Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig

Best player is always the one that is on the bench....

 

Same.

 

For now, exactly the same here.

 

I'm not turning on him but he's not above criticism he has gone the last 5 games without a sack.

 

These 2 have to step up big in Ravens game as do Ilb's King Henry is coming.

 

Right but not long ago Highsmith and his lack of production were the focal point and now he's upped his game. It's cyclical sometimes because none of these guys are world beaters like Watt was, Parsons or Garrett. Maybe the expectations get too high sometimes.

 

Geez, until reading some of the posts here, I hadn't realized that Herbig was the first defender ever to drop an easy int.

 

Yep.

There aren't too many backup edge players that have made as many big plays as he has. There are sometimes when you just have to accept that a good player simply missed an opportunity. He will make more big plays when he gets more opportunities.

Steelers fans expect perfection from players and say things about a young player that just aren't fair. The fact that the defense is playing well without Watt and Herbig being a big part of that shows that it has been a smart move to keep quality depth at the edge position and it shows he can play at a high level. Insinuating that he isn't very good and is worthless is just an ignorant take by fans that are never happy and just look to blame everything on one player that happened on a single play.

 

I'm a fan of him, and believe we haven't seen the best of him yet.

 

What other plays did he make in that game? Not many, and none with a big impact. Herbig isn't consistent enough and he hasn't made big plays during Watt's absence. It isn't just that he missed an opportunity in Cleveland. It was an easy opportunity, a softly-lobbed throw. It is a play any linebacker should make.

He got plenty of opportunities in the two games he was able to play while Watt was out. Highsmith stepped up big time. Herbig, not so much.

 

Herbig has been dealing with a hammy since Wk15. Maybe doesn't show on the injury report but that can be a huge hit to the game for a guy that depends on his twitch with his get-off. And it's not like Highsmith has been Mr Reliable during his career.

 

I'm not talking about this specific game. He has made a ton of plays as a backup player over the course of his young career. What does this last game have to do with his overall performance. He was listed on the injury report, so he has obviously been dealing with something.

One dropped interception doesn't mean anything. Nearly every player has done it at some point. The fact that he put himself in that position and was able to break on the ball in coverage should be the takeaway. The interceptions will come when you put yourself in position to make plays. That's how it works.

Do you think Troy Polamalu caught every interception that hit him in the hands? Jack Lambert? Jack Hamm? James Harrison? James Farrior?

I can answer that. Of course they didn't.

Nobody in the history of football makes every play. They all miss some easy ones.

You are also comparing him to Highsmith. Highsmith is the starter and making a boatload of money. Don't compare the two that way over one play or two games. It's not a fair comparison.

Alex Highsmith's salary is $17,000,000 per year.

Nick Herbig's salary is $1,128,230 per year.

Highsmith is the more disappointing player based on performance vs salary. Highsmith had a big season in 2022 with 14.5 sacks, but has had pedestrian numbers since. All this while TJ Watt has been getting chipped, doubled, and sometimes even three players are allocated to stopping him.

Highsmith has started 12 games this season. He has 8.5 sacks, 13 TFL, 1 FF, 0 fumble rec, 0 INT, 2 PD, 18 QB hits

Herbig has started 6 games this season. Herbig has 6.5 sacks, 12 TFL, 3FF, 1 fumble rec, 1 INT, 3 PD, 17 QB hits

Your argument doesn't really hold up. Herbig has made as many or more big plays in less snaps.

 

You can never have too many LBs!

 

The entire point of the thread is to compare Highsmith and Herbig, so yeah, I'm comparing them. I'm not doing on a curve, either, like you just did. I'm grading the play on the field, not their contracts.

Highsmith is frustratingly inconsistent and injury-prone, but he is the better player. He plays a more complete game, and he stepped up over the last half of the season while Herbig largely disappeared.

 

Alex is our team nomination for the Walter Payton Man of the Year.

 

When a sport operates under a salary cap, everything is graded on a curve.

If you're going to compare DK Metcalf to Pickens and mention how much more money Metcalf makes in your arguments, you can't ignore the money factor and what spending that much less money for a player allows you to do with the overall roster strength. You can't use that argument somewhere else and then say it doesn't apply here.

Again, if you look at all the stats of both players and can't easily see that Herbig is a GREAT, not good, GREAT backup player that can be more than that...so be it. That's his role with the team. If you're disappointed in that....oh well. He has made more big plays than Highsmith with less playing time on a rookie contract.

Your argument doesn't hold water. The only thing Highsmith is clearly better is that he is stronger against the run at this point. Herbig is quicker and more athletic, while still being better in coverage and he creates more big plays per snap and creates more turnovers.

 

You are ignoring two factors to make your argument. One is the purpose of the two discussions are different. In this case, I was simply comparing the two players. The argument that the team wouldn’t lose much moving on from Highsmith to Herbig is what doesn’t hold water. People harp on Highsmith’s injuries, but ignore that Herbig has also had difficulty staying healthy, especially when he is called upon to start. Herbig makes big plays, but he doesn’t create consistent pressure the way Highsmith does. He is also a liability against the run while Highsmith is not.

You are also ignoring that Herbig started the season fast, then largely disappeared while Highsmith stepped up and played like the best defender on the team over the past month.

The other discussion was a comparison of the choice between keeping Pickens or trading for Metcalf was the better option, so the context of the two trades matters. I did mention money, but only as a small part of the larger argument.

 

Just be glad we have both at this time.

The modern day warrior has shown he belongs as well.

Arguing about who is better, the most complete, the better run stopper or the better pass rusher, who is off injured mean s### right now.

All hands on deck.

 

It would be interesting to pull the stats for Herbig on the following:

right side vs left side
Starter vs super sub

I have a theory that Herbig is a jolt of electricity off the bench but struggles as a starter. But I don’t know if that’s actually true.

 

You can't just say salary doesn't matter in one comparison, and not in another. That's nonsense.

I never said that the team wouldn't lose much moving on from Highsmith. I never mentioned that aspect of it. You are putting words in my mouth that I never said and are trying to make the discussion about that. I in no way talked about that in my initial response to you that started this discussion between us.

Since you are now talking about the team trading Highsmith and keeping Herbig, the conversation would be precisely about play versus salary. I don't know where you are trying to go with this. You are kind of jumping all over the place trying to dictate the terms of the discussion.

Your arguments about consistency also don't make any sense. The two players have similar stats, but Highsmith has them over more starts and snaps. That is the definition of a player being less consistent if you do the math.

I'm not trying to be confrontational. I'm simply commenting on your initial post that I quoted in this thread. The stats part of it speaks for itself.

 

these 2 and the healed one will be on milk cartons

again

 

Or DBs