The Steelers’ inside linebackers have been very suspect for quite some time now. Ever since Ryan Shazier went down with his injury, the team has struggled to find any sustainable production at the position. The ILB of the Steelers has always been one of the key positions of the defense and one of the leaders of the team.
Last season, the rotation of Devin Bush, Myles Jack and Robert Spillane was exceptionally mediocre. As a top 10 draft selection in 2019, Bush had high expectations that were never fulfilled. Jack also had equally high expectations, as he was paid $16 million to play for the Steelers. Lastly, Spillane performed well as a third linebacker, but was never anything special.
The group was average at best. The Steelers’ linebackers accounted for exactly zero interceptions, fumbles forced or fumbles recovered. They combined for a total of nine tackles for loss the entire season. Put simply, they just weren’t making plays. As a result, all three linebackers will not be on the 2023 roster.
The first addition to the Steelers ILB room is former Commander, Cole Holcomb. Holcomb projects as the immediate lead linebacker for the 2023 season. In 2022, he only played seven games due to injury, but still racked up 69 tackles. The previous year, Holcomb tallied 142 tackles to go along with two interceptions and 2 forced fumbles. He should be an improvement in both coverage and in defending the run.
Listed second on the depth chart is former Dolphin, Elandon Roberts. Roberts secured 107 tackles in 2022. He also added 10 tackles for loss (more than all three Steelers linebackers combined). While he is not as good in coverage, he should still be more than serviceable on early downs. While Roberts is an excellent run stopper, he should be taken off the field on passing downs in favor of more versatile defenders. Overall, he projects as an excellent running mate for Holcomb.
In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Steelers used their last pick on Ole Miss linebacker Mark Robinson. Robinson only played in four games last season, but started in two of those. He should develop inside of the Steelers system and become a solid third linebacker soon. Robinson has been getting a lot of buzz in minicamp. He has been given starting reps in OTA’s due to injuries and seems to be capitalizing on his opportunities. With the right development, Robinson could even take over as a starter in the future.
The Steelers clearly wanted to switch up the type of player in the middle of the defense. Tanner Muse is another big, thumping linebacker that can stop the run. The difference with Muse is his 4.41 40-yard dash. At 6 foot 2 inches and 227 pounds, this makes him a massive athletic threat. In 2022, he was a backup for the Seahawks and only played 80 snaps. He hasn’t shown much production in the league so far, but his potential is through the roof.
Lastly, the Steelers just recently signed veteran linebacker Nick Kwiatkowski. Kwiatkowski has been all around the league and has a lot of experience. However, at his current age, he is most likely just a special teams player and a good veteran presence. He should help to mentor players like Muse and Robinson if he ends up making the final roster.
Of the five linebackers currently on the roster, only one of them was part of the Steelers ILB group from 2022. However, this group projects to be much better than the Bush and Jack tandem. Led by Holcomb and Roberts, the team should be much better against the run. Pass coverage should be much more consistent as well. These linebackers could be the difference between the best defense in the league and what the Steelers were in 2022.
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Feature image courtesy of Steelers.com
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