Steelers' Offense Shows Progress in Preseason Finale vs Lions | Nick Herbig/Keeanu Benton Look Nasty

the Pittsburgh Steelers may have lost their third preseason game but I think their offense and their defense showed good signs on both sides of the ball we'll talk about what we saw from the quarterbacks both the offensive and defensive lines all here on the locked on Steelers podcast I'm your host Chris Carter let's get into [Music] it you are locked on Steelers your daily Pittsburgh Steelers podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day hello and welcome to the lockon Steelers podcast I'm your host Chris Carter bringing you you daily dose of all things in the Pittsburgh Steelers as always you can find the show in your favorite podcasting apps and on YouTube like this video if you enjoy it subscribe to this YouTube channel to get all of your daily Monday through Friday episodes as well as our bonus content we thank you for making us your first listen every day because we're your team every day and today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook now through September 22nd all FanDuel customers can bet $5 get a $3 free week trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV just visit fanduel.com lockon to get started all right Steelers fans if you missed the the preseason game the Steelers did lose 2417 but the first team offense came out and did what it was supposed to do walk right down the field score a quick touchdown show that it can both move the ball on the ground and through the air and it happened for both Justin fields and Russell Wilson Russell Wilson came in for the first drive went two for two for 26 yards uh hit uh hit uh George Pickins on a deep ball that went 30 plus yards down the field um did his job and I thought that he you know he showed that he could process the field in that in that moment there kind of put things to rest uh the offensive line uh you know moved guys at times I thought there was some mixed play here and there but uh you had you had to appreciate being able to see Harris get a five yard run in his only carry and then Cordo Patterson was rb2 because Jaylen Warren was out and when he got in he was given a really good Lane uh for a rushing touchdown uh really solid there there he went for 31 yards and then Justin Fields comes in throws three or four for 40 yards neither quarterback throws a touchdown but they make the necessary plays to get their team in field position uh for their for the for the rest of the offense to take over and I thought I think what we saw was if this offense was to really you know try to put together a whole drive and try to you know sequence plays there are ways to play off each other especially because I saw on on for both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields the play action and how it was used Justin fields in on his on his probably his best throw was a throw over the middle to Mike Cole puit uh that that went a good distance um and when it did it was it was off playay action it froze the linebackers the uh the linebackers had had to respect it and that led to Justin Fields hitting puit in stride got this the Steelers I believe inside the 10 when he threw it was a 22 yard pass actually went down to the two yard line to be to be exact that minutes later would would set up a uh L Michel P pery touchdown um but I think a few things to take away on the quarterback situation specifically because I think that there's uh there's you know a lot of different things that there's different sides here where people that really want Justin fields or really want Russell Wilson or don't really want either I think it's the acknowledgement of how this thing was handled Russell Wilson went in for a one drive a touchdown drive and was out there was no need to see him anymore there was no want to see him anymore it was like hey that's all he needed to see just put it on tape put it on camera so that they noce success and that's what we talked about in the Friday episode we said hey the Steelers want to see this offense score they did Russell Wilson was out they put Justin fields in he scored a touchdown they wanted to see a little bit more of him they and after they did they took him out to me it's just furthers what we've been saying all along that Russell Wilson was qb1 the the the whole time that was the plan now if Russell Wilson had come out and laid a complete egg and they' had like three or four more drives and they weren't moving the ball and Justin fields out and was lighting it up that would have changed the whole narrative but it didn't happen and we're not and we're not there so moving forward from here you can presume Russell Wilson as you know we've been saying all all offseason is going to be qb1 uh for the Steelers but again I do think that Justin Fields showed good things he showed his ability to use his leg in legs in smart situations they were able to use the QB option a little bit more with him uh he he again he threw a good ball and it all kind of played off of each other there Steelers ability to run the the ball they used a little bit of RPO a little bit uh with Justin Fields back there because they know that when he's there I think that opens that up I I think there is going to be some interesting moments this season or there are going to be some interesting moments this season where maybe Russell Wilson can't go in a certain situation maybe he's hurt or maybe the Steelers just see a certain matchup that they'll like and they'll Roll Justin Fields out and try to go a QB option in a certain spot just to make defenses think about different things um that could be part of the the plan because I do