Steelers select ILB Devin Bush in first round

[RuthlessBurgher]

Tedy Bruschi ‘Can’t Wait’ To See Devin Bush Lined Up In Steelers Defense

By Matthew Marczi 

Posted on May 14, 2019 at 8:00 am

Pittsburgh Steelers President Art Rooney II joked that the team’s interest in Michigan linebacker Devin Bush and the possibility of going up to get him was the ‘worst-kept secret’ of the draft. It’s a fit that made a ton of sense on paper, and now it’s an actuality, so a lot of people, both inside and outside of the fan base and the organization, are interested in seeing how that plays out.

You can include former New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi in that group. Bruschi, while showing some homerism as about any former player-turned-analyst does (yes, including former Steelers players), has been overall one of the better of his breed in making a second career in the game from the commentating side.

He recently called out the Bush pick for the Steelers as the fit that he is most looking forward to seeing this year after Pittsburgh gave up second- and third-round draft picks to trade up from 20th-overall this year to the 10th spot to get him.

“I can’t wait to watch Devin Bush, the linebacker out of Michigan, in the Pittsburgh Steeler defense”, he said. “Those guys know how to use off-the-ball linebackers, rushing the passer, in space. They utilize them on a three-down basis and he has the ability to do that. You leave him on the field, it’s a huge asset for your team. He’s not a first- and second-down player, he’s not just a third-down sub linebacker, he can do it all. Great fit for the Steelers”.

And Bush seems to be off to a good start. He was calling the team’s defense, vocally and with confidence, from the first day of rookie minicamp even though he had just gotten the playbook. He told reporters that he was already familiar with a lot of the concepts that he was seeing, but that he would have to adjust to the language the team is using to identify those concepts.

The only real question is whether or not he is going to start immediately as a rookie or if the coaching staff will give him time to come along. They signed veteran Mark Barron in free agency on a two-year deal worth $12 million. They obviously have plans for Barron to play, whether that is as the starting Mack linebacker or otherwise.

It would be a shock, though, if we don’t see Bush on the field for at least a decent amount of time during his rookie season, especially given the recent trend of their first-round picks starting almost immediately, and every first-round pick going back to 2012 has played significantly during their rookie season when healthy.

https://steelersdepot.com/2019/05/tedy-bruschi-cant-wait-to-see-devin-bush-lined-up-in-steelers-defense/

[Oh wow]

Nice. If all he needs is the terminology we may have the next leader on defense.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Devin Bush Opens OTAs Running With 1st Team

By Alex Kozora 

Posted on May 21, 2019 at 1:41 pm

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t keeping the training wheels on Devin Bush. Opening OTAs for the first time of the season, Bush reportedly ran with the starters for “most of the day,” according to this tweet/report from the Post-Gazette’s Sarah K. Spencer.

Bush flashed a big smile when asked about running with the first-team defense for most of the day.

“It’s a super learning experience. The guys get to learn me and I get to play alongside them and build some relationships.”

— Sarah K. Spencer (@sarah_k_spence) May 21, 2019

Of course, this will bring up shades of Ryan Shazier, who was running with the 1st team during the spring of his rookie season. He ended up starting the first five games of 2014 before missing a month with an injury.

Being a starter and ideally, a three-down player, will require Bush to be the signal caller of the defense. The man who wears the green dot on the back of his helmet, gets the playcall from the sideline, and aligns the front while adjusting to any audibles and motions the offense responds with. As Spencer’s tweet notes, Vince Williams seems to be taking Bush under his wing. Williams served as the team’s signal caller last season, the team opting to play him even on 3rd and long. After beating the Patriots, Mike Tomlin noted how important his communication was, even if it meant sacrificing a bit of athleticism.

“I can’t say enough about Vince Williams in what he was able to do in terms of being a central communicator throughout the game,” Tomlin said in his next press conference. “It allowed us to settle in and match some of the pace things they do and things they do very well. I thought communication was an element of that performance.”

Calling the defense won’t be brand new for Bush either. He served in that role at Michigan and repeatedly earned high praise from defensive coordinator Don Brown.

“The thing I remember most with him is he would come and sit between series on the sideline and if I’m sitting here, he’s sitting right there,” Brown said in a video posted by the school, transcribed via The Michigan Insider. “Didn’t matter what the score was, he was the leader and he was right there — on every word and every adjustment. He was the guy [on the] field that the players trusted, that I trusted.”

That’s what it’s about. Trust. Communication. And early on, it sounds like Bush is well on his way to earning that.

https://steelersdepot.com/2019/05/devin-bush-opens-otas-running-with-1st-team/

[ikestops85]

Does anybody think he will really be the defensive signal caller to start the year? If he is, then, WOW!!

