Ranking the 7 best defensive players from the HOF game

On Thursday night the Pittsburgh Steelers showcased several defensive players hoping to represent the future for this team. It didn’t matter which grouping was on the field, this group just swarmed the Dallas Cowboys offense and never let them get going.

Here are our seven favorite defenders from Thursday’s win.

1-LB Alex Highsmith

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Is the NFL ready for the next great Steelers pass rusher? Alex Highsmith flashed his skills last season and on Thursday night he showed just how hard he has worked this offseason to improve. Highsmith had one sack and two tackles for loss and was the best defensive player on the field.

2-DL Isaiah Buggs

(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh needs as many capable defensive linemen as possible for the rotation and Isiah Buggs impressed on Thursday. Buggs was a great college player at Alabama who slid in the draft and this season it looks like he's going to show it with improved conditioning and energy.

3-S Tre Norwood

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

At the University of Oklahoma, Tre Norwood always found himself around the football. It didn't take Norwood long to do the same in the NFL. Norwood had a pass defended, nearly had two more and also blocked a field goal attempt.

4-DB Antoine Brooks Jr.

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

I have to admit I was skeptical of Antoine Brooks replacing Mike Hilton on defense but he really did look the part on Thursday. The Steelers moved Brooks around on defense and he looked very comfortable in whatever role the coaches put him in.

5-LB Mile Killebrew

Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers

Killebrew was a very interesting offseason signing by the Steelers because he is that sort of hybrid guy the coaches like and he could finally have a spot with this team. Killebrew led the team with six solo tackles.

6-CB James Pierre

(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Another guy under pressure this season to perform is cornerback James Pierre. Overall I was very happy with how Pierre played with a heavy workload. He wasn't perfect in coverage at all and has work to do but it was a nice first look.

7-LB Quincy Roche

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Go back and watch rookie Quincy Roche's sack and you understand why the Steelers felt like he was such a bargain in the draft. Roche's dip and turn was textbook and definitely didn't look like a rookie.

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