think that again Justin Fields I think did a pretty solid job uh throughout this preseason he wasn't you know Elite or anything like that but I think he showed that he isn't confined to what people might think he was in Chicago I think he showed hey hey he can improve on the on the details the minute things that people said that he wasn't able to get down in Chicago and make those things part of his game in positive ways um but again I think Russell Wilson those things he doesn't have to work on he knows how to he knows how to you know regularly cyc cycle through his progressions he knows how to throw the accurate ball he knows how to you know how to kill a play when he when it's time to kill it how to make the adjustments that need to be made and that's why he's going to be the guy again it's not a slight on Justin Fields it's an experienced acknowledgement of Russell Wilson uh but again in all of that I think it's a good thing for the Steelers because you see a guy who's going to protect the football who's G to prioritize that who's going to say the right things do the right things and Justin Fields can take more time to ratchet up the things that he's been improving throughout training camp in this preseason so that next year if he's still on the Steelers roster and Russell Wilson in then maybe he's the guy that has the lead on the whole on the first on the qb1 spot uh versus maybe a rookie that they draft or someone else that they bring in through free agency or trade but again can't really complain much about the quarterbacks in this game the first two quarterbacks I even say Kyle Allen even threw a few good balls the third string quarterback and also J.R plumbley so by and large actually I thought the quarterbacks had a pretty decent day for the Steelers all be at them losing in the end when the third stringers went in on both sides uh but again good stuff from them and good stuff from the offense in the in the first two series showing that they could move the ball and do what they needed to do now does this mean these the offense is ready to go out there and Bowl people over in the regular season absolutely not they still have a lot to prove I still want to go through some of the the more smaller details of what we saw and what led to that and I want to we'll address the offensive line a little bit later in this show because I thought there were some interesting moments that were underhyped and over as far as why things happen and we'll get to those in a minute but you know they put some on tape that's good now they've got two weeks to go through everything heal up whoever needs healed up we'll see if Jaylen Warren's ready to go uh for for week one we'll see if brck Jones is right arm get you know is is better we'll see if Troy fanu can get back to the back to the lineup and how that impacts things so there's still a lot to see there but for what was needed to be seen in a final preseason test run I think that they did their job there but to me they weren't the most impressive part of the game it was that defensive front and that man Mr Nick herbick doing damage on that on that Lion's front we'll talk about what I really continue to like about herig about Benton and Le every really everyone on this young defensive line uh and defensive front because I think that there's something special potentially brewing in the depth of the Steelers upfront guys we'll talk about that next here on the locktown Steelers podcast I'm your host Chris Carter stick with us we'll be right back but first want to remind you this show is brought to you by Better Health Therapy online what are your selfcare non-negotiables maybe you never Skip Leg Day or maybe you never skip therapy day well when your schedule gets packed with work activities with kids and just life in general it's easy to let your priorities slip through the cracks even when we know what makes us happy it's hard to make time for it sometimes but when you feel you have no time for yourself that's when when the non-negotiables like therapy are more important than ever that's where having a good therapist can help you organize your own life not only can you figure out what really makes your life better you can also figure out how to balance it with everything else in your life if you're thinking of starting therapy give better help a try better help knows life can be busy and stressful so it's designed to be suitable for your schedule just Vis fill out a qu a brief questionnaire to get matched with with a licensed therapist switch therapist anytime for no additional charge never skip therapy day with betterhelp visit betterhelp.com lockon to get 10% off your first month that's better help hp.com [Music] lockon back here on the locked on Steelers podcast I'm your host Chris Carter we continue our episode reacting to the Steelers Saturday preseason loss to the Detroit Lions uh and again it's it's just the reminder that the the results of the preseason games don't matter that much it's just more so the the observations that you can make on the team and um we talked about the offense but we got to talk about this defensive front because man they are nasty Nick herig doing it again just being a problem play in and play out every time it seems like he's on the field he is just wreaking havoc upon the Back Field uh in in in this game you saw him going getting after it right away starting up in the front neither TJ watt or Alex heith played in this game he finishes the game with T three tackles two sacks uh one of which was a strip fumble that led to a turnover um he he he kind of looks like he could start y'all and I'm not saying he's going to start over Alex heith or TJ white