Steelers' Nick Herbig Drawing Strong Praise For Unexpected New Role

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been asking outside linebacker Nick Herbig to do more than rush opposing quarterbacks this season, and his position coach is impressed with the results. Herbig has established himself as an exciting young defender, but adjusting to a new coaching staff brings challenges even for talented players. Pittsburgh wants its linebackers to be versatile, and that means expanding their responsibilities beyond the traditional expectations of the position. Fortunately, Herbig appears to be embracing everything being thrown his way.

The Steelers are still working to establish consistency defensively under coordinator Patrick Graham. While the unit has experienced its share of difficulties, the coaching staff has been finding different ways to utilize individual players. Herbig is particularly interesting because his athleticism and instincts provide opportunities to move him around. Rather than limiting him to one responsibility, Pittsburgh appears interested in discovering everything he can offer.

Steelers Outside Linebackers Coach CJ Ah You recently discussed Herbig's development and the challenges associated with learning a new system. Ah You acknowledged that asking players to handle unfamiliar assignments is difficult, particularly when they are adapting to an entirely new coaching staff. However, he believes Herbig has responded positively to the increased demands.

"It's always tough to have a player come in with a new staff and do multiple things they're not used to doing," Ah You said. "He has embraced it, and it works to his skill set. He likes it, and he's like a Swiss Army knife out there. It benefits us, and it benefits him."

That comparison should excite Steelers fans who have watched Herbig develop into an important piece of Pittsburgh's defense. Being described as a Swiss Army knife suggests the coaching staff sees him as more than a situational pass rusher. The ability to contribute in multiple roles makes a defender harder for opposing offenses to anticipate. It also gives Graham additional flexibility when building his weekly game plans.

Herbig entered the NFL with a reputation for being relentless when attacking quarterbacks. His quickness off the edge and ability to create pressure helped him earn opportunities early in his career. However, becoming a more complete outside linebacker requires much more than simply getting into the backfield. Defenders must understand coverage responsibilities, recognize offensive formations and execute assignments that might not always result in impressive statistics.

Those less glamorous responsibilities are often what separate rotational contributors from dependable every-down players. Pittsburgh needs defenders who can adjust without allowing offenses to identify obvious weaknesses. If Herbig can handle different assignments while maintaining his effectiveness as a pass rusher, the Steelers could have an increasingly valuable weapon. His willingness to learn appears to be making that development possible.

Steelers' Nick Herbig Could Become Even More Valuable To Patrick Graham

One interesting aspect of Ah You's comments is that the coaching staff isn't describing Herbig's new responsibilities as a burden. Instead, Ah You believes the changes complement his natural abilities and give him opportunities to improve. That is important because asking a talented pass rusher to do too much can sometimes reduce what makes him dangerous. Pittsburgh must find the right balance between versatility and allowing Herbig to attack.

The Steelers also have established talent at outside linebacker, including TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith. Having Herbig available in different situations gives Pittsburgh another option when adjusting personnel packages or responding to an opponent's offensive approach. His development could become especially valuable as the season progresses and injuries test the defense's depth. Versatility matters most when a team needs players to handle responsibilities outside their usual roles.

There is still work to be done before Herbig can be considered a complete defender. Ah You's comments make clear that learning unfamiliar assignments is an ongoing process rather than something that happens overnight. However, the coach's confidence suggests Herbig is approaching that challenge with the right attitude. His willingness to embrace change could help him earn an even larger role moving forward.

Do you think Nick Herbig deserves a bigger role in the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense? Follow me on X @anthonyghalkias and let Steeler Nation know.

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