The Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin noted that changes would come to the Steelers. One of those changes appears to be that standout rookie defensive tackle Keeanu Benton is now listed as a starter alongside DeMarvin Leal. He has been granted the ‘or’ label alongside Leal on the depth chart, meaning that not only is the team viewing Benton as more than just a nose tackle at this point but that he should be in line for more snaps.
According to Pro Football Focus, Bneton was the best defender for the team on Sunday, grading out the highest out of anyone. That’s not surprising, as Benton’s pass rush potential with his elite frame and great burst have flashed consistently throughout his career. Benton lacks some polish and has some stinker reps, but that’s expected with a rookie. Mike Tomlin has liked what he has seen from the rookie and the flashes he has shown.
“He’s doing really well, but again like in a lot of circumstances oftentimes a rookie’s opportunities are not born out of what it is they do, more about what’s going on around him,” Tomlin said. “With Cam Heyward being out since week one that’s provided more of a platform for him than others and I think he’s done a really good job with it. He’s getting better with each outing, and I think it’s reasonable to expect that to continue.”
For Benton, the leap is not too giant. He was forced to sink or swim right away with the injury to Hayward, and while many others on the defensive line sunk, he has not. Expect Benton to take a leap the more he plays, and to play a lot right away given the team’s needs on the interior of the defensive line.
Benton’s run defense translates perfectly from his days at Wisconsin. Under defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, the stunts, run gap responsibilities, and general assignments in the run game are largely the same. The most significant difference is that the Steelers will give Benton those chances to pin his ears back and rush the passer. He has some go-to moves, like his club-swim move, that he loves to utilize. Expect Benton to get more and more snaps, and the Steelers will test how much of a gas tank Benton has in order to handle that bigger load.