Steelers’ Alex Highsmith more comfortable in Year 2, comfortable sharing time

As defensive coordinator Keith Butler was speaking to media from UPMC Rooney Sports Complex after the second practice of training camp late last week, only a handful of players were still working on the fields behind him.

Among that dwindling group, there was perhaps only one player who is locked into a guaranteed roster spot: second-year outside linebacker Alex Highsmith.

“That’s what he is,” Butler said. “He is easy to coach. A real easy guy to coach. Got a great attitude. I wish I had 11 like him.”

The question regarding Highsmith, though, is will he even be among the 11 men the Steelers have on the field most often while on defense?

With the signing of veteran Melvin Ingram last week, the Steelers have what appear to be three starting edge rushers for only two spots. After making it through free agency and the draft, organized team activities and minicamp as the unquestioned starter at right outside linebacker opposite T.J. Watt, Highsmith’s status as a “starter” could be in limbo.

Has Highsmith been given any indications by coaches of what the outside linebacker playing-time share might look like?

“I just know it’s gonna be a good one,” Highsmith said after practice Sunday. “All three of us definitely feel like we will be a force to be reckoned with.

“I am just excited to be able to work with both (Ingram) and T.J. this year. It’s gonna be awesome.”

As a third-round pick from a mid-major college program (Charlotte) in a year in which the coronavirus pandemic limited camp and eliminated preseason game reps, Highsmith exceeded most every expectation as a rookie.

Among the 127 edge defenders who played at least 212 defensive snaps last season, Pro Football Focus graded Highsmith 27th. That was well ahead of the man he replaced as a starter over the final five games of the 2020 season, Bud Dupree (80th).

Highsmith was a regular rotational part of the defense — in addition to being a core member of the special teams — right from the opener of his rookie season. After Dupree suffered a torn ACL during a Dec. 2 game, Highsmith took over at right outside linebacker and played about 90% of the Steelers defensive snaps the rest of the season.

In playing 43% of the 2020 snaps overall, Highsmith finished with 48 tackles (30 solo, five for loss), two sacks, six QB hits and an interception. According to PFF, among 217 pass-rush snaps, Highsmith managed 21 total “pressures.”

“As the year went by last year, especially those last five games … I felt the more and more I played, the slower the game got for me,” Highsmith said. “So that’s what I am excited for this year as well, because I know that the more reps that I get, the game will slow down for me.

“I feel like I am only going to get better from here, so that’s just the mindset and the confidence that I have this year. I know I had a great offseason. I put the work in.”

Highsmith got engaged over the offseason, just like Watt did. He, of course, isn’t expected to approach the level of play of Watt, who has finished among the top three in AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting each of the past two seasons.

But it’s clear that Highsmith quickly earned the trust of Steelers coaches, and his five-game late-season audition as an every-down player was passable enough that the organization could feel comfortable letting Dupree walk in free agency while not immediately signing anyone from the outside to replace him. The Steelers then didn’t prioritize outside linebacker in the draft, not taking one until the sixth round (Quincy Roche).

While the late-summer signing of Ingram threw cold water on the prospect of Highsmith playing every down, it’s obvious the Steelers like him enough that he’ll be a significant part of the defense.

Highsmith appears to have endeared himself to Ingram, too. While playing for the Los Angeles Chargers, Ingram openly opined that he and Joey Bosa were the NFL’s best pass-rushing duo. Saturday, he was asked how he’d rate the tandem of Watt and himself, a pairing that has combined for six Pro Bowl berths.

“The best,” Turner said. “(But) don’t forget about 5-6 (Highsmith), either.”

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