As Pittsburgh Steelers fans, it's [hard not to get excited about](https://stillcurtain.com/derrick-harmon-s-first-comments-as-a-pittsburgh-steelers-player-will-fire-up-fans-01jsnptg8ejh) Derrick Harmon. At 6'4 1/2'' and 313 pounds with an 83 3/4'' wingspan, 4.95 speed, and impressive athletic traits, Harmon could be the total package at defensive tackle in the NFL. But there's one flaw in his game that [sticks out on film](https://youtu.be/aKZWkteqNQ8) like a sore thumb: Harmon doesn't know how to use his length to his advantage.
There's a popular line from the movie Talladega Nights where Ricky Bobby (played by Will Ferrell) says in an interview, "I don't know what to do with my hands." That pretty much wraps up what I've witnessed from Harmon on film.
Too often, when you put on the tape, you see a player who is driving his shoulder into the chest of an offensive lineman or relies too heavily on his quickness dip to get around blockers. Harmon's questionable hand usage can, at times, even contribute to his high missed tackle rate.
This is something the Pittsburgh Steelers must fix right away. Harmon is used to playing in odd defensive fronts thanks to his senior season at Oregon, but until he improves playing with his arm and hand usage, he's going to be restricted.
Here's the good news: Harmon is lacking nothing physically to figure these things out... and once he does, the league better take notice.
The Pittsburgh Steelers can coach Derrick Harmon to use his length to his advantage
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Derrick Harmon flashed the ability to long-arm defenders into the quarterback or stack and shed blockers while two-gapping and holding up at the point of attack. However, there's no question we need to see these things from him more consistently. The best way to do that is to improve his glaring weakness—not using his length to his advantage.
At nearly 6'5'' with 34 3/8'' arms and a 90th percentile wingspan, per Mockdraftable.com, Harmon has the frame to keep even the longest offensive tackles at arm's reach. Fortunately, Cam Heyward has mastered the art of using his length to bully offensive linemen.
As consistently as anyone in today's league, Heyward can put offensive linemen on roller skates by long-arming them into the quarterback, or use his impressive length to collapse the pocket on running plays. Who better for Harmon to learn from than the four-time First-Team All-Pro himself?
Entering the league as a first-round pick, Harmon is a better pass rusher than a run defender. The impressive defensive tackle racked up 55 pressures and 11 tackles for a loss as a 21-year-old senior with the Oregon Ducks in 2024. But most of this backfield production came from using bust, dip, and athletic traits.
At the next level, Harmon needs to be more than just an interior speed rusher with the occasional power move; he needs to become a well-balanced force who keeps opposing offensive linemen guessing his next move.
There's no doubt that Derrick Harmon will add moves to his arsenal and will become more polished early in his NFL career than he was in college. The first-round draft choice has untapped potential, and if Cam Heyward and defensive line coach Karl Dunbar can teach him to use his hands and arms more effectively, there's no telling how high his ceiling might be.
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