Steelers need to take NFL Combine with a grain of salt

The Steelers may have to replace both an outside and an inside linebacker in 2020

The Steelers approach not only to the combine but to the 2020 NFL draft may hinge on either our ability or our desire to re-sign Bud Dupree.  If we can not or do not re-sign Dupree, that second-round pick may very well be an OLB.  Someone like Zack Baun, OLB out of Wisconsin, may be an option for us.

Listed at 6′ 3″ and 240 LBS, Baun may be a bit slight to be an every-down OLB, but the fact that he played at Wisconsin, which runs a base 3-4 defense, tells me that he would probably be a good ‘scheme’ fit for our defense. For me, one of many tell-tale signs of whether or not Baun or any other OLB prospect might be able to play OLB for the Steelers is this:  How many reps does the prospect put up during the bench press segment?

Here’s why I say that:  I am a semi-retired competitive powerlifter.  The ability to bench press 225 LBS for as many reps as possible is indicative of both strength and endurance.  This measure really applies to any position, but for linebackers who generally have to go up against offensive linemen, the ability to get off a block is crucial.

Again, the only true measure of said ability is the game tape, not the combine results.  If Baun, for example, puts up 25 reps on the bench and his game tape shows that he can get off a block and he’s there in the second round, we may very well end up with book-end OLBs from Wisconsin.

Another position the Steelers may be scouting is inside linebacker. Here’s why I say that:  I believe that Mark Barron will not be a member of the Steelers in 2020. For a team that runs a base 3-4 defense, it is imperative that the Steelers have four quality starters and four quality back-ups at the linebacker position.  I think our LB depth is very suspect at the moment.