t get off the ball fast at all,” Farabaugh said. “The Steelers got off the ball in .79 seconds as a team on Sunday, but Harmon got off the ball in .98. In the pass rush, he really has one move. He just puts his arms into the guy and just tries to power through them. If that doesn’t work, he’s kind of dead in his tracks."
The struggle to get off the ball on Sunday is a glaring issue for Harmon as he looks to improve the pass-rushing aspect to his game as a defensive lineman. However, Farabaugh did give him the credit of being a solid run stopper at his position. Improving in 2026 with his pass rushing abilities would be a huge boost to an already strong defensive front against the run.
The silver lining in his game is that he is not getting beat by offensive linemen by using a whole arsenal of moves against them. While the sluggish timing of getting off the ball is alarming, Farabaugh leaves the door open for Harmon to add some moves to his pass rushing game that can help him get wins up front on defense and start to establish himself at this level. He was excellent in college, especially in his final season at Oregon where he produced five sacks.
Steelers Can't Afford Another Draft Miss
The Steelers need their former first-round pick to blossom at the NFL level as he gets more experience under his belt. Throughout recent drafts, they have failed to find their next franchise quarterback. In that same draft, New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart was selected just four picks after the Pittsburgh selection of Harmon. Should he continue his struggles to develop in the NFL as a pass rusher, it can leave many questions on the table as far as what could have been if the organization would have selected Dart to put faith in being their next franchise quarterback.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive lineman Derrick Harmon stands on the field as the team goes through a workout during a 2026 training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Harmon does have a massive frame standing at 6-foot-4 and over 300 pounds as a defensive lineman that plays into his favor. Size is something that cannot be taught, but technique definitely is. Should he be able to find some other moves other than the one Farabaugh mentioned, he could turn the narrative on him around quickly in the Steel City. It would be a huge boost for his confidence as well as the defensive front for the Black and Gold.
What do you think of Farabaugh's comments on Harmon? Will Harmon continue to develop his technique, or do you think we're seeing the best of what Harmon has to offer? Follow for more news!
#SteelerNation