no no no no no I'm not saying that my point is they may have three starting caliber outside linebackers on this roster right now and there was the hope that maybe he could get there like he had an impressive Rookie Run everyone's excited okay but let's see how he does in the second year because now more team are going to be able to see what he's been able to do and again it's just preseason doesn't mean that he's already there and that he's about to be an all pro Edge rusher but man I'd be nervous if I was teams having to deal with that guy coming off the bench he's quick off the ball he has multiple techniques and he continues to show Even if you try to adjust to him he'll adjust right back and he's Relentless he has a high motor everything about him you have to love if you're the Pittsburgh Steelers and the great thing is you got him this season and two more seasons after that on a rookie deal so like you have now what three you know including this season three three seasons now to figure out hey if he keeps getting this good you know you're that's that's who you're gonna pay for the future that's that's the next you maybe you have the next TJ watt lineup and I'm not saying he is TJ watt but man he is very impressive for what he's able to do and to me that makes this Edge rushing Trio maybe the best best Edge rushing Trio and you don't I think it's crazy is you don't think of edge rushing trios like that you think of Duos Dynamic Duos guys that pair up like TJ Watt and Alex High Smith have for the last few years and we've seen them be special together but a trio because I think what herig does is he kind of allows you to rotate him in more often and that's gonna allow TJ Watt and Alex heith to be that much more fresh later in games and that much more fresh later in the season and maybe you don't see TJ watt get a a kind of a freakish injury at the end of the year where he miss where he misses a playoff game that the Steelers absolutely need him in and another guy that works into that equation now and I think it it continues to look like they're really putting him out there it's de Marvin Le out because when the first defense was out there now granted again a lot of the starters of Defense weren't out there D heith Hayward I don't think M Fitzpatrick was out there you know a lot of those guys didn't play but Leal with herig out there was the other Edge rusher to start to start the game and he looked good doing it too I think he Al he also had a half sack he was getting pressure in this game and he was also helpful against the run and Mike tommen always says he likes guys who as he puts it can do multiples which just means versatile and I think that dear de Marvin Le is showing hey I can line up on the inside and line up on the outside and be a solid depth guy and if he's your fourth option I don't think you could be too mad at that right and again the whole thing about this is is that with the edge rusher you need guys to step up on the interior but man they're getting guys to step up in the interior Kean beton just looked like a force consistently pressuring got a half sack in this game I you know I I I didn't go I need to go back this is literally just me after the game reacting to what I saw not breaking down any a whole lot of film just getting to you know looking at what players talked about but I I think he got at least three pressures in like two series maybe maybe maybe even more uh you know but Keo beton looks completely legit his pass rushing seems to have improved he's a force against the run up the- middle and I I'll keep saying this too I think the other guys on the defensive line look have looked pretty sharp all preseason and that's Larry Ogen Joby and montravius Adams lar gji continues to push people around to do what he's supposed to do and again like you're supposed to you're the veteran they paid him they're paying him a good amount of money he's supposed to be good but last year he was hindered with an injury that kind of lingered all season this year has it been that case montravius Adams a guy that they you know they brought him in off a practice squad years ago and he's continued to find a way to help on defense and now I think that he's I mean if he's your fourth or fifth option on in the interior defensive line it's a pretty good it's a pretty good fourth or fifth option he's bringing it and I I think my point here is the depth and the Steelers defensive front may be a much bigger asset than what we realized going into this this uh training camp season and preseason because I think going in everyone was like well if keano Benton steps up and if the mar V turn things around maybe they can be okay and I don't know and again it's just preseason we got to see how these guys play in live action see you know sequence off each other how they build off each other's success how they you know how does the rotation feel because some guys you know play better when they're consistently out there and the intermittence of them being out there can mess up their Rhythm and that that does happen we haven't seen that incomplete for these guys but knowing that this team's gonna be playing cam Hayward knowing that these team's gonna be playing TJ Watt and Alex heith on top of now these guys we're talking about in Leal and herig and and Bon and Ogen Joby Adams there's that's a lot of dudes to consider for being up there and then you could still get guys who I think Isaiah Loudermilk did a good job I think Dean low is a solid veteran you know guys in the interior that that can fill up in there and and and give you just good reps to get the other guys up like I I I think that the defensive front may be in a