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View Full Version : This Is Why The Steelers Did Not Draft An Inside Linebacker



stillers4me
04-29-2018, 09:09 AM
Seven draft picks. Thirteen undrafted free agents. One inside linebacker. I know – the math doesn’t seem to add up. And for many fans, the biggest takeaway of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2018 draft is the lack of an inside linebacker. After all, it was the position they brought in the most in the pre-draft process and was by all accounts, a need for the team.


So what gives? Whether you agree with it or not, and I’m not saying I even agree, here’s my best explanation.


Obviously, what Kevin Colbert said about the inside linebacker class back at the Combine was him being honest. To him, the inside linebacker class wasn’t strong, save for a few playmakers at the top. Last Monday, going more in-depth about the draft, Colbert noted how few four down players there were, how the position has evolved into a group of specialists.


“The inside linebackers are changing as the college game has changed,” Colbert said. “They maybe do one thing really well. Maybe they rush the passer better than they cover. Maybe they’re better zone droppers than they are man defenders. Very few of them are really, what you say, four down type players. Some of them are two down, some of them are three, some of them are one down. They might only be special teamers.”
Translation: better get someone at the top or else you’re stuck with a player who has some obvious weaknesses.


And reportedly, Pittsburgh did. There have been several reports (http://www.steelersdepot.com/2018/04/dulac-rashaan-evans-was-steelers-1st-round-target-no-matter-who-was-there-at-28/) the Steelers made a push to trade up for Rashaan Evans, part of the “big four” of inside linebackers along with Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds, and Leighton Vander Esch. Ultimately, that didn’t happen, Tennessee nabbed Evans and the Steelers were left holding the bag.


The goal wasn’t just to address the inside linebacker position. It was the Mack position. That can’t be a specialized position. The Buck, Vince Williams’ spot, has a different requirement. It can be specialized, Williams gets removed on all dime snaps, meaning there doesn’t need to be as heavy an emphasis on coverage. But the Mack? As we’ve covered, that player has to do it all. After those few four-down players were taken off the board, there wasn’t a good enough fit for someone to fill that role – in their minds, anyway..........

read more @ http://www.steelersdepot.com/2018/04/this-is-why-the-steelers-didnt-draft-an-inside-linebacker/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SteelersDepotBlog+%28Steelers +Depot%29

Mojouw
04-29-2018, 10:45 AM
If their solution is some rotation of VW, Bostic, and Matakevich with no schematic adjustments or other innovative solution, I may just spend Sunday’s beating my head against a wall. Would be about the same thing.

Terrapinstation
04-29-2018, 01:31 PM
Is this some kind of 'moneyball' strategy? Everyone in the country knew that the Steelers had one glaring hole at ILB (and OLB). They did nothing to address it. Now, maybe nobody in the draft appealed to them. But that doesn't mean you completely ignore the position, or draft guys that can 'maybe' be moved to the position. Hopefully they have something up their sleeves, like last year with Hayden.

El-Gonzo Jackson
04-29-2018, 02:48 PM
Darius Leonard was another that I thought fit the need, but no use reaching for him. They took the best players available on their board and that is how you do it. There will be other free agents to bring in possibly, but as it stands Bostic is an upgrade over Spence, so no use stressing that they cant find another Shazier instantly in the draft.

I never get why fans love to complain about what didn't happen in the past, but have no sensible solution to offer. (I know some will say trade up to get your LB, but the Steelers reportedly tried and could not trade up to get Evans).

hawaiiansteeler
04-29-2018, 02:56 PM
Darius Leonard was another that I thought fit the need, but no use reaching for him. They took the best players available on their board and that is how you do it. There will be other free agents to bring in possibly, but as it stands Bostic is an upgrade over Spence, so no use stressing that they cant find another Shazier instantly in the draft.

I never get why fans love to complain about what didn't happen in the past, but have no sensible solution to offer. (I know some will say trade up to get your LB, but the Steelers reportedly tried and could not trade up to get Evans).

I liked Leonard also but was surprised he was drafted at #36, Steelers would have had to use their first round selection to get him.

and the Steelers reportedly did try very hard to trade up for Evans but the Titans traded up to get Evans at #22 in front of New England who also was very interested in him. I still expect us to sign another more traditional veteran ILB who is a salary cap casualty after June 1st or gets released in the last round of roster cuts.

Iron Steeler
04-30-2018, 07:38 PM
Not thrilled with this draft.

Steelerette
05-01-2018, 07:50 AM
Maybe it was because their crystal ball said they'd be able to get Matthew Thomas as UDFA. Freaking insane and potentially better than everyone besides Roquan and Tremaine. Look for him to impress in camp.

Steeldude
05-01-2018, 08:52 AM
Not thrilled with this draft.

IMO, the entire draft was mostly full of average or bland players. I'm referring to all players, not just the players selected by the Steelers. It was a boring pool of players.

Steelerette
05-01-2018, 10:22 AM
IMO, the entire draft was mostly full of average or bland players. I'm referring to all players, not just the players selected by the Steelers. It was a boring pool of players.
With fewer kids playing football, soon enough NFL drafts will be like NBA and nhl ones... Maybe 10 players who are actual differencemakers in the whole thing, third round is worthless, etc.

Rotorhead
05-01-2018, 10:27 AM
I guess I don't understand the problem, Edmunds is pretty much the same size as Shazier . . . he has the coverage ability and is a solid tackler and can cover from sideline to sideline. What is the issue with moving him into Shazier's role, especially given he will have an entire offseason in an NFL lifting program to add some bulk. So he was a Safety in college (how many of you wanted Shazier to move to Safety?) he is supposed to be intelligent and can learn the ILB role. At this point, our biggest need is OLB, unless the light comes on for Dupree somehow. Also remember Tuitt was injured (as well as Dirty Red) for the Jags game, which definitely hurt our run defense. The steal of this draft is going to be Rudolph hopefully. I hope we get a Rodgers type player who can sit and learn behind Ben for a couple years and become our next franchise QB, or at the very least we can use him like a Garapolo (sp?) trade to a team and get a bunch of picks to use when Ben is gone and we really need to rebuild.