Alex Highsmith, the novice defender of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was put in an unenviable position this season, when he had to replace Bud Dupree. When Dupree broke his ACL, Highsmith was put in an initial role and no player wants to be the guy to replace him.
Being 100 percent honest, Highsmith’s game in the top three starts in the NFL was about what you would expect from a rookie who entered the league with a few questions about his technique and level of competition.
But on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, Highsmith’s game took a big step forward. Going back and examining the game, it was nice to see Highsmith using a variety of passing moves while at the same time having to fight a team that worked hard to lead football. Against the Cincinnati Bengals, Highsmith made some costly misinterpretations of the running pieces and sometimes seemed lost.
Highsmith finished the game with seven total attacks and two defender shots. He hasn’t landed a bag since he took over, but you can see him approaching. Highsmith played with a high level of energy and, although he may never be the Dupree player, it was great to see his game taking another step on Sunday.