3 reasons Steelers fans should not expect Devin Bush to get much better

Austin Ekeler #30 of the Los Angeles Chargers carries the ball as Devin Bush #55 of the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Austin Ekeler #30 of the Los Angeles Chargers carries the ball as Devin Bush #55 of the Pittsburgh Steelers. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Jalen Guyton (15) runs the ball against Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Devin Bush (55). Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Devin Bush’s instincts are questionable at best

One of the knocks on Devin Bush coming out of Michigan in 2019 is that he had some questionable instincts. As a 20-year-old prospect who was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and had elite athletic traits, scouts and teams were able to look past that. However, those questions are starting to rise again — and for good reason.

Despite being in his third NFL season, Bush looks completely lost at times. Against the Detroit Lions in Week 10, I cut up a play of Bush getting completely fooled by the play-fake, and I was amazed at how long it took him to realize that he guessed wrong.

Against the Chargers, these questionable instincts were on full display. Bush routinely picked the wrong lanes in the running game and was a half-second late to react on virtually all of his coverage assignments.

Sadly, poor instincts are something that typically can’t be coached out of a player. You either understand the game after this long, or you don’t. Combine this with the fact that Bush appears to have lost some of his elite athleticism, and it makes sense as to why he’s playing as poorly as he has been.

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