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3 players to watch during Pittsburgh Steelers training camp in Latrobe

By Chris Halicke

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams enters the field prior to a game against the Houston Texans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams enters the field prior to a game against the Houston Texans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 03: Cordarrelle Patterson #84 of the New England Patriots carries the ball against Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams in the second quarter during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 03: Cordarrelle Patterson #84 of the New England Patriots carries the ball against Mark Barron #26 of the Los Angeles Rams in the second quarter during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Mark Barron

The Steelers’ largest weakness in 2018 was inside linebacker. It was plainly obvious and was painful to go the entire 2018 offseason seeing Jon Bostic as the only effort to address the position.

Let’s be fair to Bostic. He was a very good run-stopper. He is a good tackler. But with the way the modern NFL is played, he’s an outdated model. Inside linebackers have to have some ability to pass cover and that is not in Bostic’s skillset.

The 2019 offseason focused more on this glaring albatross on the roster. The highlight of the offseason was trading up to draft Devin Bush. But don’t that hide a potentially great move in signing Mark Barron.

Barron has spent the previous five seasons with the Rams, who released Barron after their loss in Super Bowl LIII to the Patriots. The Steelers swooped in and signed Barron to a two-year, $12 million deal.

It’s the perfect signing for Pittsburgh. Barron is a converted safety who has obvious pass coverage skills, yet is still a very solid tackler. He truly is a “hybrid linebacker,” who could be used in a variety of ways. He could line up directly next to Devin Bush in the traditional base 3-4, but his role will more likely be the dime linebacker.

The biggest strength he brings is versatility to the defense, which in theory could create more “splash plays,” which we all know head coach Mike Tomlin is all about. The Steelers severely struggled in taking the ball away in 2018, and a solid season from Mark Barron could help change that.

Trending. Steelers extend head coach Mike Tomlin through 2021. light

We shouldn’t consider Barron to be the answer to all the problems in the middle of the defense. Vince Williams still isn’t a perfect player and Devin Bush has unlimited potential, but is unproven at the NFL level. What Barron can do is bring a different look to a defense that needs it. He brings a different ability to the defense that no one has been able to do in recent years.

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