Alex Highsmith

[teegre]

The elephant in the room is whether or not Highsmith can replace Dupree.

As much as some of you will still be derisive about Dupree (“It’s easy to get dong sacks when going up against shoddy left tackles”)... Dupree was a force. Not just his pass rush, but his run-stuffing ability. He rarely let a RB get past him.

So... Highsmith.

PASS-RUSH: Some of you may already know this, but it bears iteration: the kid has an uncanny number of pass-rush moves for a rookie. Brian Baldinger did a piece on Highsmith before the draft, as well as another few little clips this season... highlighting Highsmith’s pass-rush moves. Just last week, Highsmith used a “ghost rush”, which is something that very few players utilize (TJ Watt and Von Miller are two of the few who use it).

Summation: There won’t a drop off in pass rush. (Not because “Dupree sucks”, but because Highsmith is highly capable.)

RUN-STUFFING: Throughout the past few weeks, several people (not Baldinger, but commentators of that ilk) have posted clips where they analyze Highsmith’s ability to defend the run. In one play against Dallas, Highsmith swiped the pulling guard out of the way (yes, Highsmith used his pass-rush skills to not let the guard block him) and made the TFL.

Summation: I do not foresee much of a drop off. I know that I have been extremely high on Highsmith; so, I might have my blinders on. That said, other analysts are seeing the same things.


Your thoughts...

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Highsmith has more pass rush moves than Dupree did in his 3rd year in the NFL, but Highsmith does not have the same first step or explosive athletecism Dupree has, to get around the edge, or pursue the play from the backside. Result- downgraded play.

Vs. the run, Highsmith has not had a full year in an NFL strength and conditioning program to be strong enough to set the edge in the run game. You mention hilights of him swiping the pulling guard out of the way...I think that is a likely tactic from a guy that knows he isnt strong enough to set an edge in the run game effectively. Result- downgrade to Dupree.

I like Highsmith and feel better with him as a pass rusher than Adeni, but he will still be a downgrade from Dupree and I think we will see more of Jayrone Elliott and Adenyi rotating in throughout the games from here on out at OLB.

[pczach]

The elephant in the room is whether or not Highsmith can replace Dupree.

As much as some of you will still be derisive about Dupree (“It’s easy to get dong sacks when going up against shoddy left tackles”)... Dupree was a force. Not just his pass rush, but his run-stuffing ability. He rarely let a RB get past him.

So... Highsmith.

PASS-RUSH: Some of you may already know this, but it bears iteration: the kid has an uncanny number of pass-rush moves for a rookie. Brian Baldinger did a piece on Highsmith before the draft, as well as another few little clips this season... highlighting Highsmith’s pass-rush moves. Just last week, Highsmith used a “ghost rush”, which is something that very few players utilize (TJ Watt and Von Miller are two of the few who use it).

Summation: There won’t a drop off in pass rush. (Not because “Dupree sucks”, but because Highsmith is highly capable.)

RUN-STUFFING: Throughout the past few weeks, several people (not Baldinger, but commentators of that ilk) have posted clips where they analyze Highsmith’s ability to defend the run. In one play against Dallas, Highsmith swiped the pulling guard out of the way (yes, Highsmith used his pass-rush skills to not let the guard block him) and made the TFL.

Summation: I do not foresee much of a drop off. I know that I have been extremely high on Highsmith; so, I might have my blinders on. That said, other analysts are seeing the same things.


Your thoughts...

I really like Highsmith's ability to rush the passer. He is advanced with multiple moves and has excellent hand usage for a young player. I think he will make plays in passing situations when rushing the passer. He has also shown an ability to operate in space in coverage, which is also very important and allows the team to remain versatile in scheme and how they use him. They won't have to change anything within the defense to protect him in the passing game.

I believe how he will hold up against the run is yet to be determined. It is the one question I have about him. He clearly has the hands, quickness, and ability to penetrate to make plays. What I really don't know is how he will hold up against a power running game, where it will be coming right him, and he will need to engage blockers and not avoid them. I am a little concerned that he can be worn down because he isn't a really big guy, and he just appears to be a typical rookie that needs to add some weight and a full offseason of real NFL diet and conditioning where I would like to see him be able to add 10-15 lbs, get much stronger, and keep his quickness.

