As we approach this upcoming 2021 NFL season, there are some positions that are going to get more of the spotlight than others. This is due to a multitude of reasons. Many stars on the roster were not able to fully showcase their full abilities due to injuries that held them out for a good chunk of time last season, plus the fact that many familiar faces for several years are now no longer in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ facility. There are going to be a whole bunch of changes at particular positions on this football team on both sides of the ball, moves that will hopefully be beneficial to the Steelers winning many football games.
One interesting position that is potentially going to look a lot different than what we saw last season is the middle linebacker core. Although the only piece to this position group added was rookie Buddy Johnson out of Texas A&M University, the faces we saw gracing this particular position last year are most likely subject to change. That is mostly due to last year's Steelers defense playing without its star linebacker Devin Bush for the latter half of the year. He now is healthy and ready to show the leap he has made since his rookie campaign just two years ago.
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He will have to do that exact task in somewhat of a crowded middle linebacker crew. Bush himself is paired with veterans Vince Williams and Robert Spillane, along with younger guys like Marcus Allen and Ulysses Gilbert. Last season, the crew mentioned above did their part in carrying the load at that position and did a good job doing so. Spillane, specifically, did well enough throughout the year to garner respect throughout the league, posting his best season yet in his early NFL career. It is safe to say that either Williams, Spillane or even both will still carry roles that will be vital in this team's success as a defense in particular. The only difference is, this year they will have Bush right beside them wrecking havoc.
Bush’s style of play, although only a small sample size, is one of a ballhawk. Unique for someone who plays a position with a reputation built upon “destroying” anyone with the ball in their hands. Bush’s tactics lean more towards attacking the ball rather than the actual player. It’s no secret that Bush had tremendous playmaking ability paired with the speed to cover tight ends as they break off into their routes and to catch opposing rushers before they catch that vital outside corner. Having a guy with that type of ability is something not many teams can say they have the luxury of. His presence is something the Steelers will not take very lightly, especially seeing how vital he is to have on this defense, with his absence all of last year.
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In all honesty, this could be one of the best linebacking crews this team has seen in a good amount of time. Bush is a once and a generation type of linebacker, you don’t get the opportunity to draft someone at that particular position who has the individual skill set that he carries. There is a reason why the Steelers did the unthinkable in their world and traded a coveted first round choice for him back in 2019, his full ability is going to be showcased right before our eyes. If Spillane can have anywhere near the type of season he had last year, serving as that “ballhawk” type Bush does so very well, we could be in for a repeat of what last season was for this defense, or even better.
Do you think Devin Bush can be an anchor for this defense in 2021? Sound off in the comment section below!
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