4 takeaways from Steelers 22-24 loss against the Browns
By Tommy Jaggi
Alex Highsmith could be the real deal
Alex Highsmith may have been the most impressive player on either side of the ball for either team in Week 17. Since Bud Dupree went down with a season-ending knee injury back in Week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens, the rookie third-round pick has been thoroughly impressive. It’s not that Highsmith has lit up the box score since becoming a full-time starter; however, he is constantly garnering pressure in the backfield.
His performance in Week 17 was quite arguably the most impressive he had in his rookie season. In a difficult matchup against a very promising up-and-coming offensive tackle in Jedrick Wills, Highsmith got the best of him on a handful of plays. As a result, he recorded 9 tackles, 1.0 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and one tackle for a loss against Cleveland.
Though Alex Highsmith managed just 2.0 sacks during his rookie season, the film suggests that he has been much more impressive than his box score numbers would indicate. Highsmith is fast off the edge with impressive dip and bend to go with a variety of pass rush moves. He has given us plenty of reason to believe he could be T.J. Watt’s counterpart for years to come.