Latrobe, Pennsylvania – The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the strongest position groups on the team and aren’t too worried about their outside linebackers. However, after the surprise retirement of Markus Golden, there is a void at OLB4 and the team’s top three appears stronger than ever, with Nick Herbig on the rise.

PennLive spoke with outside linebacker coach Denzel Martin after practice on Tuesday to discuss the future of the OLB room and the development of his players:

What is your impression of the history of the outside linebacker position with the Steelers, its importance and how guys like James Harrison and Peezy (Joey Porter Sr.) came in and Jason Gildon was here? How much do the guys on your team take that in and what part do you play in that?

“Man, I just love it. That’s the great thing about this place, you get that college feeling you get. It feels like the alumni come back more than any other place you’ve been to and it’s just amazing. You can see James Harrison and Joey Porter out here. If they come and say something to my guy, I definitely listen to them, you know what I mean? Because I guarantee I can learn something and Joey is the reason I’m here. I met him at Pro Day before I got my job and he’s the reason I understand his defense and know who I am, so I just love having guys like that around me and whatever you can soak up from those guys, I think you take that with you.”

What kind of reaction do you think the players get when they’re out here??

“It’s like this guy is coming into the Hall of Honor, that’s James Harrison, he’s got 100 sacks or something. They’re all eyes, there were some pictures released of James talking to Nick (Herbig), you just see him looking at every word and every tooth in his mouth, you know what I mean? But that’s what you’re supposed to do, you know what I mean? The greats want to learn from the greats, that’s just how they do it and I’m just glad that these guys come out so often and pass on their knowledge, I appreciate it.”

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What did you see from Nick Herbig in his second year and where is the big leap?

“I would say just everything, because even on special teams, the guy is getting better at everything he does. Nick is just one of those guys that just wants it, you know what I mean? He’s just not like anybody else in all these college worlds; this guy wants to work; he doesn’t want to give up. You have to slow him down, and I think that’s what makes him great. He’s just going to keep going, keep pushing, he wants to get better, he’s so hard on himself that sometimes I have to tell him to calm down. But that’s the way the great players are, that’s the way they are, they always think they can make any play, and that’s the way he is.”

TJ Watt and Nick Herbig seem really close. Can you give us some insight into that mentoring relationship and tell us what it has meant to Herbig?

“You can see their game, you know what I mean? He just talks so much, before practice, after practice, during meetings, TJ just gives himself away, he’s not like a lot of these other star players. He’s in meetings and talks as much as you know, like any other coach, because he wants to help the guys. And Nick just soaks up all the knowledge you can get, like you say, the moves start to become similar, the rush, the approach angles. Man, dude, the sky’s the limit for this guy and I’m happy for him, I really am.”

How is TJ different from the start his career so far?

“I don’t know if that’s the case, maybe that’s why he’s still great. The guy is still hyper-focused on everything, you know what I mean? Now he’s married, so he has to think about his wife and all that other stuff. But the guy is still super hyper-focused on everything and watches every video he can. He watches Atlanta, he’s been watching Atlanta all summer long, you know what I mean? The guy is just, he hasn’t changed, and maybe that’s why he’s great.”

What have you seen from the guys battling for fourth place, like Kyron Johnson and Jeremiah Moon?

“Oh, it’s great. They’ve worked hard, you know what I mean? Because Danny Smith is the guy that’s really going to make the decision on fourth down, you know what I mean? These guys can do whatever they want, they can get a thousand sacks out here. But if Danny Smith doesn’t like you, you don’t have a role on a special teams, then you’re not going to last long. So that’s what I preach to these guys. Keep giving it your all, know your job, but be a damn tough guy for Danny, because he loves you.”

Look at a guy like Kyron, who is only 6’1″ and 220 pounds. That’s what an edge rusher typically looks like. What makes him so effective and how can he get better sacks?

“He’s got to move his hips, get rid of people, let them go and get to the quarterback and the ball, because that’s who he is. You see that 4-3 speed that he caught on video at KU and all that, and we just had to keep going and set those edges and make plays.”

What do you notice about Julius Welschof?

“It’s like a big lump of clay, and I love him. The guy is so smart. You don’t have to tell him things twice. He gets it. He wants to be great. I mean, he was at Michigan. We always say he’s an all-time player. It’s not like he’s an all-time player. He had Mike McDonald at Michigan, you know what I mean? He understands something about the ball, but the way he came here and understood it, I love that guy. He just keeps going, there’s something every day that I think is great. He never gets tired. He works his ass off all day, and that’s going to be fun. I can’t wait to see him at the end of this year, because he’s just going to keep getting better and better and better. We’re going to push him hard for that.

DeMarvin Leal has taken on a role as an OLB. What have you observed from him as he has grown into that role?

“He’s just smart. And if you remember his A&M video, he was that too. He was a five-technique, you know what I mean? So the things we were asking him to do were probably new. So this is more like he’s at home, you know? But he’s got to be smart to be able to do both. You know what I mean? The guy understands not meeting; we’re all in the same room as far as the fullbacks go, but he’s really focused on the interior. And then he comes out here and does stuff as a fullback. That’s just the guy that’s smart and focused and works. So I’m excited for Marv. Wherever he plays, he’s going to be able to make plays and be smooth and we like that about him.”

What did you tell him about playing on the perimeter when you worked with him, and how is it different from playing inside?

“You just have to understand that he has a lot more space than he actually does. So we have to get him to spread out more. He’s a little tight all the time because you’re used to playing with the four-man team, with people on both sides. So you have to get him to spread out more and use his moves. You know what I mean? Not everything is bull rush. That can obviously be your opening rush, but we have to open it up and play the edges. And he learns that and he comes forward.“

When did Jeremiah Moon appear on your radar and what have you seen from him?

“So, I didn’t know anything about him until we signed him. You know what I mean? I was only 6’5, 250 pounds. So, I’ll take that any day of the week. You know what I mean? And when you watch him, that’s a different guy. Every week he gets better. And he doesn’t say a word. He just works. He hardly smiles. I talked to him today, he needs to smile more. You know what I mean? Have fun out here because he does such a great job. And he does it for Danny. He does it for me defensively. So, I really love Moon. I like him a lot.