Bush's 5th Year option declined

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Bush hasn't done himself any favors by his most recent comments. Maybe he feels uber confident that the knee is healed and he'll be back to rookie season play? Good for him but he needs to make it happen.

I've thought about it. These days ILB's MUST be able to shed blocks and be tall enough / have long arms for coverage. He can't change this, and it has nothing to do with his knee injury two seasons ago. It doesn't help that he's not instinctive in coverage and a poor student of them game. I think he's done, quit fooling yourself. Buddy Johnson may or may not be ready and Robison sure can take the job as a rookie LB with limited options and be removed on obvious passing down. I think we have something in Robinson. He's strong with upside to fill. Don't underestimate Brian Flores to coach him up. In the meantime Spillane is there, and was inserted over Bush at times last year. Bush seems done, and the mistake cost us a lot of draft capital.

[NorthCoast]

I've thought about it. These days ILB's MUST be able to shed blocks and be tall enough / have long arms for coverage. He can't change this, and it has nothing to do with his knee injury two seasons ago. It doesn't help that he's not instinctive in coverage and a poor student of them game. I think he's done, quit fooling yourself. Buddy Johnson may or may not be ready and Robison sure can take the job as a rookie LB with limited options and be removed on obvious passing down. I think we have something in Robinson. He's strong with upside to fill. Don't underestimate Brian Flores to coach him up. In the meantime Spillane is there, and was inserted over Bush at times last year. Bush seems done, and the mistake cost us a lot of draft capital.

I won't argue against your points. I've been down on Bush for over a season now. How he does in the first month of the season will be telling. He very well could end up as a backup ILB on this team before the season is over.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

I won't argue against your points. I've been down on Bush for over a season now. How he does in the first month of the season will be telling. He very well could end up as a backup ILB on this team before the season is over.

I speak the truth and my points can't be blamed on a knee injury ( soon fans ) 2 season ago. I agree, he could be a back up this year and was on the bench at times last year. I don't see a long term future with the Steelers.

[Mr.wizard]

I've thought about it. These days ILB's MUST be able to shed blocks and be tall enough / have long arms for coverage. He can't change this, and it has nothing to do with his knee injury two seasons ago. It doesn't help that he's not instinctive in coverage and a poor student of them game. I think he's done, quit fooling yourself. Buddy Johnson may or may not be ready and Robison sure can take the job as a rookie LB with limited options and be removed on obvious passing down. I think we have something in Robinson. He's strong with upside to fill. Don't underestimate Brian Flores to coach him up. In the meantime Spillane is there, and was inserted over Bush at times last year. Bush seems done, and the mistake cost us a lot of draft capital.

Bush is and was drafted as a coverage Linebacker and has sideline to sideline speed. His performance last season was a direct result of not only his injury but the injuries to the DL as well. Robinson who isn't anywhere near Bush in terms of ability and skill, is adownhill run stopper, he was terrible in coverage and terrible in play recognition at Ole Miss.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Bush is and was drafted as a coverage Linebacker and has sideline to sideline speed. His performance last season was a direct result of not only his injury but the injuries to the DL as well. Robinson who isn't anywhere near Bush in terms of ability and skill, is adownhill run stopper, he was terrible in coverage and terrible in play recognition at Ole Miss.

A shrimp linebacker was drafted high ( and we traded up to get him costing us picks ) for coverage? What 5'11 inch linebacker is good is coverage? Which one? He is a targeted mid-match in coverage and can't match up at all with Tight Ends due to lack of size and lack he change direction ability to cover WR's or speedy backs out of the backfield. In fact he can't cover the " Big " receivers either. Yeah he times well in a straight line. To compound this problem which he can not change he is a poor student of the game and not instinctive. He's definitely not an in the box run defender. When was the last time he stuffed anyone , 1-2x a year? Not enough. Get real and watch the games. Hopefully the addition of Jack and the young guys can replace this hole in the defense.

[Mr.wizard]

A shrimp linebacker was drafted high ( and we traded up to get him costing us picks ) for coverage? What 5'11 inch linebacker is good is coverage? Which one? He is a targeted mid-match in coverage and can't match up at all with Tight Ends due to lack of size and lack he change direction ability to cover WR's or speedy backs out of the backfield. In fact he can't cover the " Big " receivers either. Yeah he times well in a straight line. To compound this problem which he can not change he is a poor student of the game and not instinctive. He's definitely not an in the box run defender. When was the last time he stuffed anyone , 1-2x a year? Not enough. Get real and watch the games. Hopefully the addition of Jack and the young guys can replace this hole in the defense.

Why don't you just go and read his draft profile and while your at it read Robinsons? By the way he was excellent in coverage his rookie season as anyone who does watch the games would actually already know. I will say it again, it's like you have never heard of google.

[Flasteel]

I speak the truth and my points can't be blamed on a knee injury ( soon fans ) 2 season ago. I agree, he could be a back up this year and was on the bench at times last year. I don't see a long term future with the Steelers.

I tend to agree with your points, with the exception of the knee still impacting him last year. There are too many cases of players not fully rebounding until that 2nd season back. The valid criticism of his play last year was nowhere to be found in his rookie year. We all thought he had the goods. I don't want to pretend to know how the slightest physical constraints may have impacted his mental focus last year, but it's not a difficult leap to believe that may have been the case. You have to give him this next year to prove he's the same player we all thought he would be after that rookie year. The team has to operate that way as well. The fact they declined his 5th year option is likely about sending a message more than anything, but it also no doubt reflects the same concerns you are stating.

