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Steelers Expect Bush to Anchor Defense in 2021

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As we approach this upcoming 2021 NFL season, there are some positions that are going to get more of the spotlight than others. This is due to a multitude of reasons. Many stars on the roster were not able to fully showcase their full abilities due to injuries that held them out for a good chunk of time last season, plus the fact that many familiar faces for several years are now no longer in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ facility. There are going to be a whole bunch of changes at particular positions on this football team on both sides of the ball, moves that will hopefully be beneficial to the Steelers winning many football games.

One interesting position that is potentially going to look a lot different than what we saw last season is the middle linebacker core. Although the only piece to this position group added was rookie Buddy Johnson out of Texas A&M University, the faces we saw gracing this particular position last year are most likely subject to change. That is mostly due to last year’s Steelers defense playing without its star linebacker Devin Bush for the latter half of the year. He now is healthy and ready to show the leap he has made since his rookie campaign just two years ago.






He will have to do that exact task in somewhat of a crowded middle linebacker crew. Bush himself is paired with veterans Vince Williams and Robert Spillane, along with younger guys like Marcus Allen and Ulysses Gilbert. Last season, the crew mentioned above did their part in carrying the load at that position and did a good job doing so. Spillane, specifically, did well enough throughout the year to garner respect throughout the league, posting his best season yet in his early NFL career. It is safe to say that either Williams, Spillane or even both will still carry roles that will be vital in this team’s success as a defense in particular. The only difference is, this year they will have Bush right beside them wrecking havoc.

Bush’s style of play, although only a small sample size, is one of a ballhawk. Unique for someone who plays a position with a reputation built upon “destroying” anyone with the ball in their hands. Bush’s tactics lean more towards attacking the ball rather than the actual player. It’s no secret that Bush had tremendous playmaking ability paired with the speed to cover tight ends as they break off into their routes and to catch opposing rushers before they catch that vital outside corner. Having a guy with that type of ability is something not many teams can say they have the luxury of. His presence is something the Steelers will not take very lightly, especially seeing how vital he is to have on this defense, with his absence all of last year.






In all honesty, this could be one of the best linebacking crews this team has seen in a good amount of time. Bush is a once and a generation type of linebacker, you don’t get the opportunity to draft someone at that particular position who has the individual skill set that he carries. There is a reason why the Steelers did the unthinkable in their world and traded a coveted first round choice for him back in 2019, his full ability is going to be showcased right before our eyes. If Spillane can have anywhere near the type of season he had last year, serving as that “ballhawk” type Bush does so very well, we could be in for a repeat of what last season was for this defense, or even better.



Do you think Devin Bush can be an anchor for this defense in 2021? Sound off in the comment section below!

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WTF wrong with that boy? (re: these weird tweets)
 
I like parts of your article Jonathan and thank you for that.

Throwing that "once in a generation" title around like candy makes me think it's way to early for that praise.

I think it's more like a "get out and prove yourself" year.

The tweets are taking away from him instead of aDDING TO HIS mystic as in proving the last two "once in a generation" talent you need to be ******* nuts / douche bag / mentally challenged to get that monicur.

Square up Mr. Bush and remind us why we drafted you in the first place. I need proof and currently you've got the cart in front of the horse as to earning your place on the field of play. Usually one gets established before going off the deep end.





Salute the nation
 
He will return the star form he showed as a rook just hope he plays better in coverage vs TEs as the other spot Spillane and Vince are both thumpers and Spillane vs exposed in the AFC WCG tryring to cover Hooper and we face them twice and they have 3 good receiving te so we will need better coverage from all LB and Edmunds vs Hooper, Njoku and Bryant.
Hoping Gilbert flashes coverage skills, I like Johnson bit think he will be better this year on the PS or just ST
 
PS
Could be a potential CBPOY !!!!



Salute the nation
 
I still think Williams will be in a backup role this year.
 
Anchor the defense?
First, you have to be healthy and play.
Second, with the likes of Heyward, Tuitt, Watt, Fitzpatrick etc. hard to see in print that Bush will "anchor" the defense.

Good grief Charlie Brown! How about "be another stalwart" on defense.
 
Don't get me wrong as I want BUSH to overly excell in his ability to become a key part in the STEELERS team, not just a player on defense. With GREAT play comes great role, mentor, ect..

PLEASE fill the play and the role.




Salute the nation
 
Why "anchor"?

"Anchor" means to weigh it down. To keep it from going anywhere.
 
Your middle linebacker should be the QB of the defense. Bush has a unique skillset. There have been ups and downs. There were ups and downs before Shazier's career took off. He brings speed and coverage to the equation. I will say this in the Devin's draft White had similar skillset and size on top of it. I thought he was the x factor in their SB run.
 
Think I'll wait a bit before proclaiming him the next Jack Splat. Defenses become great when working as a unit.

I hope the media distractions don't take away from that goal.
 
SteelerSask said:
Your middle linebacker should be the QB of the defense. Bush has a unique skillset. There have been ups and downs. There were ups and downs before Shazier's career took off. He brings speed and coverage to the equation. I will say this in the Devin's draft White had similar skillset and size on top of it. I thought he was the x factor in their SB run.
Click to expand...
If he really is a film studier and a defensive QB as they said when drafted then he might be a very big addition
 
I still think he has the ability to take away inside receivers and TE which takes away a big matchup problem.
 
nees to be used more on blitzes the old fire cross and MLB delay blitz
 
skline00 said:
Anchor the defense?
First, you have to be healthy and play.
Second, with the likes of Heyward, Tuitt, Watt, Fitzpatrick etc. hard to see in print that Bush will "anchor" the defense.

Good grief Charlie Brown! How about "be another stalwart" on defense.
Click to expand...
I think you're missing the message and point of the article. The steelers have always relied on their MLB to call the defense. He's the QB of the D. Troy didn't anchor the defense, Harrison didn't anchor the defense, it was Farrior.

Watt is still the unquestioned superstar of the defense, with Minkah the man in the secondary. Heyward is the man on the DL, but we need Bush to anchor the D, we need him to be the man he was drafted to be.
 
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