The Pittsburgh Steelers had four players make Pro Football Focus’s all-defense team for week one of the NFL preseason. Devin Bush was not one of them.
The Steelers had a lot to ride home about on Friday night. There were many young players who shined in the spotlight against the Buccaneers and exceeded expectations in their first action.
Devin Bush was quite visibly the best player on the Steelers defense during his first preseason action. The 21-year old linebacker was all over the field, and made plays against both the run and the pass.
However, ask Pro Football Focus of their assessment of Bush from his first preseason game, and they will tell you an entirely different story.
PFF had four Steelers make their defensive top performers list from week one… and Devin Bush was not one of them:
PFF's NFL Team of the Week is LIVE!
— PFF (@PFF) August 12, 2019
Here's a look at the top performers on DEFENSE from the first full week of the 2019 NFL preseason!
📰: https://t.co/Mdmar1J53p pic.twitter.com/t7dwMcfhIW
Third string defenders Henry Mondeaux, Isaiah Buggs, Tuzar Skipper, and Ulysees Gilbert all made Pro Football Focus’s list of top performers in week one of the preseason. Each one earned a grade above 89.5, and the Steelers were the only team to have more than one representative on defense.
However, standout linebacker, Devin Bush, was nowhere to be mentioned in their article of top performers. In fact, to the astonishment of everyone that watched the game, Bush rated out significantly lower than other Steelers defenders in his first preseason action.
Top Defensive Grades From Preseason Game #1
— PFF PIT Steelers (@PFF_Steelers) August 10, 2019
LB Tyler Matakevich (93.3)
LB Ulysees Gilbert III (92.2)
DI Henry Mondeaux (90.4)
ED Tuzar Skipper (89.7)
S Marcelis Branch (76.4)
LB Devin Bush (70.6) pic.twitter.com/9I9EHb1mAJ
Devin Bush’s 70.6 overall rating was about 20 points lower than the top three Steelers on defense, according to Pro Football Focus.
Bush was clearly dominant in his first NFL action. Statistics aside, he made plays in the backfield and was constantly around the football. The 1st round draft choice also had a great play in coverage where he got his hands on the ball, but dropped an interception that he probably would have taken to the house.
Pro Football Focus is reliable when it comes to some things, but they have a very analytical way of grading. However, common sense would tell the typical person watching the game that Devin Bush was a star performer.
Regardless of what PFF has to say, we saw everything we were hoping to see out of Devin Bush on Friday night. He has a chance to be one of the best players on the Steelers roster, and it will be fun watching him develop as he enters his first NFL season.