Devin Bush was all over the field in the Steelers first preseason action of 2019. Here is a breakdown of every play he made against the Buccaneers.
It’s safe to say that Devin Bush was more than impressive in his first NFL action. Though the Steelers traded up to the 10th overall pick to draft the Michigan linebacker, I don’t think anyone was quite prepared for the performance we saw from Bush this past Friday.
I have watched the Steelers vs. Buccaneers game a few times now, and Bush’s performance really was as dominant as people are making it out to be. Brian Baldinger recently broke down every play Bush made in his first preseason game:
"Speed, speed, speed." 🔥
— NFL (@NFL) August 13, 2019
It was @steelers LB @_Dbush11's #NFLPreseason debut and he was ALL over the field. (via @BaldyNFL) pic.twitter.com/4SG5ENvl9Z
Devin Bush recorded 10 tackles on 40 snaps, which really is a remarkable number. His game may have gone down as one of the best opening performances by a rookie defender had he not dropped an interception that likely would have gone for a touchdown.
Bush isn’t perfect. He sometimes over-pursues and will take himself out of the play. However, his instincts and reaction time are as good as anyone could expect to see from a 21-year old rookie linebacker.
Bush’s lack of size was the biggest knock on the young linebacker coming into the draft. Teams were unsure of how his 5’11” frame would hold up against NFL offensive lineman. However, we saw Bush blow through Donovan Smith in the first quarter, and he showed an impressive ability to sift through traffic.
Devin Bush also excels at slipping blocks and changing direction. His ability to cut on a dime and breakdown to make a play is rare for a player at his age, and for a linebacker who plays as fast as he does.
The Steelers saw everything they needed to see from their first round pick last weekend. It is still very early in the process, but it is hard not to believe that Devin Bush is going to be as advertised.
Bush will get his second big test of his pro career, as he will face the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend. If he starts out like he did against the Buccaneers, the Steelers probably won’t keep him on the field long. They are going to need him healthy this season.