Lost amongst higher-profile rookies, Tre Norwood could make early impact for Steelers

Much has been made about the four Pittsburgh Steelers rookies on offense who sit atop their positional depth charts. The curiosity surrounding the big leg of punter Pressley Harvin has made him a relatively high-profile rookie, too.

But there’s a draft pick on defense who’s flown under the radar and could play a significant role when the season opens.

Seventh-round pick Tre Norwood is listed as a backup on the depth chart. But in the sub-package world of modern pro football in which it’s not unusual that five or six defensive backs are on the field for passing downs, Norwood could see work on defense in his debut.

“Although we haven’t talked about him, he’s deserving (of praise),” coach Mike Tomlin said of Norwood after Friday’s practice. “He’s worked hard. He’s capable. It’s going to be exciting. I think we are all leaning in with excitement about watching he and those other (rookies) contribute to our efforts.”

Left tackle Dan Moore Jr., center Kendrick Green, tight end Pat Freiermuth (co-starter) and running back Najee Harris are listed as starters headed into Sunday’s 1 p.m. game at the Buffalo Bills. Harvin won the punter’s job, and fourth- and fifth-round picks Buddy Johnson (an inside linebacker) and Isaiahh Loudermilk (a defensive lineman) made the season-opening 53-man roster as rookies, too.

Sixth-round pick Quincy Roche was the only player the Steelers drafted this year who did not.

Norwood was taken 31 spots after Roche with the 245th overall pick. Harvin was taken with the seventh-to-last pick — the lone Steelers choice after Norwood, whom Tomlin referred to as “Swiss Army Knife” when announcing the pick on television.

As such, Norwood is the only one of the 10 members of the secondary on the active roster who is listed as a “defensive back” (all others have “cornerback” or “safety” designations).

On the depth chart, Norwood is the backup free safety. During the most recent preseason game, he was given snaps as the nickel cornerback in the slot.

Tomlin has acknowledged gamesmanship in leaving the identity of his team’s starting nickel/slot cornerback a mystery. Safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds and cornerbacks Joe Haden and Cameron Sutton are the Steelers’ top four defensive backs and expected to play every snap.

After that, Norwood and/or some combination of veteran Arthur Maulet, newly-acquired Ahkello Witherspoon or ascending second-year player James Pierre would figure to fill nickel and and/or dime roles. Veteran special teams standout Miles Killebrew and third-year cornerback Justin Layne are also on the roster as defensive backs.

The 6-foot-0, 195-pound Norwood played safety and cornerback in college at Oklahoma.

Like the head coach, defensive coordinator Keith Butler was mum about the Steelers’ plans for the nickel or their gameplan against a Buffalo offense that ranked third in the NFL in passing yardage last season at 289.1 per game.

But Butler hinted the Steelers would rely heavily on sub-packages featuring plenty of defensive backs when he noted Thursday that he expects the Bills to pass 80% of the time.

“Y’all ever heard of the drill seven-on-seven?” Butler rhetorically said to media. “Like, seven DBs against their seven? It’s pretty much what we’re gonna be in.”

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