For Alex Highsmith, his strong 2025 season can be credited to one key change. Leading the Pittsburgh Steelers with 9.5 sacks, Highsmith shared the switch he made to unlock his game.
“I switched it this year,” Highsmith said in a recent interview with Jon Gruden. “My first few years, I was in [a] three-point stance on passing downs. But this year, I put my outside foot up. So I’m on the right side. So I put my right foot up.
“And then as soon as I saw like the QB get the indicator, the guard tapping the center, and I’m already loaded. So just going like this, loading off this leg. And then just playing off like that.”
At Gruden’s behest, Highsmith stood up and showed Gruden his stance.
Our charting tells that story, too. From 2023-2025 on 3rd and 6+, here’s Highsmith’s three-point stance (i.e., hand in the ground) rates:
2023: 15.8 percent (19 of 120)
2024: 33.3 percent (24 of 72)
2025: 2.7 percent (2 of 75)
A big change for this season. Highsmith rarely put his hand on the ground in obvious passing situations. For the entire season, he only had his hand on the ground for 0.9 percent of pass plays. In 2024, that figure was over 28 percent.
Staying on his feet and putting his outside foot up helped Alex Highsmith explode off the ball. You can see the difference here. This is 2024. Hand down, left foot up.
And 2025. Standing up, right foot up.
A contrast to T.J. Watt, who plays with his hand down in most passing situations. Watt played with his hand down 94 percent of the time on 3rd and 6+ in 2025. And naturally, he has his right foot up since his left hand is on the ground.
There’s no right or wrong answer. Stances are unique to each player, though there may be some universal coaching points. Clearly, the switch worked for Highsmith, who just missed his second career double-digit season. All while playing great run defense.
Highsmith’s biggest goal for 2026 is staying healthy and avoiding nagging soft-tissue injuries, especially groin pulls, that have plagued him, making him miss 10 games over the past two years.
Check out the whole conversation with Gruden below.
Recommended for you