Mike Tomlin believes Keeanu Benton of the Steelers has the potential to be ‘dominant.’ Benton wants to prove him correct.
Mike Tomlin isn’t known for lavishing praise on his young players. So when Tomlin answered the 58th question posed to him during his season-ending news conference last week, he didn’t hold back from extolling youngster Keeanu Benton.
“I think he’s capable of being dominant,” he remarked, “sooner rather than later.”
But what might come as even more encouraging to Pittsburgh Steelers fans, to say nothing of Tomlin, in terms of Benton blossoming into a star is what Benton himself said about a rookie season that left so many so enthused about his potential.
“My biggest takeaway,” Benton said of his first NFL season, “is that there’s a lot of work to be done.”
If Tomlin wasn’t already excited about Benton’s future chances (which he was), he must be overjoyed to learn that his brilliant young defensive lineman is humble and hungry as he enters Year 2.
“I know I need to improve my football IQ in general,” Benton said two days after the Steelers’ season concluded with a playoff loss to Buffalo. “It got better as the season progressed, but that’s definitely still where I can improve the most. Not that this is the first time I’ve realized it, but I’m still learning about football IQ.
“In this league, you must continue to learn. You can’t come into the NFL and assume you know everything. It’s about soaking up every moment and not taking anything for granted, because it might all go in an instant.”
Not bad for a man ranked by Pro Football Focus as the NFL’s third-best rookie defensive tackle, following only strong defensive rookie of the year favorite Jalen Carter and Los Angeles Chargers’ Kobie Turner.
Benton was evaluated second only to Carter in pass-rushing skills by a rookie defensive tackle, and he outperformed any Steelers interior defensive lineman that started in 2023.
Benton, for his part, made ten starts (including the playoffs), stealing the No. 1 spot on the nose tackle depth chart from Montravius Adams late in the season after starting in his place when Adams was absent for three games due to injury.
“I’m really excited about the prospects of his future,” he remarked. “He’s really talented.”
Tomlin stated he had a season-ending interview with Benton on Thursday before stating how dominant he thinks Benton can be.
“And so, the question is how quickly can we make that happen and what are our roles in doing so,” he said.
Benton, the Steelers’ second-round pick at No. 49 overall last year, concluded the regular season with 36 tackles (16 solo, one for loss), one sack, two batted passes, and two forced fumbles. He recorded five additional tackles in the playoff loss to the Bills.
According to Pro Football Focus, Benton led Steelers defensive tackles in quarterback hits and tied for third among rookie DTs with seven.
Benton claimed he had never encountered the so-called “rookie wall.”
“People say it was gonna be the longest year of your life,” Benton told me, “but I was having fun, so it went fast.”
The Steelers opened 2023 with a defensive line led by three veterans: Cameron Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi, and Adams. Adams is a free agent, and Heyward will turn 35 in May. As a result, the Steelers might benefit from the “sooner rather than later” component of Tomlin’s “dominant” prognosis for the 6-foot-4, 309-pound Benton as early as 2024.
Benton believes that spending the offseason figuratively in the film room and immersed in the playbook will help him take the next step.
“It’s not so much of a physical thing,” Benton explained. “Physically, I feel like I am present. I’ve thrown dudes about. Guys have thrown me about, too. It will be a battle, regardless of how long you’ve been
