Alex Highsmith

The same secondary that blows coverage just about every game, if they didn't blow coverage and let Hollywood Brown get that late TD, the game against the Ravens wouldn't have that close.

 

I'll see what you have to say when the next man up is recording 6-10 sacks next year. He could be something special & give us 13+.

 

my bad. You are correct. He has played many though. He won't be new to the field.

 

True.


This is not even accounting if COVID-19 be fully controlled enough by then either. Hopefully it is.

 

I disagree.


Bud was a freak athlete coming out who was tailor made for a 3-4 Defense. He could have not gotten into a better team in Pittsburgh. For that matter, had he stayed fully healthy for his 2016 Season, we are likely having a different discussion about his future with the team. He was showcasing great strides in his development during the first two weeks of the 2016 Season before getting hurt.

 

Agreed. He showed flashes before last season and injuries derailed his progress more than once.

I certainly hope that Highsmith can step in and do a great job. He isn't as athletic as Dupree and I doubt he will be great in coverage any time soon, but I certainly think he can be a productive part of the pass rush. The one thing that helps ease this loss as compared to the Bush injury is that I think Highsmith is a better player than Spillane.

 

https://triblive.com/sports/four-do...eelers-best-pass-rusher-but-he-was-very-good/

Here is a little more information about what Bud Dupree did through 11 games this season. He was seventh in the NFL in sacks. His 17 quarterback hits had him 17th in the league. His eight tackles for a loss had him tied for 16th. Pro Football Focus has him leading the NFL in pressures from the blind side.

 

We have plenty of pass rush to make up for him. We just deal with what we have. It is what it is. I'm at least glad Highsmith has been playing a good bit so far.

 

Honestly and maybe this is just hopium I really believe Alex is up for the task at hand. Going after the QB does seem to be his forte. I remember however people complaining about Bud until the last two years.

 

I was always a defender of Dupree. He always had a lot of talent, but he was just inconsistent. He finally "got it" in his contract year last year, and has proven this year that it wasn't a fluke. He's a good player.

With that being said, I do believe that a lot of his success is garnered from playing opposite one of (if not the best) pass rushing OLB's in the game right now in Watt. Can Dupree be "the guy" when he is the best rusher on the team, and the guy that opposing offenses scheme around? That remains to be seen. I do not want to discount Dupree as a player, since I do think he is a good OLB in this league... however, he has greatly benefitted from the play of Watt, Tuitt, and Heyward. Highsmith will also be benefitting from their play as well, and because of that he should put up decent numbers filling in. Highsmith was always going to be the guy to replace Dupree, it just so happens that he will have to 8 games too early. We will miss Dupree, but we have a capable player behind him and he is surrounded by one of the best front 7's in the league right now. If we can find a way to keep the rest of our guys healthy, I'm sure we will be JUST FINE.

 

Highsmith comes into the perfect situation...…. not only did he come into his rookie yr. with a polished set of pass rush moves already, he comes in with blocking focus on TJ Watt and Stephon Tuitt across from him and Cam Heyward in front of him, not to mention the blitzing prowess of Vince Williams and Mike Hilton...…. no one (least of all Washington) will be able to zero in on him...….

 

I think there will be some drop off but hopefully not too much.

The biggest difference I see is Butler has been giving him a few snaps all season so Highsmith will be ready.

If I had one problem with LeBeau it was he didn't put much trust in rookies and most never saw the field other than special teams.

Woodley was an exception but most hardly played in their first two years, unless they were 1st rd picks.

 

Where's Bud? Just kidding, i like Dupree.

 

butler has some shinny new toys he will be playing with now.

 

Barring injury, budding Superstar.

 

Some of us last year said Highsmith just needed to get stronger. He sure looks like he did what he should of did in the offseason. Great potential this season and onward.

 

Highsmith is a hard worker, a smart and natural born leader with great character, truly a role model on and off the field. Its so great to see a guy of his caliber on this team. He will be our next linebacker who makes a name for himself here in Pittsburgh, mark my words.

 

Nice to have Ingram for depth, but Highsmith has the higher potential. Both are nice tandems to Watt.

 

I really like their LB depth this season after the additions of Joe Schobert and Mel Ingram. I really believe Alex Highsmith will be a star in this league. Then they lock up T.J. long term. This group has what it takes to terrorize opposing QB's.

 

Right now, Ingram is the better player. He certainly still looks like the guy who made the Pro Bowl three times. He just needs to stay healthy and the three-man rotation should work very well for one year. I imagine next season, Ingram will be gone and Highsmith will be in there full time opposite Watt.

 

Let’s face it, anyone lining up on the other side of Watt is going to be good.

 

It's just common sense that a productive and more experienced player could teach younger and lesser experienced players a thing or two regardless if those players are better.

I'm certain that Ingram can learn from Watt and Highsmith. Especially when it's in regard to Steelers coaches, scheme, and defensive philosophy.

But some folks here would have us believe otherwise, I've lived life long enough to know better.

 

That's not true when considering that LT's are generally better than RT's in the NFL for an obvious reason.