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Stairway to seven: What must happen for the Steelers to win it all

By Chris Halicke

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 16: Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense reacts after an interception by Joe Haden #23 in the fourth quarter during the game against the New England Patriots at Heinz Field on December 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 16: Members of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense reacts after an interception by Joe Haden #23 in the fourth quarter during the game against the New England Patriots at Heinz Field on December 16, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 25: Devin Bush of Michigan reacts after being chosen #10 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 25: Devin Bush of Michigan reacts after being chosen #10 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Devin Bush must succeed

The Steelers have traded up for two players in the NFL Draft under Kevin Colbert’s tenure as general manager: Troy Polamalu and Santonio Holmes. The latter won a Super Bowl MVP and the former will be a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer.

The Steelers traded up 10 spots to the 10th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft to select Bush out of Michigan. After the Ryan Shazier injury, it is the first significant move to replace him at inside linebacker. So yes, the expectations for Devin Bush are high.

He’s a freak athlete who possesses great speed and tackling ability; all the makings of a highly productive NFL inside linebacker. While the Steelers shouldn’t demand Bush to play a high percentage of snaps, he needs to make a huge impact on the field.

Leighton Vander Esch had a very successful rookie campaign for the Dallas Cowboys in his rookie year, recording 140 total tackles. Even if Bush produced anything in that ballpark, it would be a major upgrade over anything the Steelers have seen since Shazier.

Bush’s ability to drop in pass coverage could also have a great effect on the defense.

If Bush can have a great rookie year, where he solidifies the middle of the defense, things drastically change on defense. It’s a major upgrade.

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