[RuthlessBurgher]

Does anybody think he will really be the defensive signal caller to start the year? If he is, then, WOW!!

Yeah, the dude with the green dot has to remain on the field in all situations, and Bush seems like he'll be that guy to me. I expect us to trot out Bush and Vince as our inside backers on early run downs, and then Bush and Barron as our inside backers in nickel passing downs. The common demoninator there is Bush would be out there for everything. Start getting him ready for that duty now.

[hawaiiansteel]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Devin Bush splits time with Mark Barron running with 1st team at OTAs Tuesday

The Steelers rookie linebacker saw a significant amount of practice time with the starters during the opening day of OTAs

By Simon Chester
May 22, 2019, 8:54am EDT

The Pittsburgh Steelers wasted very little time getting Devin Bush acclimated to the first-team defense on the opening day of Organized Team Activities on Tuesday, reportedly including him in a three man rotation at inside linebacker with veterans Mark Barron and Vince Williams.

As per Mike Prisuta of WDVE Radio and Steelers.com, while Bush was not in there for the first snap of the day, it appears that he saw a significant amount of time with the starting unit on day one of OTAs, seemingly being given every opportunity to show the coaching staff what he can do from the outset.

Devin Bush wasn’t with No. 1s on first snap of OTA No. 1. Mark Barron lined up at ILB with Vince Williams. “Yeah, I did,” Barron said. The rest of the time, “We had a (3-man) rotation going,” Barron said. It wasn’t base or sub-package driven. Barron: “It was a pure rotation.” pic.twitter.com/gt2Mm8buZH
— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) May 21, 2019

The ability of the young rookie to be able communicate with the rest of the defense will be key to his development in the early stages of his career, especially if he is to be charged with the task of calling the plays in the huddle. A learning curve that Williams and Cam Heyward are helping him with in their own different ways.

Steelers rookie LB Devin Bush says he's learned a lot from Vince Williams already.

"Vince leads a lot by example. He shows you how to communicate, how to conduct an NFL defense, what to look for in checks and just how to play the full game."
— Sarah K. Spencer (@sarah_k_spence) May 21, 2019

Cam Heyward on Devin Bush rotating in with the No. 1s: “It’s kinda weird cheering for a Michigan guy now but I’m going to be his biggest advocate. We were already kidding him about when he was calling the play that he’s gotta get some bass in his voice. But he’s gonna be good.” pic.twitter.com/Nvng8xaUH9
— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) May 21, 2019

When speaking to the media after practice, Heyward was understandably reluctant to get too excited about the rookie’s performance after only one day of training out of pads. But also made it clear that he would do what he could to help the former Michigan product adjust to life in the NFL, despite the obvious college rivalry. As reported by Sarah Spencer of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

“It’s the first day, we got to get the jitters out. It’s kind of weird cheering for a Michigan guy now, but I’m going to be his biggest advocate and biggest supporter, so it’s a good starting point. It’s the first day to get him used to us. We were already kidding about when he was calling the plays, he’s got to get some bass in his voice. But that’s just us messing around. He’s going to be good, and we’ll break him in.”

And while Barron might be his rival for the starting role, the offseason free agent signing had nothing put positive things to say about his young rival when talking to reporters.

“I’ve only been around him briefly, but I like his style of play from what I’ve seen. He’s really aggressive, really tenacious, a speedy guy. He gets to the ball, and that’s kind of similar to the way I play. I get to the ball. I like that; anytime I see somebody that gets to the ball and plays with a certain attitude, I like it.”

Of all of the position battles set to be fought this offseason, the one between Barron and Bush could well be the most interesting to watch. But it perhaps worth acknowledging the relative unimportance of who runs with which unit at this stage in the year. If Bush is dominating the first team snap counts when the team gets to Latrobe, that will be the time to really take notice.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2019/5/22/18634997/steelers-rookie-lb-devin-bush-splits-time-with-mark-barron-running-with-1st-team-at-otas-nfl-news

[RuthlessBurgher]

Devin Bush labeled as a ‘perfect fit’ for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense

ESPN labels Steelers’ 1st round pick Devin Bush as a ‘perfect fit’ for the team’s defense.

By Jeff Hartman
May 18, 2019, 10:15am EDT

The Pittsburgh Steelers did what their fan base wanted during the 2019 NFL Draft — they were aggressive.

Rather than sitting back and waiting until their appointed 20th pick in the draft, they traded their 20th pick, their second round pick and a 2020 3rd round pick to move up to the 10th pick and get their guy. None other than one of the ‘Devins’. Michigan ILB Devin White.

