When the Pittsburgh Steelers take the field in Week 7, they will face a New Orleans Saints team desperate to keep pace in the NFC South race. At 2-4, the Saints sit 1.5 games behind first place. The Steelers face a similar challenge in the AFC North, where every team has a winning record. With a brutal second-half schedule looming, Pittsburgh needs to capitalize on every opportunity to pick up a win. That means finding an advantage in every matchup possible.
This week, the Steelers have an X-factor who is heating up at the right time: Nick Herbig. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has deployed Herbig in a variety of roles, lining him up off the ball, on the edge, and at other spots along the defensive front. His versatility could make him a difference-maker against a Saints offensive line that has struggled at several positions.
Herbig Coming Off Season-Best Performance
Herbig logged a season-high 35 snaps as an edge rusher in the Steelers’ Week 6 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before that game, he had spent considerable time moving around Pittsburgh’s defensive front seven. Against Tampa Bay, however, Herbig got more opportunities to do what the Steelers invested in him to do during the offseason: rush the quarterback. He responded with two sacks and multiple stops against the run.
Herbig’s breakout performance comes at an ideal time. With Alex Highsmith limited during portions of practice this week, Herbig could see a much larger role than initially anticipated. He has already shown he can handle the added responsibility, and his versatility is a major reason the Steelers invested in keeping him as a key piece of their defense.
Herbig Will Create Matchup Issues
The Saints don’t have the worst offensive line the Steelers have faced this season, but several positions have struggled. According to Pro Football Focus, New Orleans’ offensive linemen rank as follows at their respective positions:
- Left tackle: 72nd out of 74
- Left guard: 43rd out of 77
- Center: Third out of 35
- Right guard: 33rd out of 77
- Right tackle: 60th out of 74
Herbig likely won’t line up directly against Saints center, but he could draw one-on-one matchups against the other linemen depending on his alignment. The offensive tackles, in particular, present opportunities for Herbig to make an impact as a pass rusher.
New Orleans also can’t afford to dedicate two offensive linemen to Herbig on every snap. Doing so would create favorable opportunities for Pittsburgh’s interior defensive linemen and star edge rusher T.J. Watt to exploit their own matchups.
If Herbig can build on his performance against Tampa Bay, he could give the Steelers’ defense another disruptive presence and make life difficult for Saints quarterback Tyler Shough.
Can Herbig capitalize on a massive opportunity in Paris and emerge as Pittsburgh’s X-factor in Week 7?
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