James Pierre Steelers
James Pierre Steelers
If there’s one big development for the Pittsburgh Steelers defensively this season that deserves all the attention it’s getting, it’s the emergence of veteran cornerback James Pierre into a key contributor in the secondary for the Black and Gold.
In recent weeks while filling in for the injured Darius Slay, Pierre has put together some very good performances. He’s earned praise from the likes of head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. And though Slay is back healthy and will get back into the lineup, Pierre will maintain a role — hopefully.
For teammates Nick Herbig and Christian Kuntz, what Pierre has done this season is nothing short of remarkable, and they’re very happy to see their long-time teammate getting some shine.
Appearing on The Christian Kuntz Podcast that published Thursday morning, Herbig sang the praises of Pierre.
“Day in and day out, bro. Like, that guy shows up every day,” Herbig said of Pierre, according to video via the show’s YouTube page.
That professional attitude and the commitment to being fully prepared and doing whatever is asked of him has helped Pierre stick around. He went from an undrafted free agent during COVID coming out of Florida Atlantic, turning into one of the few players that summer to make it into the league undrafted, and has developed into a key piece in Pittsburgh, partiucary on special teams.
But this season, Pierre has emerged on defense, playing like a true No. 2 cornerback in the Steel City when given an opportunity.
Based on stats from Pro Football Focus, Pierre has been charged with allowing just nine receptions on 21 targets for 70 yards. He’s also added eight pass breakups on the season, playing some lockdown football. He’s done all of that in just 176 defensive snaps on the season.
Those numbers should make many say ‘whoa!’ They’d also be addressing Pierre if they said that, too. According to Kuntz, ‘Woe’ is Pierre’s nickname in the locker room.
“Woe is unbelievable. Love him. Woe was an undrafted free agent in 2020, one of the few COVID year free agents to make the team, and has played the most snaps for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the last five years,” Kuntz said of Pierre. “That dude, he came out FAU early. I mean, Woe is a ball player. And I’m excited for him. And when a guy like that makes plays, dude, it just made, it just energizes the whole team.
“Bro, he’s been making those plays for five years. I’ve been seeing it for five years. He makes his plays. I don’t understand it.”
The development that Pierre has gone through in Pittsburgh, and the story that he is, is rather remarkable. He went from largely an afterthought, to developing into a key gunner on special teams under Danny Smith. Though the Steelers gave him some run defensively in 2021, it didn’t go well.
It was understandable if many thought that was the end of Pierre as a defensive piece for the Steelers. But to his credit he’s kept his head down and has gotten better and better. In a year in which the Steelers complete reshaped the secondary with offseason moves, it’s incredible that Pierre has been the one to emerge.
Last week against the Bengals, Pierre had a standout performance. He broke up a deep pass intended for Ja’Marr Chase in the first half, made some key tackles in space, and then capped it all off with a 34-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
STEELERS SCOOP AND SCORE.
CINvsPIT on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/yFfenOX5FB
It was a splash play from Pierre in a run of games in which he’s continued to make plays, coming through in the clutch for the Black and Gold.
Ironically, on the fumble return for touchdown, Herbig didn’t even know what was going on. Him and Cameron Heyward were too busy talking about the game they ran on the pass rush in an effort to try and get to Joe Flacco.
“I didn’t know what was going on when he scored a touchdown, ’cause me and Cam had a little twist game on and Cam was like talking to me after. We saw the ball thrown and we’re like jogging over there and we see B-E [Brandin Echols] making the tackle. So me and Cam, Cam’s looking at me like, ‘hey, good game.’ And we’re talking about what was transpiring. And then I just see JP [Pierre] taking off and I’m like, wait, what just happened? And all of a sudden scored a touchdown.
“I’m like, what? Like, what happened?”
It all happened quickly, but in the film you can see Heyward and Herbig chatting briefly as Echols is making the tackle. But then, the ball is out and Pierre is racing the other way, flipping into the end zone for the score.
https://i.gyazo.com/70c97e5339063b50025ba8804964b6bd.mp4
Herbig was stunned, but the Steelers defense will take it, scoring two touchdowns on the day. It was fitting it was Pierre, too.
He’s made plays all season long, and teammates have seen him make plays in training camp practices and regular season practices, too. He’s prepared for the moment, and now it’s all starting to come together in games for him.