Pittsburgh Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. carries quite a lot of weight on his shoulders each time he steps onto the soccer discipline. There’s the burden of his household title in a Pittsburgh jersey. After which there are the expectations that come from being the highest nook on the Steelers after one 12 months with the workforce.
However Porter hasn’t proven any indicators of backing down from both of these issues. In truth, his father, Joey Porter Sr., bought to see him snag his first interception of the 2024 season towards the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6.
The larger query is how do Porter’s coaches see how he’s performing this season?
“It’s been fairly good,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin mentioned Thursday per a transcript offered by the workforce. “I believed there is likely to be one sport I used to be in all probability upset with him as a result of he didn’t play it to the way in which he’s succesful, however Joey is basically competing. We put rather a lot on Joey when it comes to guarding and shifting round and getting him in in all probability some strenuous positions. However he has held up nicely, and he likes these challenges. So I’m actually happy with him. If you’re a nook on this league, you’re not going to go a complete season and never have a sport or two the place issues don’t go your approach. He bounces again any time he has a stretch of play that he doesn’t like as a result of he’s actually aggressive, and he needs to be actually good.”
The Steelers have confronted some fairly proficient vast receivers by way of six weeks, together with the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb. Porter is a giant a part of dealing with all these high vast receivers, which is a giant a part of these challenges Austin spoke about. And thru six video games, Porter has three move breakups on high of that aforementioned interception.
Nevertheless it’s not nearly how Porter does in protection that’s caught Austin’s eye. Via six video games, Porter has 21 complete tackles and one deal with for a loss. Austin famous that Porter’s willingness and want to deal with has improved since his rookie 12 months, and it’s displaying up on the sector.
He does have to proceed to wash up his approach as Steeler Depot’s Josh Carney has him with missed 4 tackles by way of the top of the Cowboys’ sport. And Austin admits that he hasn’t at all times been pleased with Porter’s efficiency.
However Porter has proven a willingness to get in and blend it up with ball carriers. That’s at all times a great signal out of your nook. And Austin additionally highlighted that Porter at all times bounces again from dangerous play. That’s one of many largest psychological skills a cornerback can have.
If Joey Porter retains pushing to enhance and hones that aggressive spirit, he’ll proceed to be a giant pressure within the Steelers’ secondary for a very long time.
