Get to know Panthers’ Week 15 opponent: Steelers’ pass rush features former UNC Charlotte standout
The Carolina Panthers will put interim head coach Steve Wilks’ undefeated home record on the line on Sunday in Week 15 when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers are coming off back-to-back wins for the first time this season. After producing their first road win and winning streak of the campaign, they’ll look to keep the momentum going to catch up in the NFC South division race.
To accomplish that feat, the Panthers will need to best the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are coming off a loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Despite the recent defeat, the Steelers are 3-2 in their past five games, and the Panthers can’t afford to take any team easy down the stretch.
Steelers rookie starting quarterback Kenny Pickett is currently in the league’s concussion protocol, so his status will be worth monitoring this week. If Pickett can’t play, the Steelers will most likely start University of North Carolina alum Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback.
Here are five things worth knowing about the Panthers’ Week 15 opponents — the Steelers — heading into Week 15:
Charlotte alum leads the Steelers’ pass rush
UNC Charlotte alum Alex Highsmith has produced 10 sacks through 13 games this season. In his third season, the Steelers pass rusher has been a standout, even with T.J. Watt on the roster. With Watt battling injuries, Highsmith has been the most consistent pressure guy on the Pittsburgh roster. Along with his double-digit sacks, the former college walk-on has four forced fumbles.
Highsmith, a Wilmington native, was a third-round pick in 2020. He’s joined on the Steelers’ roster by fellow former 49er, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, who is the highest pick in the Charlotte football program’s young history.
Outside of Highsmith, the Steelers don’t have a consistent performer in the pressure department. Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward has five sacks but he’s more of a run-stopper at this point in his career.
Watt has only played in six games this season, producing 2.5 sacks during that span. Watt had a league-leading 22.5 sacks last season and was named the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year.
Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu and right tackle Taylor Moton will have their work cut out for them with Highsmith and Watt. Ekwonu gave up his first sack since Week 2 this past weekend when Seahawks pass rusher Bruce Irvin beat him to the quarterback. Moton also gave up a sack in the game to Darrell Taylor. The bookends need to stay sound in their technique against Pittsburgh, and offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo would be smart to given them occasional help.
Beware of the ballhawks
During Mike Tomlin’s long tenure with the Steelers, the opportunistic secondary has been his trademark. That group continues to endure, even as the Steelers have struggled in other departments.
Through 13 games, the Steelers have produced 14 interceptions, a mark that is tied for second in the league with the Ravens and San Francisco 49ers. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick leads the group with four picks, but cornerback Levi Wallace is just behind him with three interceptions.
While Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold hasn’t turned the ball over yet this season, he does have a career-long tendency of making poor decisions with the ball in the passing game. Darnold will need to continue to play it smart with the ball against the Steelers, or he will face dire consequences.
The quarterback situation is in flux
Pickett sustained a head injury against the Ravens on the first drive of their Week 14 clash. Trubisky took over and threw for 276 yards, a touchdown and 3 interceptions on a 73.1 passer rating.
While Pickett’s status in concussion protocol will be monitored throughout the week, the reality is that neither Pickett nor Trubisky pose a massive threat at quarterback. The pair has combined for eight passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 13 games. They’ve also taken a combined 34 sacks this season.
Still, while neither Pickett nor Trubisky has sailed with the passing game, they are both mobile threats at the position. The Panthers have done a nice job against the likes of Russell Wilson, Geno Smith and Marcus Mariota, so they’ll need to continue to their command of the line of scrimmage to stop whichever Steelers QB they face on Sunday.
The Steelers’ offense isn’t particularly explosive
The Steelers have produced 34 passing plays of 20 or more yards this season. That total ranks among the bottom third of the league.
The offense’s nine total passing touchdowns rank last in the NFL. Oh, and the rushing offense isn’t much better, by the way.
Pittsburgh’s 11 rushing touchdowns are also in the bottom third of the league. Pickett, the quarterback, owns three of those scores.
Leading rusher Najee Harris is a talented, all-purpose back, but he’s averaging only 3.8 yards per carry, so his status in the backfield has constantly come under fire this season. The Steelers’ four runs of 20 or more yards are tied for 30th in the league.
Basically, the Panthers’ defense has to shut down one facet of the Steelers’ offense, and the other element of their attack will struggle to make up the difference. The pass rush and secondary should have plenty of opportunities to make splash plays.
The kicker isn’t consistent
Kicker Chris Boswell isn’t having a particularly good season. He has only made 12 of 17 attempts this season, and he had an attempt blocked against the Ravens on Sunday.
The veteran missed five games with a groin injury earlier this season, but his struggles started well before he was placed on injured reserve in Week 9. During the first five games of the season, he missed four field-goal attempts.
Boswell just returned to the field in the loss to the Ravens, so perhaps he will bounce back down the stretch. But for now, the Panthers could have some margin for error on their side of the field. If the Panthers force a long field goal, Boswell’s recent struggles could come back to light.
Four of Boswell’s five misses on the season have come from 49 yards or closer.
This story was originally published December 13, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Get to know Panthers’ Week 15 opponent: Steelers’ pass rush features former UNC Charlotte standout."
