Steelers-Eagles Game Will Be a Georgia Bulldog Reunion
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith joked on Thursday that between the number of former Georgia Bulldogs on the Steelers offense and Philadelphia Eagles defense, this Sunday will look like a 2022 Georgia spring practice.
Mammoth Eagles defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis and linebackers Nolan Smith and Nakobe Dean all starred at Georgia. For the Steelers, the former Bulldogs are right tackle Broderick Jones, tight end Darnell Washington and wide receiver George Pickens. Pickens (hamstring) is considered doubtful to play, however.
“Philly has invested a lot. I don’t know. It’s between the Steelers and the Eagles who is trying to post more players out of Athens, Georgia right now,” Smith said. “Darnell [Washington] up on the right next to Broderick [Jones], it’s going to look like a 2022 Georgia spring practice. That’s a credit to Kirby Smart and that program. He’s got a lot of players. Obviously, Jalen Carter, a disruptive force inside. He was that way coming out. He can flash, take over a game. Obviously, Jordan Davis inside. [Milton] Williams is playing well. Nolan [Smith] and [Josh] Sweat and Nakobe [Dean]. Then [Zack] Baun is another guy. You talk about a guy taking advantage of an expanded role. Really good football player. He can rush, he can play behind the ball. Seen him at a previous top where he was more of a teams guy. He’s taken a starting job and became one of the more impactful linebackers in the league. It’s what you want. You don’t want things to be easy. If we want to get where we want to go, we have to get through these challenges. Exciting to go on the road and play these two teams with this kind of record. Across the state. We’re fired up for it.”
Jones looks forward to facing his former college teammates on Sunday, but he’s treating it like it’s any other game.
“Not really. It’s a prideful game for sure. But I don’t look at it like that,” Jones said when asked if there’s school pride on the line on Sunday. “I just try to go week-by-week, game-by-game. Just try to execute to the best my ability, no matter who’s on the other side of me. Like Coach T say, Nameless gray faces. I just try to keep that mindset.”
The Eagles have one of the best offensive and defensive lines in the NFL. It’s no secret that Sunday’s game will have to be won in the trenches.
“Physicality plays a big part in this game,” Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward said. “We have to make sure we win the line of scrimmage. In this type of game, everybody knows about the highfliers on both sides of the ball, but if you can’t win the line of scrimmage, you’re not gonna win this game.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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