Being an inside linebacker for a team that values that position as high as the Steelers and Teryl Austin do can come with some quirks.
These linebackers have to be multi-faceted in their skillsets. Their coverage skills have to be on point while their ability to commit to the run and make the subsequent tackle have to be as fine-tuned as any other position's skillset on the field.
The Steelers have a luxury on hand. Cole Holcomb, Kwon Alexander, and Elandon Roberts boast a combined 22 years of NFL experience while Austin and the coaching staff are high on Mark Robinson as a developmental player in his second year. Not everything can be completely shored up within the room this quickly, and especially with it being overhauled over the offseason. That said, this been-there-done-that unit is quickly picking up on each other's tendencies and is learning as it goes along.
“The sense of urgency is communicated every day," Holcomb told me before Thursday's practice on the South Side. "With Mike (Tomlin) it doesn’t matter who we’re playing, the nameless grey faces that we’re playing, the urgency’s still there. But when you have those opportunities, you’re like, ok, it’s a perfect opportunity to go show what you’re capable of. I feel like we’ve improved every week.”
The Steelers struggled to stop Christian McCaffrey and, until he sustained his injury, Nick Chubb in the first two weeks of the season. Sunday brought forth some redemption as the Steelers held reigning NFL rushing champion Josh Jacobs to 62 yards and 3.6 per carry. After allowing 193 rushing yards per game in the first two, the Steelers held the Raiders to 69 yards on the ground in Week 3.
Granted, the Raiders' offense is not as potent as the 49ers or the Browns' offenses are. Roberts acknowledged building a base of consistency -- just as the offense is attempting to do -- is a week-to-week task. Jacobs' longest run on Sunday went for 10 yards, while the 49ers and Browns were able to burst through the second level for big runs. Eliminating big plays and shutting down the second level are components of building that consistency.
"It was big, but we've got to eliminate the explosive runs," Roberts told me. "That's what hurt us in both of those games, the 49ers and Cleveland. Eliminate the explosive runs and we'll be able to control the game and we'll be in a good spot defensively. ... (Urgency) is big, man. I feel like Kwon and Cole and the whole linebacker room and the whole defense is doing great at that. We've just got to stay on it is all. Every week you've got to bring a sense of urgency because every team game plans. We always have got to be on point and have a sense of urgency."
The Texans boast a unique challenge as quarterback C.J. Stroud appears to have a firm grasp on his offense with just three games under his belt as a pro. Stroud had his best game thus far on Sunday, in which he completed 20 of 30 passes for 280 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a career-best rating of 118.8 in the Texans' 37-17 win over the Jaguars. Eleven of the Texans' 15 first downs were via passing plays, and the Texans converted nine of 15 third-down chances.
The process of the Steelers' inside linebackers learning each other's tendencies and strengths is an ongoing one. There were communication issues that led to deficiencies in stopping the run in the Steelers' first two weeks, but a less-threatening offense sported by Las Vegas helped usher those systems in a more fluid manner.
"They're veterans so they've learned how to play off of each other and the know about each other's strengths and weaknesses and they're learning to -- they're not there yet -- but they're learning to play really well with each other," Austin said during his weekly press conference Thursday on the South Side.
Tomlin and Austin have each referred to Stroud, the No. 2 pick in the draft, as a more mature product than a typical rookie would be. Austin said Thursday Stroud "doesn't look like a rookie" based on his early and quick start.
The eyes, the communication lines, and the rotations between the Steelers' inside linebackers will be key on Sunday.
"I think we have three starter-capable guys and it keeps them fresh, keeps them engaged, and I think it's working well," Austin said. "I like what all three of them are doing, and we've just got to keep them healthy and upright until the end of the season."
Having veterans as the Steelers do in their inside linebackers room comes with pros and cons. The pros will outweigh the cons, but having that much experience can lead to habits formed elsewhere to bleed into the ideals that Tomlin and Austin wish for their defense.
One massive pro to this dynamic is on-field leadership. All three of Holcomb, Alexander, and Holcomb have green dot experience. Holcomb told me that role has been shared between Alexander and himself over these first three games. Austin said Thursday the green-dot wearer in this defense is determined on the matchup and who shapes out to be the likeliest to be playing all three downs.
“I take pride in the green dot. I want it 100 percent of the time," Holcomb said. "… I think coming to a different team, different community, you see -- especially being that guy with the green dot, being so involved in the calls and how each D coordinator sees it -- you get a new perspective on the things. Sometimes it’s like I didn’t realize -- they might show a tendency, and I’m like, that wasn’t even a thought process before. So it’s just adding a new tool into my box.”