Steelers OLB Nick Herbig Credits Mike Tomlin for His Success
Despite dealing with injuries and not being a full-time starter, Pittsburgh Steelers second-year outside linebacker Nick Herbig is making a name for himself this season. According to Next Gen Stats, his 21.1% pressure rate leads the team through 13 weeks, over half of his 31 total pressures on the season have come in the form of quick pressures, those that occur in less than 2.5 seconds.
Herbig’s game-changing strip sack on Joe Burrow in Sunday’s win took 2:31 seconds from sack to fumble, per Next Gen Stats. That’s the third-fastest sack in the league this season. It was also Herbig’s third straight game with a forced fumble.
Herbig’s four forced fumbles are tied for second-most in the NFL this season, behind only teammate T.J. Watt’s five. He credits Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin for building a defensive culture in Pittsburgh, which has laid the foundation for his success.
“(T.J. Watt) leads the league in forced fumbles since he’s been in the league,” Herbig said. “That’s the culture that Coach Tomlin has built and these guys have laid the foundation for younger guys like me.”
The first episode of “Hard Knocks” showcased that Tomlin prepared Herbig for Sunday’s game-altering play.
“Herbig, we gotta lay it on the ground this week,” Tomlin told him at the team meeting.
Tomlin greeted Herbig once he got off the field after his strip sack that resulted in a 21-yard scoop and score by Payton Wilson.
“I’m not gonna act surprised. I’m not gonna act surprised,” Tomlin said. “That’s what you brought here to do. Let’s not act surprised. This ain’t a lightning strike, man. You built for this. You built for this.”
This is only the beginning for Herbig. He could be the next star outside linebacker in Pittsburgh.
“I love it when a plan comes together,” Tomlin said. “It feels good, don’t it?”
Preparation. And Mike Tomlin calls Nick Herbig’s strip sack vs Bengals. Beautiful. #Steelers #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/6XpudRzRh0
— David Todd (@DavidMTodd) December 4, 2024
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