I have high hopes for the kid, but sometimes you just don't know until you see them get into the fight. He has been getting action on both sides coming in for Watt and Dupree, and he has made plays and looked really solid when on the field.

The Ravens used Za'Darius Smith in a similar way. He wasn't an every-down player and was more of a pass rush specialist. Since then, he put on some weight and got stronger with his new team to be a more complete player. They aren't carbon copies, but that is my comp in this situation in what I see in him and what he may be capable of and how he was used by his team.

Obviously, Highsmith is being asked to handle a lot as a rookie if they decide to install him as the full-time starter for Dupree. The other option is for the team to start one of the other, more experienced players, and keep Highsmith as the guy that comes off the bench to spell both edge players and keep his role the same. We will find out tomorrow.

I really like what I've seen from him so far. If he can hold up consistently against the run, they have their future player at OLB.

I am hoping you nailed your draft crush! If you did, this team is in great shape going forward because this current draft class looks to be outstanding. If Claypool, Highsmith, and Dotson are the homeruns they appear to be, great things will follow.

[Shoes]

I really like him and don't expect a drop off either. He was a R3 pick but I think he will develop quicker than Bud. Here's hoping the Steelers R3 pick is steal of the 2020 draft!

https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/li...watt-nfl-2020/

[Mojouw]

Highsmith has more pass rush moves than Dupree did in his 3rd year in the NFL, but Highsmith does not have the same first step or explosive athletecism Dupree has, to get around the edge, or pursue the play from the backside. Result- downgraded play.

Vs. the run, Highsmith has not had a full year in an NFL strength and conditioning program to be strong enough to set the edge in the run game. You mention hilights of him swiping the pulling guard out of the way...I think that is a likely tactic from a guy that knows he isnt strong enough to set an edge in the run game effectively. Result- downgrade to Dupree.

I like Highsmith and feel better with him as a pass rusher than Adeni, but he will still be a downgrade from Dupree and I think we will see more of Jayrone Elliott and Adenyi rotating in throughout the games from here on out at OLB.

This is where my head goes right away as well. Less of a physical specimen (the movement skills Dupree has for his size are way out there in the "freakish outlier" section of the graph) and no way a guy from Outer Nowhere State is as strong and well conditioned as an NFL veteran.

The more Highsmith plays the better he will get. But the more he plays, the more his current flaws and inexperience will be exposed. That will hurt in the short run and be an incredible benefit to the player and the team as soon as 2021.

[Rotorhead]

I disagree on Dupree in run support, watch every long run on his side and it is due to him failing to set the edge. This is the biggest flaw to his game IMO, he allows the RB to get outside far too much. Highsmith may not have Dupree’d athletic ability, but if he can simply set the edge and funnel the RB inside better than Dupree, it should be fine. I don’t think there will be much of a drop off, but there won’t be that backside pursuit that Dupree can do.

[Mojouw]

Everyone on here consistently tells me that Dupree fails to set the edge. But for his entire career, teams have gained significantly more yards running away from Dupree's side. Further, almost every Steelers focused breakdowns I come across trip all over themselves lauding Dupree's run defense.

[Rotorhead]

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying Dupree is bad, but the weakest part of his game is his lapses in setting the edge. Every time I see a big run on his side, it is because he failed to set the edge. It only happens a couple times a game, but when it happens we get gashed for big gains. I will take those lapses with everything else he brings.

[EzraTank]

I still would feel better if we signed a guy like Clay Matthews to finish this year (if he's interested in playing) just to have another body should someone else go down. Heck you could put him in on 3rd and long only or not at all.

[tube517]

I'm good w/Highsmith. Remember we had ChickFilA as the primary backup last year.

But they rotate a lot now and I'm not too comfortable w/the Toledo dudes only as the backups.

The thing is, I don't think they will bring someone in this late in the season due to the "complex" scheme but what do I know.