position where there aren't many if any real liabilities in their rotation right now like there were years when like the Steelers they had a guy like cam Thomas who you know I'm sorry he has to catch straight but he was he wasn't a good defensive interior defensive linean he was brought into like backup cam Hayward as soon as he was on the field teams knew we're running AAP we're just taking him up there you know uh there was the I can't remember his name right now the guy from Tennessee that was ridiculously huge Dan something but he was he he was a guy when he was in there you knew you were just running right behind him but uh these guys they look acve they look they look like they they can get after the quarterback but they can also stuff the run the Steelers might have that kind of rotation and right at the mix of that are the two Wisconsin guys keano Betton and Nick herig and if the Steelers have that kind of consistent pressure look out because I think that that's going to make this defense even better than what we were anticipating now one thing I do want to see that I need to see with the all 22 want to look at there were some of those pressures where henden hooker the Lions quarterback was holding on to the ball a little bit longer and I was wondering is he holding on the ball because he's henen hooker he's a rookie quarterback and he's just adjusting to the NFL or was there good coverage downfield and he just he didn't have anywhere to go with the football that we can't tell because of all 22 one thing I could tell though Cory tce looked active had a tfl also had a tackle of the line of scrimmage fighting through a wide receiver screen he he could continues to impress me and I I I have no doubt in my mind he's he's cornerback three right now soon as Joy Porter Jr Dante Jackson need a breather put Corey tce out there and see what he does I think that he is he has passed a lot of tests in this preseason and I think that has to have you a little bit excited if you're a Steelers fan the defense is Young well part you have young guys on the defense defense is not young let me take that back you he Smith of Sol TJ's getting up is getting up there in his early 30s uh cam hayward's been up there Ogen jooby B up his Patrick they they they've got guys who have who are who are aged but they now have more guys that are popping up in the younger part of the defense that could make this a truly complete defense and that that could be something special and why again I think this is going to be a defensiv l team if the Steelers are going to be a team that gets the double digit wins and competes for the division and gets to the playoffs and looks confident going into it it's going to be because this defense is just that good and part of what needed for this defense to show is they need to show depth they need to show their ability to win at spots where their Superstars weren't and at least what we've seen through the preseason including in this game I think those those guys showed up really big for the defense we'll talk more about that when we get the all 22 and I get the chance to come through more of that but again I think if you're a Steelers fan you have to like what you what you've seen really in totality in the preseason from the defense especially from the defensive front I want to take a step back though I want to look back at this offensive line again because I have a few comments about especially the two young guys that everyone's hoping really develops that played in this game both brck Jones and Zack Frasier we'll have my thoughts on them next here on the lock on Steelers podcast I'm your host Chris Carter stick with us we'll be right back but first we'll remind you this show is brought to you by LinkedIn when you're hiring for your small business you want to find quality professionals that are right for the role that's why you have to check out LinkedIn jobs LinkedIn jobs has the tools to help you find the right Professionals for your team faster and for free LinkedIn isn't just a job board LinkedIn helps you hire professionals you can't find anywhere else even those who aren't actively searching for a new job but might be open to the perfect role in a given month over 70% of LinkedIn users don't visit other leading job sites so if you're not looking on LinkedIn you're looking in the wrong place on LinkedIn 86% of small businesses get a qualified candidate within 24 hours hire professionals like a professional on LinkedIn LinkedIn knows that small businesses are wearing so many hats these days and might not have the time or resources to hire post your job for free at linkedin.com lockon NFL that's linkedin.com lockon NFL to post your job for free terms and conditions apply [Music] back here on the locked on Steelers podcast I'm your host Chris Carter we continue our look at the Steelers uh preseason game against the Lions so I I have some thoughts about the offensive line in general I don't think the offensive line still has been as good as they need to be but as we've said they're young they are adapting and they're trying to fit things in and it's going to take time for them to come together I do think there were good things I'll start with the good and we'll go to the bad um good I thought was Zack Frasier one thing Zack Frasier has done is he has continued to not allow pressure up the middle and and in pass protection I think he did that again in this game I'd have to go back and look through the film to be exactly exact but at least in watching the game I didn't see a moment where his Gap was the problem now I think there was a sack where kind of the whole offensive line got beat you got pushed back in