These Steelers are on the team’s nice list after this season
By Andrew Falce
Alex Highsmith has taken his game to the next level
Many were hyping a potential breakout season from Alex Highsmith last year following his promotion to starter and his incredible training camp. It never happened though, as the early portion of the year was pretty disappointing, and his play was lacking. He had a strong finish to the year though and looked good heading into year three.
He has taken off this year in a major way and has become one of the best defenders that this team has. He has posted double-digit sacks for the first time in his career. He has also more consistently set the edge and played well against the run. His biggest strength is his array of pass-rush moves though, as he wins off the edge in a variety of ways.
Does he benefit from playing along a line with T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward? Of course, but that doesn’t mean that Highsmith isn’t having a great year. Outside of the two names mentioned before, Highsmith is the only player consistently generating pressure for this defense. It has yielded a huge season for him, and Steelers fans should be thrilled with the play they have gotten out of him.
Related Story. These Steelers are on the team's naughty list this season. light
This season hasn’t played out like many people hoped it would, but the despite the Steelers struggles, they have seen some exceptional play from some players. In particular, these five players have all stepped up to the plate this season and developed into critical options this team can depend on. Because of this, they are easily on the team’s nice list this Holiday season.