Another OLB and a DB added to the mix for the Steelers
Pictured above is TJ Watt, OLB out of Wisconsin, who was taken in the first round of the 2017 draft. Watt made his first Pro Bowl last season, recording 13 sacks. As I have stated in previous articles, we all know how much Steelers fans love their sacks and the player who can produce them.
So why has Watt been able to make the transition from college to the NFL when other players whom the Steelers drafted before him were not able to make said transition? Well, I think it has to do with a couple of factors. First, Watt played in a 3-4 scheme at Wisconsin and was productive in his final college season, racking up 11.5 sacks.
I hope for the sake of the Steelers and the fans of the Steelers that Watt continues to improve his game because, quite honestly, we need him to be productive since Dupree is really a question mark at this stage and the Steelers defense works best with two OLB who on par with each other. How great would it be to have a dynamic duo like Harrison and Woodley or Lloyd and Greene?
In 2018, we drafted Terrell Edmunds, Safety, from Virginia Tech. It’s way too early to assess whether or not he will become a player upon whom the Steelers can rely and about whom the Steelers can say is a good scheme fit. I will say this about Edmunds: I believe the plan for him was to be a “sub-package” DB/LB; however, because of the injury to Morgan Burnett, Edmunds was pressed into service in his rookie campaign.
I think, at times and maybe too frequently, he reminded the fans that he was a rookie. Let’s hope he continues to improve because if he is going to be the starting SS, he needs to possess the play recognition necessary to not get beaten in coverage, to break on the ball to have a chance at an interception and to be able to contribute on run defense by being in the mix to make to a tackle.
Let’s wrap up this discussion by talking about Artie Burns. I really, truly hope he turns it around and becomes a solid contributor as the reality of the situation is this: The Steelers have had little to no luck drafting CB’s period. Since Rod Woodson, name one high draft pick at CB who has not only panned out but made a Pro Bowl? It’s not as of the Steelers have not tried to spend draft capital on CB’s; they just have not been successful at it. Who remembers first round picks Deon Figures and Chad Scott? I do.
So what did the Steelers see in Burns or any of the other multitude of CB’s we have drafted in recent memory? Speed and size? Burns ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, but speed is not everything. Burns is listed at 6’0″, but height is not everything. Both speed and height help, to be sure, but what’s more important, in my opinion, is this: If the Steelers scheme is to play both press coverage and zone coverage, obviously, our CB’s need to possess both of those skills.
I would offer that it is rare for a CB to possess both good press and zone ability; it’s generally one or the other. I think the other issue is confidence. Ike Taylor was the epitome of being blessed with a short memory. If he got beaten on a play, he usually made up for it on the next play or at some point during the game. Burns is lacking confidence. Because of this. the Steelers will most likely open the 2019 NFL season with Joe Haden, a free agent signing a few years ago and Steven Nelson, a free agent signing this season. That is all we need to say about that.
So did we answer the question as to why the Steelers have had difficulty finding players in the draft to fit the defensive scheme? Is it the scheme? Is it the Steelers just simply “whiffing” on certain positions? Is it the Steelers overvaluing a particular trait, e.g. speed, and assuming a player will fit into the scheme or can be coached to fit into the scheme?
The answer to all of the above questions is this, in my opinion: It is a combination of all of the aforementioned. Whatever the issues are, the Steelers need to figure it out and figure it out quickly because Ben is not getting any younger. I fear once he retires, it will the dawn of an era similar to what Steelers fans had to endure between Terry and Ben.