I was always a big a big fan of Donnie Edwards (#homer). The dude simply made tackles, and more importantly, he never missed tackles/nothing got past him. Now, as he aged, those tackles went from “no gain” to “2-yard gain” to “5-yard gain”... but, even in his final season, he just didn’t miss tackles (albeit farther down the field than you’d prefer). Still, you never (never ever) saw a long run against him... which is the type of play that we are seeing with Bostic (i.e. sure tackling; and no long, back-breaking runs).
I’ll take it.
That is a pretty good comparison. Bostic is exactly what he was advertised as. A rock-solid ILB that can diagnose and close on running plays and doesn't embarrass himself on 1st and 2nd down pass plays. Is he a warp speed sideline to sideline playmaker? Nope, but no one ever claimed he was.
I wonder what all the naysayers who claimed that the ILB position was not addressed except for signing a scrub journeyman are thinking now?
I mean I get that Bostic + Fort < Shazier but it was still a typical Colbert CYA free agent signing. He was able to go into the draft knowing he didn't HAVE to get a starter at ILB.
I get that Bostic has only missed 1 tackle in the last 5 games, but he has made 15 in those last 5 games. I guess I would like to see more than an average of 3 tackles per game, but at least he is and upgrade over Sean Spence.
Bostic has been good this year. Also liking Fort as well (still wondering why he didn't start over Spence last year). The guy who practiced all year had to be a better fit than the guy who got cut by 2 teams and was sitting on the couch.
I don't disagree. But I wonder what percentage of the downs has Bostic been on the field for? During this win streak, there has not been a ton of rushing by the opposition after the first quarter due to game flow.
Can't make tackles if you are not on the field.
Now, if he is playing 80% of the defensive snaps and still not getting to the ball...
Yes, speed is important to be able to get to the edges in the run game, or bubble screens, etc. Also, the ability to get depth and close out passing lanes down the seam to TE's.
I have seen a couple mock drafts that put Devin Bush of Michigan to the Steelers. Bush is all over the field as an ILB and a playmaker. The only thing that could hamper him is his 5'11" height in defending TE's in the passing game, but the kid flat out makes plays.
I personally think ILB and TE are the 2 areas without a #1 talented player. OLB is also Watt as a prime time player and Dupree as an average player, but not a lot of depth. I think Steelers need to target an ILB and then look at a pass rusher in the 2nd unless a good TE is on the board.
Sure. That is undoubtedly true. Bostic is not a "playmaker" but he is assignment sound if you are reasonable as a DC with what you task him to do.
Honestly, I don't think they go ILB early at all in the draft. They are gonna figure that some combination of VW/Bostic/Thomas/and "dimebacker" from the SS pool can get them through 2019.
I think they will look at their outside CBs and be like "old", "head-case bust", "journeyman zone guy", "3rd rounder who flashes but never seizes opportunity", and "raw prospect who may have plateaued". I figure that gets 1-2 draft picks in the first 4 rounds.
Then they look at their OLB depth chart and see Watt and a bunch of question marks. Even if we believe in the kid from Toledo with all the vowels in his name. That is 2-3 at best. They should be 4-5 deep at the position. So that will get at least 1 pick in the first 4.
Next I look at RB and realize I am one injury away from my offense potentially seizing up. That will get a pick.
WR will get a pick, because it always does and it is time to push Justin Hunter off the roster.
Long story short; unless some "stud" falls to them in Rd 1 -- they ain't drafting an ILB. I mean think about it. If they didn't draft a guy in 2018 when the need was at the most pressing, why would they draft a guy in 2019 when the defense is playing better and Bostic/Thomas/Edmunds/Burnett/Allen/Golden are all guys that exist on the roster? I also think this dovetails with Tomlin's continued comments about "sub-package" football. Your DBs and EDGE guys are always on the field. Your ILBs are transitioning to only be only field less than 50% of the time. If I really thought that they were willing to replace VW as a starter, then I would argue that they would be looking to get a guy with their first pick. But I don't think they are thinking that way at all. So you are talking about a guy who plays on 2 downs. So earliest they would take him would be Rd. 3 if the ILB version of Hargraves showed up.
It will be interesting to see if they can meet any of these needs in FA, I think they will go BPA on ILB, OLB or CB in R1. We still need a TE, McDonald is good but injuries and drops linger in my mind plus what is he going to cost next year? James has improved but he still not what we need but is a great backup.
I just don't think that FA should be counted on for anything more than average depth. A player like Alualu is about the best you can hope for. Haden popping on the market at just the right time and having just the right motivation is almost unbelievably rare.
Looking at the FA OLBs and CBs, there are like 3 guys on each list that look like "Wow. That guy would most likely really make the defense better!" Then you realize that there is almost (I guess never say "never") no way those players make it to the open market. One guy that has a shot is Darby the CB from the Eagles who are going to have to shed significant salary.
But overall, the guys that would seem most likely to come available would be shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic kind of signings. In other words, what is the point of signing Coty Sensabaugh 2.0 when you have version 1.0 on your roster and you already know how to integrate him with the rest of your defense?
I think they could and should sign some FAs that help out in 2nd and 3rd string depth at key spots. But ILBs, CBs, and pass-rushers that would help the defense take another step up are almost assuredly going to have to come in the draft.
I think the Steelers will prioritize CBs and edge players over ILBs
I would say that 100% the R1 pick has to be a CB.
Bostic isn’t great, but he’s better than our corners.
Definition of insanity.I said it was a horrible mistake to hold on to him after Jacksonville, and its looking all the more apparent. He is (among other reasons) going to send this season into a trainwreck.
It doesn't make a lick of difference who is behind center, the D is going to be torched by anyone. Tyrod, Bortles, Ryan, Fitzpatrick, it doesn't matter. Anyone will look like a HOF'er against Butler's D. When you have a Defense this sloppy and terrible, there's no chance to win.
Get effed, Butler.
Unless we have someone who ownership believes can do better than Butler, I'm okay holding on to him until the end of the year. What I won't be okay with is holding him to the end of the year only to see us promote from within. If we want to do that, then fire Butler now and give the keys to the next guy to see what he might be able to do against the Pats* and the Saints.
I agree. I want to see fresh blood in there rather than recycled Cowher/Tomlin people.
Wait . . . there's a joke in there somewhere . . . TOMLIN CAN'T WIN WITH COWHER'S PLAYERS AS COACHES!
Okay, in all seriousness, as I said, I want to see someone new. In my previous post, I was just stating that if they were thinking of promoting from within, then it should happen now rather than in the offseason. Not that I want it, but at least we'd be able to see if the person could actually gameplan.
Rex Ryan anyone?
"Zeds dead baby, Zeds dead." - Butch