Steelers Have New Rising Standout on the Defensive Line

PITTSBURGH — It’s time for Keeanu Benton. The Steelers rookie defensive tackle is set to see an increase in his playing opportunities, according to defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. After being thrown to the wolves following Cam Heyward’s groin injury, Benton has played just 36 percent of defensive snaps so far this year. However, that seems to be on track to change. Playing 29 snaps against the Texans, Benton could see even more snaps, and Austin is confident that he can handle a bigger load on his plate at this point.

“I’ll say this first and foremost he absolutely has the gas tank to do it,” Austin said. “That was one of the more impressive things watching him on college tape as a 300-plus-pounder where he would play over 80 percent of the snaps, and he played hard and he ran hard the entire time. So, I don’t worry about his conditioning. I think he’s obviously grown as a young player, and he’s gotten more snaps, and he’s gotten better as he’s gotten more snaps. I anticipate that’s his role growing as well.”

For where Benton stands on the hierarchy of defensive linemen before this game, he appears to be fourth. Had DeMarvin Leal not suffered a concussion, he certainly would have ended up lower on that list. Larry Ogunjobi and Montravius Adams ended up at the top, but with Benton’s continued impact each down, it’s hard to say he should not be the guy playing the most snaps on the defensive line.

Benton’s run defense translates perfectly from his days at Wisconsin. Under defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, the run game’s stunts, run gap responsibilities, and general assignments are essentially 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 to handle that more significant load. Even Cam Heyward has loved seeing what the young guy can do on the sideline.

“Man, he’s just got great hands. He’s got more of a feel for the game,” Heyward said. “Mistakes he was making in the preseason, those have been eradicated. I think he feels a lot more comfortable. I loved when I first saw him in preseason, I caught him glaring up in the stands. It’s a different feeling in an NFL game. I thought he really settled down and he is ready for the fight.”

Ogunjobi and Adams both logged north of 35 snaps. In Week 5 against the Ravens, it should be little surprise if Benton ends up jumping up to that mark and sets a career-high for snaps, especially because he is playing more than just nose tackle at this point in the season.