4 Steelers players who have disappointed thus far in 2021

3. Steelers Joe Schobert

Joe Schobert was acquired by the Steelers in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars shortly before the start of this season in exchange for a sixth-round selection. With Schobert signing a five-year, $53.75 million contract before the 2020 season, Steelers fans had high hopes upon his arrival. However, despite the high hopes for Schobert, he has not lived up to the hype.

While Schobert has not played badly as a Steeler, he has not played well either. Instead, the Steelers traded draft capital and are paying a hefty salary for an average player.

Schobert has started all nine games and chipped in 63 total tackles, one tackle for loss, four pass deflections, and one forced fumble. While his tackle numbers have been respectable, Schobert has made very few of what Coach Tomlin likes to call “splash plays”.

In addition to the lack of big plays, Schobert has frequently been beaten in pass coverage and has visibly gone to the wrong gaps in run defense. The most recent example of the latter came on Jermar Jefferson’s 28-yard touchdown run, after Schobert took the outside gap, leaving the middle of the field wide open for Jefferson to accelerate into the secondary and reach the first down before he was even touched.

While mistakes can be expected, Schobert has had too many mistakes and not enough big plays. The team needs him to step up his level of play the rest of the year in order to help stop the run and cover running backs and tight ends in the backfield.