When the stun of the draft trade wore off, Steelers fans have been wondering what kind of player the Steelers were able to draft. Does he fit the scheme the way the organization wants? Will he make an immediate impact?

According to ESPN’s Matt Bowen, Bush was one of 15 players selected who could be tabbed as a ‘perfect fit’ with their new NFL team.

See what Bowen had to say, but first let’s see what their ultimate objectives were with this exercise:

Throughout the NFL draft process, we focused on specific traits that translate to the pro game. Scheme fit and coaching, however, are vital parts of early development and production in the league.

Let’s focus on the rookies who landed in the offensive and defensive schemes that will allow NFL teams to maximize their ability, using stat projections from ESPN’s Mike Clay. Here are 15 first-year players who are set up to succeed early in their careers:

Okay, with that out of the way, time to get to what they had to say about Bush and what his projected stats are for 2019:

Devin Bush, ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 10)

Clay’s 2019 projections: 98 total tackles, two sacks and four pass breakups

Bush fills an immediate need for the Steelers in the middle of the defense, and his run-and-hit traits are a perfect fit for this defense. Bush should be viewed here as a three-down defender who can match in coverage underneath, close with speed in zone schemes and track the ball in the run game. He also has shown the ability to blitz.

I expect Bush to rack up tackles and use that 4.4 40-yard dash speed to eat up grass as a sideline-to-sideline player who makes impact plays.

At this point, what do you think of the prediction? Do you feel Bush is indeed a perfect fit for the Steelers, or do you think there will certainly be some growing pains in this development? Also, will he start in Week 1, or have to wait his turn behind Mark Barron?

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2019/5/18/18630190/devin-bush-labeled-as-perfect-fit-for-the-pittsburgh-steelers-defense-ryan-shazier-ilb-keith-butler

[hawaiiansteel]

Mark Barron: ILBs Used ‘Pure’ 3-Man Rotation With Himself, Bush, Williams

By Matthew Marczi
Posted on May 22, 2019

The fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers gave rookie first-round inside linebacker Devin Bush a lot of run with the first-team defense made headlines yesterday, as it should rightfully. But there was actually more to it than that. For one thing, while he took a lot of snaps, he didn’t take the first snaps.

Mark Barron did alongside Vince Williams. And Barron also worked with Bush over Williams at times. He told Mike Prisuta that the Steelers used a true three-man rotation at the inside linebacker position between them to open up OTAs.

“It was pure rotation”, Barron said of the split work he, Bush, and Williams got running with the first-team offense. In other words, it was not based on personnel, situational placement, or anything like that. One pair got playing time, then one was swapped out for the other, and on it went, or so it has been indicated.

What does this mean? More than anything, I think it’s really just about the coaching staff wanting to do two things: one, get the two new faces at the position playing time; and two, simply figure out what those players look like.

There is also the third: figuring out which of the three possible combinations looks best: Bush-Williams, Barron-Bush, or Williams-Barron.

The other day, I featured Barron in my stock watch series and argued that the drafting of Bush lowers Barron’s stock value since he was signed to a $6 million-per-season two-year contract in free agency. The story would be a different one if he should supplant Williams full-time as a starter, though I don’t know that that would be the betting favorite among all possibilities.

The bottom line is that all three linebackers are valued and coveted by the coaching staff, but two of them are new, which means that there is a lot about them that they still need to figure out, even if one is a veteran of many years on the doorstep of 30.

The fact that Bush is getting run with the first-team defense immediately is a great sign, but I also really like seeing Barron being treated like the significant component he should prove capable of being. He got the first snaps and then quite a bit thereafter.

I imagine that rotation is going to continue for a while, but they are going to have to settle on two to start at some point this offseason, which is usually reserved for training camp. Even if they end up having to sit some money on the bench this season, this is a luxury they will gladly embrace given the issues at the position they went through just a year ago.

https://steelersdepot.com/2019/05/mark-barron-ilbs-used-pure-3-man-rotation-with-himself-bush-williams/

[NorthCoast]

To be honest, I expect fits and starts with the Steelers defense to begin the season. Maybe the first qtr season looking gloomy but will start putting it together for a long tear to end on a high note.
This seems to be the way they have started for Tomlin so don't expect much difference especially with all the new faces.

[RuthlessBurgher]

To be honest, I expect fits and starts with the Steelers defense to begin the season. Maybe the first qtr season looking gloomy but will start putting it together for a long tear to end on a high note.
This seems to be the way they have started for Tomlin so don't expect much difference especially with all the new faces.

Well, our LB's won't have to try to figure out a way to contain Gronk in the opener, but they certainly will be challenged with handling the likes of Sony Michel, James White, and rookie Damien Harris in both the run game as well as the pass game.

