New linebacker package presents Herbig with a huge opportunity

Mike Tomlin always looks for players to make a jump from Year 1 to Year 2 and Nick Herbig is a perfect example of that logic. While his early regular season statistics don't pop off the page through two games, the 22-year-old outside linebacker took such a big leap heading into training camp, and showcased enough during the preseason, that Tomlin and Teryl Austin schemed up a new way to get him on the field.

To put it into perspective, Herbig only tallied 27 tackles and three sacks last season while playing 17% percent of the Steelers' defensive snaps. Through two regular season games this season, he's only tallied one tackle while playing 29% of the defensive snaps. But, Herbig had a lot of success during the preseason. His quickness and athleticism allowed him to tally seven tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hits and one forced fumble.

However, despite Herbig's success, Austin can't take top-tier talents like T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith off the field consistently and replace them with Herbig. That would be coaching malpractice. So, Tomlin and Austin have found a way to get all three of them on the field at the same time.

"He's earned it with the way he's progressed since last year and what he's done when he was in games last year," Austin said. "So, we want to give him a better opportunity to get out there and try to rush and get after the quarterback. So, he earned it."

In third-and-long situations, where it's an obvious passing down, the Steelers have left Watt and Highsmith on the edge while Herbig matches up against interior offensive linemen alongside a defensive tackle. During the three situations in which the package was used against the Broncos, Herbig lined up next to Montravius Adams. Here's a quick look at what it looks like.

As you can see, Watt is lined out on the left edge and Herbig is on the interior next to Adams. Queen is showing a blitz early in this play but ends up dropping off into coverage while Highsmith comes off the right edge. The purpose of this formation is to get more speed on the field. Herbig is a quick, athletic and talented linebacker who matches up well against interior linemen in passing situations. 

"It’s just a different kind of rush. Guards are used to seeing bigger guys. They're used to seeing guys like Cam (Heyward) and guys that come at them with a different type of rush," Austin said. "Now they got a little smaller guys, maybe a little bit more wiggle, a little bit more speed. So it's just a different thing that they would have to prepare for. It's just a different kind of rush."

Take this 3rd and 20 from the Broncos game for example. Herbig takes on Broncos right guard Quinn Minerz, a 320-pounder who signed a four-year, $72 million extension in July and in 2023 allowed the fourth fewest pressures of any guard with at least 625 blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Herbig utilizes his speed and a nifty edge-rush move to try and duck under Minerz's block. Despite being slowed down by Minerz, Herbig works his way into the pocket just as Bo Nix gets off a throw to Javontae Williams for a 14-yard gain. The Steelers prevented the first down, but the Broncos decided to go for it and took advantage of how the Steelers were lined up for a 22-yard pitch-and-catch to Josh Reynolds. Take a look: 

With Herbig, Highsmith and Beanie Bishop coming off the left edge, Queen shades over to that side to fill in coverage allowing Nix to take advantage of the broken coverage on the right side in this 4th and six situation for a quick pass over the middle of the field and a big gain. Mistakes happen, but in this situation, communication is key. With Watt coming off the right edge, he may have been able to drop back in coverage and fill that zone, but that also takes away another pass rusher in this situation.

This specific package can also be useful if an offense chooses to run a screen or if there is a mobile quarterback, like Nix in this situation, where there's a high probability that he's going to take off and run.

"It definitely puts more speed on the field, especially if there are screens, short throws or a mobile quarterback," Herbig told me.

On Sunday in Denver, the Steelers used the package three times. They came up with two third-down stops before Nix hit Reynolds for that fourth-down conversion. In Atlanta, the Steelers deployed Watt, Herbig and Highsmith four different times and didn't give up a first down. The Falcons only completed two of the four passes they attempted in those situations. 

So, in two games, the Steelers have used the package on seven occasions and have only given up one first down for an 86% success rate. That first down also came in a situation where they normally don't like to use it.

"Any time we can get off the field in that package, that’s a win for us," Herbig said.

There could be more variations of this package in the future as well. I asked Austin earlier this week if they had thought about rotating Watt or Highsmith into the interior -- I mean, imagine those matchups -- and Austin replied with a smile: "You think I'm going to give you some secrets right now?" 

For Herbig, it doesn't matter to him where he lines up. The second-year linebacker out of Wisconsin is just happy to have an opportunity to get on the field and help produce for a defense that has had a large amount of success this season.

"I appreciate the coaches for just finding a way to get me on the field any way they can," Herbig said. "Whether that’s on the edge or up the middle, it doesn’t matter to me as long as I can find a way to make an impact for this team, I’m with it."