There's a lot invested in Bush and the legitimate hope he can bounce back. I'm personally skeptical and am putting about the same amount of hope that Myles Jack will rebound and Buddy Johnson will develop. It's a lot of uncertainty and hope for an entire position group.

[whisper]

Why don't you just go and read his draft profile and while your at it read Robinsons? By the way he was excellent in coverage his rookie season as anyone who does watch the games would actually already know. I will say it again, it's like you have never heard of google.

https://steelersdepot.com/2022/06/merril-hoge-blasts-devin-bush-not-a-good-football-player/

Hoge says Bush is trash. "He's not a football player. You have to cut bait. You can't win with players like that."

He destroyed Bush in every way. Says he dogged it all year and that has nothing to do with the torn ACL.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Quote Originally Posted by Joel Buchsbaum View Post
A shrimp linebacker was drafted high ( and we traded up to get him costing us picks ) for coverage? What 5'11 inch linebacker is good is coverage? Which one? He is a targeted mid-match in coverage and can't match up at all with Tight Ends due to lack of size and lack he change direction ability to cover WR's or speedy backs out of the backfield. In fact he can't cover the " Big " receivers either. Yeah he times well in a straight line. To compound this problem which he can not change he is a poor student of the game and not instinctive. He's definitely not an in the box run defender. When was the last time he stuffed anyone , 1-2x a year? Not enough. Get real and watch the games. Hopefully the addition of Jack and the young guys can replace this hole in the defense.

Why don't you just go and read his draft profile and while your at it read Robinsons? By the way he was excellent in coverage his rookie season as anyone who does watch the games would actually already know. I will say it again, it's like you have never heard of google.

I did read his draft profile but more importantly I watched the games. Pay attention to what and say, you can't refute it. The guy is not mentally sharp, and is short, with short arms, and lack change of direction ability not to be confused with pure straight line speed. He's not big either. This was prior to the knee, which took aways some of his explosiveness.

[Mr.wizard]

https://steelersdepot.com/2022/06/me...otball-player/

Hoge says Bush is trash. "He's not a football player. You have to cut bait. You can't win with players like that."

He destroyed Bush in every way. Says he dogged it all year and that has nothing to do with the torn ACL.

So What, he also said there was no evidence football causes CTE. Are we supposed to believe that after a great rookie season Bush coming off an ACL injury experienced no limitations and instead it was really just him dogging it? Funny how also it didn't matter who we put at inside linebacker we got the same result, almost like it had something to do with the real hole in the defense which was the DL.

[Mr.wizard]

Quote Originally Posted by Joel Buchsbaum View Post
A shrimp linebacker was drafted high ( and we traded up to get him costing us picks ) for coverage? What 5'11 inch linebacker is good is coverage? Which one? He is a targeted mid-match in coverage and can't match up at all with Tight Ends due to lack of size and lack he change direction ability to cover WR's or speedy backs out of the backfield. In fact he can't cover the " Big " receivers either. Yeah he times well in a straight line. To compound this problem which he can not change he is a poor student of the game and not instinctive. He's definitely not an in the box run defender. When was the last time he stuffed anyone , 1-2x a year? Not enough. Get real and watch the games. Hopefully the addition of Jack and the young guys can replace this hole in the defense.



I did read his draft profile but more importantly I watched the games. Pay attention to what and say, you can't refute it. The guy is not mentally sharp, and is short, with short arms, and lack change of direction ability not to be confused with pure straight line speed. He's not big either. This was prior to the knee, which took aways some of his explosiveness.

Explain his rookie season?

[whisper]

So What, he also said there was no evidence football causes CTE. Are we supposed to believe that after a great rookie season Bush coming off an ACL injury experienced no limitations and instead it was really just him dogging it? Funny how also it didn't matter who we put at inside linebacker we got the same result, almost like it had something to do with the real hole in the defense which was the DL.

So you know football better than a 10-year + vet and 20+ year analyst who is paid for his football opinions? Interesting. But on top of that you're going to ridicule the man for suffering concussions during his career? I knew you didn't know dip about football, but now your exposing yourself as a jerk. Shame, shame.

[Mr.wizard]

So you know football better than a 10-year + vet and 20+ year analyst who is paid for his football opinions? Interesting. But on top of that you're going to ridicule the man for suffering concussions during his career? I knew you didn't know dip about football, but now your exposing yourself as a jerk. Shame, shame.

What? I didn't ridicule him for suffering concussions, I ridiculed him for his opinion that football doesn't cause CTE, when clearly it does. I also didn't say I knew more about football than him and I don't have too, I just have to look at the situation rationally and ask what is the more likely scenario. That Bush coming off an ACL injury was limited or that he just decided to to not try.

A pretty dishonest attempt by you and stupid considering people can actually just read what I wrote.

[Mr.wizard]

So you know football better than a 10-year + vet and 20+ year analyst who is paid for his football opinions? Interesting. But on top of that you're going to ridicule the man for suffering concussions during his career? I knew you didn't know dip about football, but now your exposing yourself as a jerk. Shame, shame.

Also this is pretty rich coming from a guy who questions everything Mike Tomlin does.

[whisper]

What? I didn't ridicule him for suffering concussions, I ridiculed him for his opinion that football doesn't cause CTE, when clearly it does. I also didn't say I knew more about football than him and I don't have too, I just have to look at the situation rationally and ask what is the more likely scenario. That Bush coming off an ACL injury was limited or that he just decided to to not try.

A pretty dishonest attempt by you and stupid considering people can actually just read what I wrote.

Sure, ridicule those for suffering from concussions, that's OK. That will do the trick.