2019 Steelers Draft Introspection: How we performed and what it could signal
By Eric Hassel
Round 6:
Projected pick: Jonathan Ledbetter DE Georgia
Actual picks: Sutton Smith LB Northern Illinois
Isaiah Buggs DE Alabama
Ulysses Gilbert III LB Akron
In my mock draft, I purported that we would trade two of our sixth-round picks, our seventh-round and James Washingon to move back into the fourth round; clearly, I was mistaken. We did; however, draft three players. Let’s start with Buggs. Listed at 6’3″ 295 LB’s, he’s not quite a typical 3-4 DT (nose tackle as we used to say in the stone ages). Since our base defense is still a 3-4, I don’t see Buggs supplanting Javon Hargrave as the starting DT in the base 3-4, but I can see Buggs carving out a role as a backup DE, perhaps the primary backup. His competition will most likely be Tyson Alualu at DE and Dan McCullers at DT.
Moving on to Smith and Gilbert, since we did not draft a linebacker in 2018, we drafted three this year, two of whom arriving in the sixth round. Both Smith and Gilbert are listed at 6’0″ 232 LBS and 230 LBS, respectively. So where could they fit in?
If we look at the ILB’s and OLB’s, currently on the roster, I think it’s safe to assume that Watt, Dupree, Williams, Barron, Chickillo and Bush will make the roster. If we keep nine LB’s on the roster, which may be one too many, that leaves three spots available. Adams, “Ola”, Matakevich, Smith and Gilbert will most likely battle it out for the remaining spots. Adams is at a disadvantage as he just has not been healthy enough to showcase what he could bring to the team.
In my opinion, the quintessential LB is the one who possesses these three skills: Rush (the QB), Cover (an RB, TE or WR) and Tackle (in run support). If Smith and/or Gilbert can demonstrate these abilities, they would both stand a good chance of carving out a role as backups at OLB and/or ILB. With the exception of Mark Barron, no LB, in my opinion, has proven he can cover with any consistency. Perhaps one of these guys will become the next Carnell Lake, who was converted to safety after having played LB at UCLA.