Steelers ILB Devin Bush shined, but still learning NFL game

When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded up for rookie ILB Devin Bush, they knew precisely the type of player they were getting. An ‘all-situations linebacker,’coach Tomlin told beat writers, shortly after the selection was made.

Fast forward to today, and Bush is living up to the hype, as he led the team in tackles (11) in his rookie debut. However, it wasn’t all good and dandy for the Pittsburgh Steelers when you go up against the reigning Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. There were some ups and downs after their lopsided 33-3 loss.

After reviewing game-film, I found a few mental errors that Bush made, but can easily be cleaned up moving forward, and it all starts with the Steelers passing game.

When asked about facing Patriots QB Tom Brady in his NFL debut, Bush didn’t hesitate to point out the three-time NFL MVP’s decisive approach. “He was getting the ball out fast,” Bush said. And I agree.

By my count, Bush was targeted a team-high seven times. Whether lined up wide against RB Rex Burkhead or playing the flats, Bush was seamlessly roaming all over the field. That’s one thing that stood out to Steelers GM Kevin Colbert during the scouting process, “He’s got exceptional coverage ability,” Colbert said in his draft presser.

A vital piece to the Steel Curtain, Bush held his own, despite yielding two early catches for a combined 41 yards. Call it the rookie jitters, as Bush defended the next four passes beautifully, yielding a modest 13 yards, including one pass break-up.

Still, there are some techniques that Bush needs to be aware of, as the season progresses. Case in point, the pick play. Pick plays are a staple of the Patriots offense. A pick play is when an offensive player, usually a receiver, chips a defender coming off his stem.

In the first quarter, on 2nd and 10 on New England’s 18-yard line, Brady hooked up with Burkhead for an easy 17-yard gain. A play made possible by TE Ryan Izzo’s legal pick play.

According to section 5, article 2 (e) of the NFL rule book, it states, illegal:

Cutting off the path of an opponent by making contact with him, without playing the ball;

On the surface, one would think the play was illegal, as Izzo set the pick before Brady released the ball. However, section 5, article 4 states:

Blocking more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage by an offensive player prior to a pass being thrown is offensive pass interference

Izzo did this perfectly, blocking Bush exactly one-yard from the line of scrimmage, making the play legal. Simply put, Bush needs to understand how to manipulate the pick play next time around.

Instead of trying to stay stride-for-stride with Burkhead as he came across in motion, he should’ve slipped the block, like a basketball play in a close-out, coming off a screen. This would allow him recovery time to not only slip the pick but recover in a slight trail mode on the receiver’s hip maintaining proper leverage.

The very next play, Bush was outmuscled by pulling LG Joe Thuney, as he hit the c-gap. A play that was diagnosed pre-snap, Bush sniffed run all the way, only to give up his gap integrity. Bush’s responsibility was to stack-and-shed, making the play behind the line of scrimmage, instead, it went for an 8-yard gain.

I’m not too worried here as this was just one of those plays that got the best of him. It wasn’t like he was out of position.

But the last missed assignment was, of a traditional play-action pass, minutes before halftime. The Patriots coming out of 21 personnel, faked a hand-off to RB James White, sucking in Bush, while then allowing WR Julian Edelman to run a shallow crossing dig-route behind him, for a 24-yard gain.

That is a bit concerning for me since veteran quarterbacks are known to bait both rookie linebackers and strong safeties when it comes to play-action. Film study will be critical for the Michigan product, to better gauge run verse pass based on opposing offenses tendencies when it comes to down and distance.

However, the good news about all of this was the fact that all three of his mental errors, came in the first half. Not to mention, these mental errors are minor. So I’m not too worried, and I’m sure the Steelers coaching staff isn’t either. He had zero missed tackles and played like a seasoned veteran rather than a rookie.

In what coach Tomlin labeled as his “Defensive Quarterback,” Bush looks to be the part of not only that but the heart and soul of the Steel Curtain moving forward.