Steelers enjoying Alex Highsmith’s ascent as one of NFL’s premier pass rushers
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Myles Jack concluded an interview Thursday with an unsolicited nomination of Pittsburgh Steelers teammate Alex Highsmith for a fairly lofty position.
Not team captain or MVP. Not a spot in the Pro Bowl or All-Pro roster.
Jack had his sights set a little bit higher for the Steelers’ third-year outside linebacker.
“Alex Highsmith for president,” Jack proclaimed.
His reasoning?
“He’s a great guy, outstanding young man,” Jack said. “He does a full stop at all stop signs. He’s that man. Always returns his grocery cart.”
With those accolades, it’s not surprising that Highsmith recently was the Steelers nominee for the Art Rooney Award, which is given annually to an NFL player who displays sportsmanship on the field.
Highsmith also is turning out to be a rather accomplished football player while displaying the traits that are the antithesis of Leo Durocher’s famous axiom that nice guys finish last. A quick check of the stats show that Highsmith is tied for fifth in the NFL with 10 sacks, sharing that spot with the likes of Cleveland’s Myles Garrett and Kansas City’s Chris Jones. And Highsmith tops the league with four forced fumbles.
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Not bad for a player who totaled eight sacks and one forced fumble in his first two NFL seasons combined.
“Alex is legit,” coach Mike Tomlin said after Highsmith helped the Steelers preserve a 24-17 victory Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts. “I think everybody knows that.”
If they didn’t, it’s safe to say they do now.
Highsmith grabbed national attention the first week of the season when he recorded three sacks — one more than he had his entire rookie season — in the Steelers’ overtime victory at Cincinnati.
Then, in a Week 10 victory against New Orleans, Highsmith had two sacks, a tackle for loss and forced fumble, which was good enough to earn him AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Of course, Highsmith’s two big games came with reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt lined up at the other outside linebacker spot. Highsmith has gotten 6.5 of his sacks in the four games that Watt has played, and 3.5 in the seven that Watt missed with pectoral and knee injuries.
As Tomlin noted after the win against the Colts, “It’s good to have old 90 on the opposite side of you. I think that helps.”
For his part, Highsmith is trying to win his matchups with opposing tackles and tight ends, whether he’s drawing extra attention while Watt is off the field or taking advantage of the double teams Watt so often requires.
“I just try to go out and be my best self,” Highsmith said. “When I do have a chance to have one-on-ones, take advantage of them and make the most of them. I try to be my best self every game.”
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin obviously doesn’t mind that Highsmith has become the beneficiary of Watt’s return. Without Watt, the Steelers averaged 1.5 sacks per game. With him, they are averaging 3.4.
“They can’t chip both sides. You can’t double team (both) guys, so it allows some guys to have maybe a little bit more one-on-one rush,” Austin said. “I think (Highsmith) took advantage of it and, hopefully, he can continue that moving forward.”
Tomlin often talks about players making linear progress from their rookie to second NFL seasons and, by extension, their second to their third. From a financial standpoint, players drafted later than the first round can hit the jackpot by producing in that third season. It’s between the third and fourth seasons that the Steelers decide whether to offer contract extensions before the player hits free agency.
Based on his stats heading into December, Highsmith has put himself in a conversation to receive a new deal in the summer.
That hardly surprises the player whose locker is located next to Highsmith’s at the team’s UPMC Rooney Sports Complex practice facility.
“He’s always making plays,” Jack said. “Watching the Steelers on TV, and you’re hearing about Alex Highsmith. You get to know him, and he’s a great guy, great teammate and great ballplayer. Now, he’s in double digits (in sacks). We’ve been celebrating that week, and I’m excited to see what more he can do.”
Highsmith reached double digits in sacks at a critical juncture of the win in Indianapolis. The Colts, trailing by seven points, were driving at the Steelers 33 with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Highsmith broke free around the right edge. He dropped quarterback Matt Ryan for a 7-yard loss while forcing a fumble the Colts recovered.
Then, on third-and-3 at the 26, Highsmith stopped running back Jonathan Taylor, the NFL’s leading rusher in 2021, for no gain. It was his sixth tackle — and fourth solo — of the game. On fourth down, Highsmith helped force Ryan from the pocket, and the pass to the sideline was broken up, sealing the Steelers’ victory.
“Incredible,” Watt said. “To go out and close out a game like that as a rusher, it’s awesome. It’s something we need more.”
Highsmith will get a chance to build on it during the final six games of the season, starting Sunday in Atlanta when the 4-7 Steelers face the 5-7 Falcons.
“That’s what you look for in growth from guys,” Austin said. “Look at them as players if they can make big plays in big moments. That is important. Guys you’re counting on to be good players and to carry the torch for you, that’s what you expect from them. Alex has been really well at that this year.”