general Dey Hamilton really gave up the sack and I think the running back I think was shamlin might have been the main culprits but in general the offensive line wasn't great on that play but Zack Frasier has looked disciplined he's looked solid his biggest mistake was he snapped the ball to ear on a silent count when Justin Fields was calling out some adjustments but that's stuff that you know happens for rookie you don't want it to happen but you know I'm I'm not gonna bark up a tree about that he knows what he did wrong I think that that's that's something that'll get fixed uh especially as he gets more experienced and this again was his first road game in the NFL um you know as far as preseason wise so yeah I'm not gonna hang too much about that I did think that it was really good what he did on Cordo patters in's 31 touch 31 yard touchdown run and again I only got to see the TV angle of this and a couple people posted online for replay value and I didn't I was able to like just slow it down there I really want to see the all 22 version when you kind kind of see in front of and behind the lines so you can get the proper judgment or visual for the depth of the play and what the angles were on for the blocking to work in those situations but I thought he did a really good job there was a defensive tackle I think in a gap to the left of him and in between him and Isaac SE amalu and both him and SE amalu start off double teaming the guy and then sealo chips to the backer seals the backer to the outside but the tough block there is when sealo does that initial chip block to push the guy inside Zack Frasier has to be strong enough at the point of attack to not just block that guy but to keep him from getting his uh his his his his outside arm from getting back to the middle Gap because that was where Cordo Patterson was running right between right behind both of them so it's one thing for sealo to Chip and get to the backer he's the veteran he's the best offensive line on the team that's what he's supposed to do but when Zack Frasier gets that hand uh is able to keep that hand of the of the defensive tackle from getting out and and obstructing the pass of Cordell Patterson that opens up the play and then at that point because the inside backer's been blocked because Zack Fraser sealed off the the interior Defender and the Lions haven't thrown a blitz at the middle part of the field that opens up a rushing Lane for Patterson all the way to the safety he made one move the safety was too you know made a bad decision on what angle he was going to attack and it was a 31 yard touchdown run and that kind of stuff though it seems so small when you watch the play it's something so quick so little it's not like he pancakes the guy it's not like he completely dominates and it's not it doesn't look impressively you know super impressive and dominant physical or anything but it's small enough to make a difference in the Run game like that and those are the things I think the Steelers have been missing particularly from their Center position since mares P's not been not been on the team having a guy who's strong enough to the point of attack and those are the things that we said we liked from Zack Frasier when we looked at him in the draft when we looked at his at his tape he wins leverage battles he gets lower he's able to to to overpower guys in those type of spots and again doesn't mean he's going to do that all season long that he's figured it out and he's all pro Zack Frasier but it does mean that that's a good sign moving forward and that's a p that's a that's a test passed by him that looks good on tape and that was the thing that we were saying on Friday you need if you I think the Steelers you're going into this game you need to put it on tape that you can put together the touchdown drives and they did they did two drives to start two touchdown drives back to back that's what that's what you want to there so Kudos Zack Fraser Kudos Isaac sealo um I thought that they they you know they were instrumental on that play and I thought in general they both did well there as well now for other guys I think there was there was some mix grade now brck Jones I think you know had had some good moments also had some Not Great Moments um there was I think Russell Wilson's like first pass I believe it was uh when he went downfield uh to to George Pickins the whole offensive line gave him a ton of time didn't even really have to move his feet much uh brck Jones did a really good job on his end there on that play that was pretty solid but then there was the sack where Justin Fields took where um Dey Hamilton backup offensive tackle who I don't think is making the team uh he's playing left tackle he gets beat and then the the Lions throw a throw a blitz and uh I think it was Champion I I apologize if I'm wrong on who the running back was but they missed their block so then you get that edge rusher and the linebacker blitzing in and sacking Justin fields and kind of the whole you know pocket crumble around him after that after he's hit and basically plays over um but I think there was some mischaracterized blame in brck Jones there now he didn't look great in this rep I thought he could have been lower in his stance and I thought that he could have uh punched better because I think he took on a blitzing linebacker and the linebacker like punched at him uh and brck Jones again didn't look like he was punching back but the punch really didn't do much to him and this time he kind of maintains his balance and then when the guy realizes he's not going to get around brck Jones He twists back you know around other guys and gets caught up in traffic