Nick Herbig says he was "born ready" for an opportunity at the NFL level and is ready to step in on defense if need be for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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00:00 I'm just blessed to be here, honestly.
00:03 And like I said before, my role is really special teams right now.
00:07 And obviously in situations like last game when Alex and TJ both go down,
00:11 that's moments where I have to step up and be prepared for them.
00:15 I prep for that every week for situations like that.
00:19 And I'm grateful to have guys in the room like them and
00:22 coach Denzel to make sure that I'm ready to go.
00:26 >> If that situation happens again this week, you ready?
00:29 >> Yeah, I was born ready.
00:31 >> Is your week any different preparing?
00:33 We know that Alex and TJ are injured.
00:36 >> No, not much, honestly.
00:38 Cuz I remember somebody said something,
00:41 you gotta prepare like you're a starter every single day.
00:45 Having that mindset from day one, you never know when your opportunity's gonna
00:48 come knocking, you just gotta be ready to make the most of it.
00:51 >> But you get more reps though, right?
00:52 Out there in practice?
00:54 >> I mean, yeah, it's the same amount of reps that we get every week.
00:57 But we have the reps every time, so it's nothing different.
01:01 >> Does it matter for you, sorry, Jack, does it matter for you if either one of
01:05 those guys, which side that you're on, who you would have to replace,
01:09 if you have to replace anyone?
01:10 >> No, I'm just there for support, man.
01:13 Whoever needs a break, whatever happens, I'm ready to go.
01:16 >> Nick, did the defense come pretty easy to you because of Wisconsin?
01:20 And where do you feel you are as far as knowledge of the defense?
01:22 >> Yeah, I would say it definitely helps a lot that we ran a similar defense in
01:26 college, and having Coach Leonard as my DC, being able to dumb the game down a
01:32 little bit for me and make sure that everything is simplified.
01:36 It's the same thing here too.
01:38 So I feel like that transition was really easy for me.
01:41 >> Over the last couple games, Connor and
01:42 Elliott have done pretty well against you guys.
01:44 When you watch the tape, when you're trying to stop the run,
01:46 what's the biggest deficiency that can be cleaned up?
01:49 >> We just gotta communicate better.
01:51 It comes down to that.
01:52 We have all the talent in the world.
01:53 We have the best run stopping linebacker, I think, in the NFL, D-Rob.
01:59 So it just comes down to at the end of the day,
02:02 we just gotta communicate and be on the same page.
02:04 >> What did he- >> In this, and
02:06 I know you guys like to take it game by game, but
02:08 do you pretty much consider that this is a must win?
02:11 This would be a tough one to lose for you guys.
02:13 >> Every game's a must win, man.
02:14 We wanna be 14 and 0 right now, 13 and 0, whatever it is.
02:20 So every game's a must win.
02:21 >> Nick, what did the landing show you last week,
02:23 kind of playing through that injury, as many snaps as he had to go?
02:26 >> I'm not even surprised, man.
02:28 D-Rob, since day one, he's been in here working hard, being a leader for us.
02:32 Copying out on some heroes, so I look up to guys like him.
02:37 He's done it before, he has two Super Bowls, so D-Rob's one of those dudes for sure.
02:42 >> How's Blake fitting with you guys?
02:44 >> Blake's awesome, he's a great addition for us.
02:46 >> When you have to step in for TJ or Alex,
02:48 are they giving you any type of advice on the sidelines?
02:51 >> It's more so just staying calm, staying collected, and
02:54 act like I've been there before and I'm ready for it.
02:57 And they're kinda just encouraging me, telling me, come on, it's your time,
03:00 let's go, we gotta go make a play.
03:02 >> I think it was a landing that said last week about Cole and
03:05 Quan's injuries kinda being way in the past now.
03:07 Does that kind of thing take a minute to sink in and move on from, and
03:11 you guys feel like you're moved on fully from that?
03:14 >> I mean, yeah, Cole and Quan are great teammates before anything.
03:19 They're great human beings.
03:20 When you feel for those guys,
03:21 everything they've been through in their career, and just to go out like that,
03:26 that's tough to lose your brother like that.
03:30 But I mean, the ball's still gonna be out there on Sunday, and
03:33 we gotta find a way to get around that.
03:35 And I know we have the guys in the room capable.