Steelers Rookie Nick Herbig Brings Enthusiastic Willingness To Do Anything The Team Needs In 2023

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie outside linebacker, Nick Herbig's star shined bright during the 2023 NFL preseason. In three games, Herbig recorded three and a half sacks along with a forced fumble on Buffalo Bills quarterback, Matt Barkley in the second preseason game. Some are anointing him the steal of the draft before he even steps foot in a stadium for a regular season game. Herbig, just like his older brother Nate, who said he'd be the punter if the team asked him, is excited to bring a can-do attitude to his work in Pittsburgh. 

Herbig is very aware of where he sits on the depth chart as an outside linebacker entering the 2023 season. The team has starting positions set in stone for TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith, with veteran Markus Golden as the first option off the bench. Herbig explained via Brian Batko of The Pittsburgh Post Gazette that he sees his role as a support worker for Watt and Highsmith. 

"I’m a younger guy with a lot of vets in our group, so I just bring that spark sometimes when the guys need it," he said. "I’ll be that plug-and-play guy, but if they need me to go get them a Gatorade or tie their shoes or go in for a play because they need a breather, I feel like that’s what I bring to this group."   

Herbig's teammates and coaches have noticed the drive in Herbig to constantly want to improve. Outside linebackers coach, Denzel Martin, explained via Batko that he sees Herbig as a sponge that's constantly absorbing information and then putting it into practice immediately. He added that he's got that chip on his shoulder that all younger siblings seem to have. 

Highsmith also that he admires Herbig's constant hunger to improve and added that he's got a really nice bag of tricks coming in as a rookie, probably from all the tape he's watched of fellow Wisconsin Badgers alum, TJ Watt. 

Highsmith added that Herbig has already got a fun little jump-through move that he is trying to add to his own game. As famous American poet, TS Elliot once said "Talent imitates, genius steals." If the talented group of outside linebackers can continue to steal bits and pieces from each other's games, it will make for a very smart bunch. 

According to reports, Herbig has spent a lot of time with Watt trying to soak up all the wisdom he can from the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year. There are different ways to look at mentorship in the NFL and it obviously depends on the situation. For Watt, who is not going to lose his starting job any day soon, giving Herbig all the tips and tricks in the world will help him when he needs to take a breather. 

Steelers' Herbig Focusing On Improving His Special Teams Work 

Herbig knows that the bulk of his important work, at least early in his rookie season, will come on special teams. He singled out his assignment on punt coverage as an area that he needs to work on. 

Herbig would like to be making plays on defense like he did in the preseason. For right now, however, he has a good understanding that the team needs him to be sharp on special teams and there as a rotational option. If he shows his continued progress in a mix of practice and games this season, it will take him one step closer to being the steal of the draft that many were calling him in the preseason. The Steelers had some pretty good luck with one Wisconsin Badger edge rusher and now have that guy training the new one.