What sucks for Matakevich is that when he finally got the chance to start, his shoulder got torn up.
Because, yes, Matakevich is a “catcher’s mitt” (I’m adopting that term), but that would have been an upgrade over Spence.
Shazier: tackle at LOS
Big Red: tackle 3 yards downfield
Spence: misses tackle completely
I could be wrong but it seems to me that tackling hasn't been Shazier's natural part of playing the game. I believe he led the team in missed tackles since his rookie year.
I have nothing to base this on other than a "sense" - so I am likely wrong. BUT...I feel that Shazier was like Polamalu on the missed tackles front. Both guys missed a surprising amount of tackles. However, both guys played at a million miles an hour with their hair on fire, got to spots on the field that no other player could and put themselves in position to "miss" a tackle that no one else could even get to. Additionally, because of how fast both guys played, they were never going to be good at "breaking down" and form tackling a guy. Hard to do that at a dead sprint.
All that being said, Shazier also missed some "easy" tackles. Long story short, I was willing to overlook the missed tackles because of the number of plays per game he impacted that few other players in the league could.
2018 NFL Mock Draft: Browns take Wyoming QB Josh Allen with top pick
Browns add Saquon Barkley with their second first-round pick
by Pete Prisco
CBS Sports Senior Writer Feb 15, 2018
28. Pittsburgh Steelers
Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia. When Ryan Shazier went down for the year, their defense suffered. With his future in doubt, they need to get a playmaking linebacker and Smith is that guy.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
Connor Williams, OT, Texas. They have to get better up front and Williams would give them tackle flexibility with second-year player Cam Robinson if they keep Jeremy Parnell at right tackle. Robinson has ability, but he struggled at times last season and could be moved to guard if they were to land a tackle or to the right side.
30. Minnesota Vikings
Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame. They need to get better at right tackle and McGlinchey would do that. He played the left side at Notre Dame, but could easily move to the right side.
31. New England Patriots
Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford. Their front seven needs upgrading in the worst way. Phillips is a smart player as an Academic All-American, and we know how Bill Belichick loves that about players. Might go a lot higher than this when all said and done.
32. Philadelphia Eagles
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama. He is a tough, nasty player who knows how to get to the football. The Eagles could be losing Nigel Bradham to free agency and Jordan Hicks is coming off a major injury.
to see full article and all selections:
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...with-top-pick/
Serious who cares what Mel says!! Has he ever predicted any Steeler draft pick that they actually picked ? None comes to mind to me ?. Say it every year and he is garbage but a big mouth that ESPN digs and Maylock is way better judging talent.
The more i look at this ILB class, the more I really like Rashaan Evans. He's fast enough to play sideline to sideline, can play as a cover ILB, has pass rushing tools from his games playing on the outside. He's a sound, solid, smart, physical tackler. Just an all around good football player. I like the comparison to Timmons, I think it fits. I think this guy fits who we need.
Mike Mayock's 2018 NFL Draft position rankings
By Mike Mayock
NFL Media draft analyst
Published: Feb. 15, 2018
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...ition-rankings
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings...xpos&order=ASC
To be fair, Mayock is mixing the ILB-OLB categories and adding the "Edge" rusher. Most places typically use the previous... even if that's not necessarily where they end up playing in the NFL.
2018 NFL Mock Draft
by Chris Trapasso
CBSSports.com
28. Pittsburgh Steelers
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama. Evans is a big-hitting Alabama linebacker with impressive movement skills. He's precisely what the Steelers defense needs.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...s-with-eagles/
Nothing is going to change in these mock drafts unless one of the prominent ILB prospects gets hit by a bus or murders someone. Connecting the Steelers to a draft prospect hasn't been this cut and dry since maybe Pouncey?
Additionally, these mock drafters have almost no inside knowledge of what teams are actually planning on doing and they have a success rate of somewhere just north of zero.
What's my point? Read and evaluate for yourselves, but assume the draft goes dramatically different than any of these guys projects - it almost always does.
Brugler Big Board: Nelson earns No. 1 spot
— By Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com —
–49. Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama (6-2, 234, 4.73, 32)
A downhill, power linebacker for the Tide, Evans loves to mix it up with blockers, using his hands to tear through blockers. There are too many “almost” tackles and cover lapses on his tape, but his physicality fits any scheme.
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/2018/02...rns-no-1-spot/
looks like Brugler has moved Evans up from #49 overall to #26:
Brugler Big Board 2.0: Maryland’s Moore, Boise State’s Vander Esch rising
March 8, 2018, By Dane Brugler
–26. Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama (6-2, 232, 4.73)
A downhill, power linebacker for the Tide, Evans loves to mix it up with blockers, using his hands to tear through blockers. There are too many near tackles and cover lapses on his tape, but his physicality fits any scheme.
http://nfldraftscout.com/2018/03/08/...r-esch-rising/
Steelers select LB Rashaan Evans in Casserly's new Mock Draft
Evans is one of the top rated linebackers in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Bryan DeArdo - Apr 3, 2018
Rashaan Evans is the Pittsburgh Steelers' first round pick in Super Bowl winning General Manager Charley Casserly's new Mock Draft.
The 6'3, 234-pound Evans enjoyed a stellar senior season at Alabama, recording 74 tackles that included 13 tackles for loss. He also recorded 6.0 sacks while recording a forced and recovered fumble.
"Evans fills the biggest need on the team," Casserly wrote of Evans. "He's a highly instinctive player.
One of the top rated inside linebacker in this year's draft, Evans met with the Steelers during the 2018 NFL Combine. Evans also spoke with The Athletic's Mark Kaboly about playing in Pittsburgh while saying that he would welcome the opportunity to replace Ryan Shazier, who will not play in 2018.
to read rest of article:
https://247sports.com/Bolt/Pittsburg...raft-116980688
James C Wexell
@jimwexell
Steelers did in fact hope to trade up to draft Rashaan Evans.
26 Apr 2018
https://twitter.com/jimwexell/status/989707123645927424
I really wanted this guy.
If they were going to pick an ILB not named Smith or Edmunds.....this is the guy I would have wanted.
He's just a terrific football player. Love how instinctive he is on the field, his leadership, and his tackling ability. He can cover and do everything you can ask of him at the position.
I wasn't worried about him not testing at the combine. Watch his tape. The kid knows how to play the position, and would instantaneously and instinctively go to the right spot or shoot a gap.