[Northern_Blitz]

To be honest, I expect fits and starts with the Steelers defense to begin the season. Maybe the first qtr season looking gloomy but will start putting it together for a long tear to end on a high note.
This seems to be the way they have started for Tomlin so don't expect much difference especially with all the new faces.

Yep.

I also expect VW to start with the dot. Hopefully Bush can be the every down guy before the end of the season

[RuthlessBurgher]

Yep.

I also expect VW to start with the dot. Hopefully Bush can be the every down guy before the end of the season

If Bush is not able to handle the full communication duties of making sure everyone is lined up correctly from day 1, I wouldn't necessarily give the green dot to Vince, because I think that we all realize VW should not be on the field in all situations by now.

Although the preference would obviously be to have an ILB wear the green dot, if Bush's rookie season is more like Troy's rookie season (i.e. doesn't fully blossom until year 2), then just give the dot to an OLB who will be out there at all times instead (T.J. Watt). I would imagine that he knows enough of the defense by now to communicate if needed in that capacity.

[Northern_Blitz]

If Bush is not able to handle the full communication duties of making sure everyone is lined up correctly from day 1, I wouldn't necessarily give the green dot to Vince, because I think that we all realize VW should not be on the field in all situations by now.

Although the preference would obviously be to have an ILB wear the green dot, if Bush's rookie season is more like Troy's rookie season (i.e. doesn't fully blossom until year 2), then just give the dot to an OLB who will be out there at all times instead (T.J. Watt). I would imagine that he knows enough of the defense by now to communicate if needed in that capacity.

I like this idea better than having VW on the field all the time.

[hawaiiansteel]

Joey Porter Believes Rookie LB Devin Bush Will Make Steelers Defense Nasty Again

By Dave Bryan
Posted on May 24, 2019

Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker coach Joey Porter was a guest Friday evening on NFL Network’s ‘Total Access’ and he certainly had a lot to say about his most-recent employer. During one of the segments that Porter was in, he was asked to comment some on the Steelers first-round draft pick this year, inside linebacker Devin Bush out of Michigan.

“I think he brings instant splash,” said Porter of Bush. “He’s going to be a guy that can go out there, that can call a defense. It makes the Pittsburgh defense not to have to try and use so many people to try and create a Ryan Shazier.. That’s what they did a year ago. You know, we had like a lot of different packages, we were trying to make two and three people be Ryan and when you have Devin Bush, you can leave him on the field. You know he’s a smart guy, his dad is a football coach. He’s been in football his whole life. So, I think he comes right into the system, does his job, makes a lot of plays and brings that nasty back to the defense.”

To date, the early reports out the Steelers rookie minicamp and OTA practices on Bush have been favorable ones and you would expect them to be with him being selected 10th overall in this year’s draft after being traded up for. After seemingly picking up the overall defensive scheme and concepts well during rookie minicamp, Bush reportedly practiced some with the first-team defense during the first week of OTA practices that concluded in Pittsburgh on Thursday. Bush was even reportedly making some defensive calls this past week and was vocal in doing so. Porter was asked Friday night if he believes Bush can be a year-one leader of the defense, the heart of the unit, if you will.

“He’ll definitely be a part of it,” Porter said. “There’s a lot of guys, you have Cam Heyward, who is still a Pro Bowler, is still on that defense. T.J. Watt is coming into his own after making the Pro Bowl last year. But when you add a guy like Devin to that defense, I mean, he’s going to be surrounded by pieces and they’re going to look for him to go out there and make a lot of plays. And I think he can, I think he’s a hell of a football player.”

As you can easily see, Porter is sold on Bush and his abilities to potentially be a big first-year contributor in the Steelers defense. Even though Porter was jettisoned this past offseason, I’m sure he and several other members of the Steelers coaching staff had quite a few discussions about Bush during his final two seasons at Michigan. Additionally, Porter has probably had quite a few long talks with Bush’s father, Devin Bush Sr., in the past as well as he was a coaching intern with the Steelers during last year’s training camp.

Personally, I won’t be surprised if Bush sees considerable playing time on defense in the Steelers regular season opener against the New England Patriots. Heck, he might even wind up starting that game. As long as he stays healthy the remainder of the summer, he figures to take a similar path as a few other recent Steelers first-round draft picks, Ryan Shazier and T.J. Watt. Not only did Shazier start in Week 1 of his rookie 2014 season, he played 88% of all defensive snaps in that Steelers win over the Cleveland Browns. As for Watt, he started in Week 1 of his 2017 rookie season and played 94% of all defensive snaps in the Steelers win over the Browns.

https://steelersdepot.com/2019/05/joey-porter-believes-rookie-lb-devin-bush-will-make-steelers-defense-nasty-again/