The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 34-12 to improve to 6-4 on the year, thanks to a dominant defensive performance in which several of Pittsburgh’s star defenders stood out. However, one name that potentially had the most significant impact on the defensive side of the football was CB James Pierre.
A core special teamer who has gotten a bigger opportunity with Darius Slay missing the game due to a concussion and has made the most of increased playing time, Pierre made six total tackles (three solo), two pass deflections, and recovered a fumble for a touchdown against the Bengals. He showed up all over the tape upon a deeper review of the film.
THE FILM
Right when you turn on the tape, you see Pierre getting involved as a tackler. He did a great job pursuing the ball throughout the contest. He rallied to the ball carrier quickly while showing physicality to put him on the ground, like in this clip below, where he quickly closes on RB Chase Brown leaking out of the backfield for the dump-off pass, putting him on the ground right after the catch.
In the following clip, you see Pierre’s recovery speed to catch up to WR Ja’Marr Chase and tackle him to limit yards after the catch. Pierre jams WR Andre Iosivas on the snap in a tight formation, passing him off as Chase runs the drag route underneath. Pierre follows quickly behind and tackles Chase to limit an explosive play from occurring.
In the clips below, we see Pierre quick to get to the tackle. The first clip shows him stopping to locate and break down on Brown catching a dump-off pass, and making the tackle for little gain. In the second clip, we see him in coverage with Tee Higgins and rallies quickly to the ball after Higgins whips back to the football, making the tackle to limit Higgins to a short gain on the play.
Pierre missed a tackle in Sunday’s contest against TE Noah Fant as Fant catches a check-down pass from QB Joe Flacco while Pierre closes ground. Pierre leaves his feet and punches at the ball without wrapping up, allowing Fant to run through the tackle attempt and rumble for some yards after the catch before being brought down.
On the touchdown by Cincinnati, James Pierre followed Chase on his post corner route, vacating his zone on the far right side of the field. This left Higgins open with only OLB Jack Sawyer attempting to cover him from the flat, leading to the easy touchdown for Higgins. Pierre could have passed Chase off to S Jalen Ramsey in the middle of the field, but knowing the emphasis that Pittsburgh had on taking Chase out of this game, it’s hard to blame Pierre for his decision on this rep.
For the most part, Pierre did a great job keeping a lid on things in coverage, utilizing his length and athleticism to stay in stride with some of the better receivers in football. Watch this rep where Pierre jams Chase at the line and quickly gets into his back pocket up the field, keeping his eyes on the football as he runs with Chase. Pierre manages to leap up and deflect the pass as the ball arrives, breaking up a deep ball opportunity for Chase with excellent coverage.
Janes Pierre was effective on the jam throughout the game, knocking pass catchers off their route and managing to throw off their timing with the quarterback. Watch this play against Chase where Pierre jams him hard on the snap, causing Chase to stumble, which gives S Kyle Dugger enough time to jump the route and nearly get the pick in front of Chase.
Pierre is rewarded for his hustle on the following clip, where he manages to scoop up a fumble by Fant that is caused by S Chuck Clark, keeping the ball from rolling out of bounds, and runs up the sideline with the leap into the end zone for the touchdown.
James Pierre nearly finished the game with an interception, too, as Cincinnati attempted to put more points on the board late. In this clip below, Pierre is in off-coverage and reads the break on the out route by Higgins toward the sideline, jumping the route and steps in front of the pass for the pick. However, Pierre isn’t able to control the ball before he falls out of bounds, resulting in an incomplete pass.
James Pierre was highly effective in his start against the Bengals, showcasing a blend of physicality as a tackler, composure in coverage, and hustle that often had him near the ball. It was a sound performance against the Bengals’ passing attack, which embarrassed Pittsburgh in the last game, managing to hold the likes of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in check.
Pierre shouldn’t be viewed as Pittsburgh’s answer at outside cornerback opposite Joey Porter Jr.. Still, given the way he has played in his limited opportunities this season, he has definitely earned the right to more playing time and potentially start over Slay when he returns, given how poorly the latter has performed this season.
Pittsburgh needs more effort and physicality out of the defensive backfield, and James Pierre has provided both. We will see what happens when Slay returns, but Pierre made a statement against one of the most potent passing games in football, showing he can contribute when called upon in the secondary.
Recommended for you