[EzraTank]

I'm good w/Highsmith. Remember we had ChickFilA as the primary backup last year.

But they rotate a lot now and I'm not too comfortable w/the Toledo dudes only as the backups.

The thing is, I don't think they will bring someone in this late in the season due to the "complex" scheme but what do I know.

Yeah that's why I brought up Matthews. The defense they played in GB was a lot like ours because of Don Capers. Plus if you're just asking Matthews to come in and rush the passer from an edge I don't think that's too complicated.

[Fire Goodell]

HighDong DongSmith

[tube517]

HighDong DongSmith

Ola Adongyeni
Oladong
Olaqwertydong
JayDong Elliott

[DesertSteel]

Highsmith gets a strip sack today.

- - - Updated - - -

er... strip dong

[DesertSteel]

Today is the official passing of the dong.

[Iron Steeler]

Highsmith making Bud Dupree look real valuable now

[EzraTank]

Nonexistent today. Sign Clay Matthews if he's not 300 lbs.

[Fire Goodell]

We all knew the drop off from Dupree was going to be noticeable. It's what happens when you lose a pro bowl level player

[cubanstogie]

Did he play? Lol I didn’t notice

[steelcityboyz]

Nonexistent today. Sign Clay Matthews if he's not 300 lbs.

If they want to sign Matthews they might as well sign Deebo.

[EzraTank]

If they want to sign Matthews they might as well sign Deebo.

Matthews is 34 years old and had 13 sacks last year. Deebo is 42 and done.

[DesertSteel]

Matthews is 34 years old and had 13 sacks last year. Deebo is 42 and done.

Matthews had 8 sacks last year and hasn't had double digit sacks since 2014.

[teegre]

From what I have read, Highsmith registered 2 pressures in the first half (and I’m not sure how many in the second half). That’s the same as Tuitt and one less than Watt.

Probably not as good as Dupree, but honestly, I was more concerned about the RB coming of the backfield and eating up our ILBs.

[Six Rings]

Highsmith is okay ,but boy did the defense lose a lot of speed once Dupree went out. Tuitt, and Heyward need to play well. We can almost always count on Watt doing something.

[teegre]

I know that the defense got gashed in the second half, but a question...

Was it because of Highsmith?

..or...

Was it because we were without Nelson, Haden, and Spillane?

IMO, it was more about our CBs playing a little more deep (as you would expect with a backup compared to a starter) and the WFT taking advantage of those cushions by sending their RB out to those areas. What hurts worse is that Spillane was out, and as much as I love Bince, on the Logan TD, Bince was 15 yards away.

THAT... is what we need to fix.

[86WARD]

They were putting 2-3 guys at times on Watt and he was still making plays. I think Highsmith did well. He wasnt Dupree good but he wasn’t a liability either.

[SteelMember]

The defensive injuries really stacked against us. "Next man up" is a great mantra for motivation, but when you're down to the 3rd sting ILB, 2nd string OLB and Two 2nd string CB's... that's tough to mask.

[EzraTank]

Matthews had 8 sacks last year and hasn't had double digit sacks since 2014.

My bad, I mixed up he played in 13 games. Still he had his jaw broken, missed a few games and still managed to have 8 sacks. He's clearly not the player he once was but at this point of the season he's probably the best shot at someone that could come in and play. Like I said we could use him on passing downs or not at all, it would just be good to have another body there that has played in our style of defense. Compared to Deebo ... not even close.

[Born2Steel]

Highsmith has 1 start. He did not embarrass himself. I'm ok with bringing in vet depth but I would let this kid play for now.

[EzraTank]

Highsmith has 1 start. He did not embarrass himself. I'm ok with bringing in vet depth but I would let this kid play for now.

Oh I agree, I would bring Matthews in and play him like they have Williamson. Williamson has been backing up/spelling at ILB, but if Spillane is down for multiple games it's sure nice to have Williamson! I'd rather do it now and let Matthews practice into some type of playing shape and if he stinks or can't get it back then you just cut him.