Steelers DC Shoots Down Big Ben’s Advice to Joey Porter Jr.

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers have big things to worry about, but the small things can count in big ways. Earlier this week, Ben Roethlisberger gave some advice to Joey Porter Jr. on how to clean up some holding penalties, and it all had to do with the color of his gloves.

Porter’s length and grabbiness make him a frustrating player at times. He got called for his 12th penalty on Saturday, a holding call near the top of the league. But Porter’s length and aggressiveness are what makes him great. Honestly, you live with the penalties to bring out the dog in him that makes him fit for these types of matchups.

Porter often wears gloves that stick out from his uniform. Against the Bengals, he wore stark gold gloves compared to his black jersey. With the Bengals wearing bright white jerseys, veterans like Patrick Peterson wore white gloves to give them advantages. That could be a veteran move that Porter learns in his career, and something he has to make as an adjustment.

“He’s a physical football player. He gets his hands on people. And so I love that they just let him play,” Roethlisberger said on his podcast, Footbahlin. “He’s playing as well as any rookie, not just (a) corner, but rookie in this league. … He’s playing really well. (He) should get some definite consideration for Rookie of the Year…. But he should put the same-colored gloves on as the opposing jersey. He wore those bright yellow gloves, and it just sticks out like a sore thumb.”

But Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin wants to see Porter just clean up his technique instead of focusing on cheats to reinforce bad technique.

“I’m more focused on us playing clean and playing good football than trying to hide some other stuff. I didn’t see it and –but that’s not what we are focused on,” Austin said.

Secondary coach Grady Brown has challenged him to get better from all of that. He needs to improve. But where it stands right now, Porter’s a young player looking to grow his game in the best manner. Using his best attributes and accommodating what he does is the best way.

Those gloves are a move that many veterans use anyway. But that does not mean Porter should do it to reinforce poor technique. He is a highly penalized cornerback, and trying to mitigate those penalties needs to continue to be a focus of his.