hawaiiansteeler
03-04-2019, 03:44 PM
Steelers-By-Position: ILBs
Bob Labriola
STEELERS.COM
Monday, Mar 04, 2019
Another in a position-by-position series in advance of the start of free agency on March 13.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (6)
Jon Bostic, L.J. Fort, Tyler Matakevich, Tegray Scales, Robert Spillane, Vince Williams
(Free Agent Scorecard: 1; 1 unrestricted – L.J. Fort)
A LAST LOOK AT 2018
Because of the manner in which the unit collapsed following the injury to Ryan Shazier during the first quarter of a December 2017 game against the Bengals in Cincinnati, it was widely assumed the Steelers would make the selection of a prospect with similar skills at the position a priority in the 2018 NFL Draft. But when that lottery began, the Steelers were unable to trade up higher into the first round to pick a prospect they liked, nor were they fortunate enough to have one fall to them when their turn came at No. 28 overall, the team opted instead for safety Terrell Edmunds.
Whether Edmunds develops into the kind of playmaker the unit certainly needs still is to be determined, but what’s not up for debate is that the Steelers find themselves no closer to finding one individual who might provide the defense with what Shazier was providing the unit. But come the end of the 2018 season, the Steelers had succeeded in shoring up their defense against the run compared to the end of 2017, and the play of the inside linebackers contributed to that improvement.
Vince Williams was the primary holdover from the 2017 group, and despite missing two starts – one because of a hamstring injury and the other because of a toe injury – he led all linebackers and was second on the team with 76 tackles. Williams also had 4.5 sacks, one interception, and two passes defensed.
As the 2018 offseason began, it appeared the Steelers’ plan was to find a couple of inside linebackers, but because of the way the draft unfolded the only player they ended up adding was unrestricted free agent Jon Bostic from Indianapolis. Bostic took some time to settle in, but he continued to improve over the course of the regular season, and he would finish fourth on the team, and second among linebackers, with 73 tackles, and he didn’t miss a game because of injury.
As the regular season progressed and the Steelers continued to look for someone to fill the role of a dime linebacker, L.J. Fort emerged as a guy who was able to get closest to what they needed from the position when it came to coverage responsibilities. As a result, Fort’s playing time gradually increased, with a couple of notable examples being the late-season games against the Chargers (52 snaps on defense and a team-high 12 tackles) and the Saints (23 snaps on defense).
ONE STAT THAT STANDS OUT
to read rest of article:
https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-by-position-ilbs
Bob Labriola
STEELERS.COM
Monday, Mar 04, 2019
Another in a position-by-position series in advance of the start of free agency on March 13.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (6)
Jon Bostic, L.J. Fort, Tyler Matakevich, Tegray Scales, Robert Spillane, Vince Williams
(Free Agent Scorecard: 1; 1 unrestricted – L.J. Fort)
A LAST LOOK AT 2018
Because of the manner in which the unit collapsed following the injury to Ryan Shazier during the first quarter of a December 2017 game against the Bengals in Cincinnati, it was widely assumed the Steelers would make the selection of a prospect with similar skills at the position a priority in the 2018 NFL Draft. But when that lottery began, the Steelers were unable to trade up higher into the first round to pick a prospect they liked, nor were they fortunate enough to have one fall to them when their turn came at No. 28 overall, the team opted instead for safety Terrell Edmunds.
Whether Edmunds develops into the kind of playmaker the unit certainly needs still is to be determined, but what’s not up for debate is that the Steelers find themselves no closer to finding one individual who might provide the defense with what Shazier was providing the unit. But come the end of the 2018 season, the Steelers had succeeded in shoring up their defense against the run compared to the end of 2017, and the play of the inside linebackers contributed to that improvement.
Vince Williams was the primary holdover from the 2017 group, and despite missing two starts – one because of a hamstring injury and the other because of a toe injury – he led all linebackers and was second on the team with 76 tackles. Williams also had 4.5 sacks, one interception, and two passes defensed.
As the 2018 offseason began, it appeared the Steelers’ plan was to find a couple of inside linebackers, but because of the way the draft unfolded the only player they ended up adding was unrestricted free agent Jon Bostic from Indianapolis. Bostic took some time to settle in, but he continued to improve over the course of the regular season, and he would finish fourth on the team, and second among linebackers, with 73 tackles, and he didn’t miss a game because of injury.
As the regular season progressed and the Steelers continued to look for someone to fill the role of a dime linebacker, L.J. Fort emerged as a guy who was able to get closest to what they needed from the position when it came to coverage responsibilities. As a result, Fort’s playing time gradually increased, with a couple of notable examples being the late-season games against the Chargers (52 snaps on defense and a team-high 12 tackles) and the Saints (23 snaps on defense).
ONE STAT THAT STANDS OUT
to read rest of article:
https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-by-position-ilbs