and he's a non-relevant player in that situation so you know not a great rep from barck Jones but also like not a death nail like I saw some people were trying to make it out to be I thought that was a little o o overenthusiastic about trying to evaluate him there but I the one thing that I do think speaks out and again I gotta watch the all 22 I got to break it down I want to go through it and comb through it and look look through really closely but I really think that brck Jones's big problem is just punching footwork wise he gets it uh you know I think no one can doubt guy is a heck of an athlete and he has the size and we've seen him be nasty I think his problem is punching and it kind of points to me that there's still issues with that right arm uh which you know may may or may not be something that lingers All Season we don't know um you know maybe it's gone by week one but I think that that problem has persisted for brck Jones and it's something the Steelers should keep a close eye on but um again you know I don't think that he looked terrible in this game like he did against the builds I think he did better there granted you know he didn't go up against like Aiden Hutchinson all game or something like that the way he went up against Greg rousel so I think brck Jones still has a lot to show but again he's part of the offensive unit they were on the field uh the first two drives they put it they put in two touchdowns with both quarterbacks um I think in general that's solid that's a step in the right direction but they still have work to do but again I think Arthur Smith's offense you saw a little bit more of it in this game more play action more run to set up the play action I think is when when we start getting to the regular season and they start finding their Rhythm I think there will be more there's more reason to believe in this offense's ability to build momentum and success because remember one thing we talked about last year with Matt Canada's offense was what when you thought you saw some success like when Kenny picket would hit a deep ball to George Pickins or there'd be like something good here or there in certain games we're like Okay can they build upon that in the next game can they show that that's a consistent that that could be a bread and butter and then it never happened whatever they found it success for in in earlier games wasn't success in later games and if they were if they found any success in later games it was something completely else and just showed you there was no continuity there was no uh no consistent momentum there was no you know kind of progress that you could just track like okay they're getting there they're getting there now they're there I think that that is something that's going to happen with this Arthur Smith offense over time just by judging what they're trying to do the way they're organizing things it's not going to come they're not going to come out firing out the gate and dropping 50 points on the on the Falcons in week one but I think this is an offense that they might drop like you know 20 to 25 in most of their games you know they'll probably have some Clunkers here and there but I think by like midseason if guys are healthy and they are making the progress they're expected to make then I think that by then you see this offense uh this offensive line and this offense as a whole showing their progress and then having things that they built into their offense that are bread and butter plays and then things that build off those bread and butter plays play were like hey you know there's this one run where you know uh you know sealo pulls and you know and gets to the right Gap and brck Jones blocks well and uh and Zack Fraser is getting linebackers at second level you know that play right there that's what they like to do and defens is circle okay we can't let them get this run play going because when they do Naji Harris Jaylen War are tough but then you have a play you have play action or multiple play action looks that are built off of said run playay those are the things I think are coming with Arthur Smith's offense and we have to see it happen but just based off of what I've seen in practice what I've seen in preseason I think that this offense is a lot more likely to find those answers down the road than what we saw for Matt Canada's offense but still got a long way to go before we get to any of that bottom line is the offense made progress in in this in this preseason game defensive line looks nasty and we still got to see who's going to be fully healthy ready for week one in two weeks when the Steelers take on the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta on on that Sunday two Sundays from now if you're well if you're watching yeah if you're watching this um Sunday I guess it is too Sunday from now but it's getting closer and closer week one's almost here we'll still be getting you ramped up all week long I'll be at practice at the Steelers facility this week as they get ready for their final week before week one officially starts we'll get you up-to-dated with all all those all that things here on the locked on Steelers podcast thanks so much for tuning into the locked on Steelers podcast this has been your postgame reaction show here from the locked on Steelers podcast I'm your host Chris Carter follow me on Twitter and Instagram at cter critiques read my work at the Pittsburgh Post cazette postgazette.com find me here on the lock on Steelers podcast every day Monday through Friday breaking down your Pittsburgh Steelers right here on the lockdown Steelers podcast we'll see you Monday with a full new episode ready to go then [Music] [Music]