Dirty Red's job to lose?

[antdrewjosh]

Tyler Matakevich starts over Jon Bostic at OTAs
BySAM QUINN 21 hours ago
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(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)
Ryan Shazier missing the entire 2018 season has been one of the core themes of the offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Almost every move they have made on defense can be traced back to that loss in some way, shape or form. They drafted Terrell Edmunds in the first round with the idea that he could be an athletic inside linebacker in sub-packages to replace some of what they lost in Shazier. They signed Morgan Burnett to help shore up the back end of the defense so that things would be easier on the linebacking corps without their leaders. But on the most basic level, they signed free agent Jon Bostic seemingly to replace Shazier in the starting lineup.

Bostic is not exactly a superstar and doesn't provide the same exact skillset that Shazier did, but he is a veteran who has started for multiple NFL teams and that experienced figured to win the day. But when the Steelers took the field for OTAs, it was not Bostic working with Vince Williams and the first team defense. According to Jacob Klinger of Penn Live, the other starting inside linebacker job was taken by Tyler Matakevich, the veteran known as "Big Red" who has worked largely on special teams and as a backup in his career.

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There are a variety of reasons why the Steelers might have chosen to go with Matakevich over Bostic at OTAs. Knowledge of the defense at this early point in the offseason is important. The Steelers want practices to run smoothly, and Bostic hasn't been in the system long enough to understand it as well as Matakevich does. They might also be giving Matakevich a fair shot for locker room purposes. Just as Williams becoming a starter last season proved to all of the backups that they had a chance to grow into starters, Matakevich has been a model teammate and deserved a chance to prove himself.

And then there's the simplest option: the Steelers really have pegged Matakevich, not Bostic, to be the favored replacement for Shazier. He would have had a chance to take that job last season had he not been injured in the same game that Shazier was, but the team clearly likes him as a player. Bostic has started more off of draft pedigree and need than actual performance in his career, so the Steelers might view him properly as a backup. And according to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, Bostic hasn't been told that the team plans to make a change in the coming days or weeks, which indicates that the job really is Matakevich's to lose at this point.

In truth, it will take a village to replace Shazier. Matakevich, Bostic and Edmunds are all going to see time at linebacker this season, and it wouldn't be surprising to see players like Marcus Allen or Matthew Thomas get shots as well. No one player can do everything that Shazier does, on this team or in the NFL. But the Steelers are not going to fold over the loss of one player. They will get this defense on track no matter who is in the lineup.

https://247sports.com/nfl/steelers/...-Bostic-at-Pittsburgh-Steelers-OTAs-118436037

 

[antdrewjosh]

ILB Breakdown: 'We Don't Have Another Ryan Shazier'
ByJIM WEXELL 18 hours ago
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PITTSBURGH -- That salty dog Vince Williams put the playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars this way:

"You just gotta eat something like that," said the Steelers' buck inside linebacker. "It just sucks that it happens in the playoffs. That's terrible. You don't want to play the worst game of your season in the playoffs."

Williams was talking about the entire defense, but he could've been talking about himself. Or Sean Spence. Or the safeties. He could've been talking about anyone in the middle of the field.


"We just couldn't stop the run. Obviously," Williams said. "Leonard Fournette's a great guy. That offensive line catches a lot of flack -- [Blake] Bortles catches a lot of flack but he's pretty good on the play-action -- and they were able to generate enough run to where they could trick us with the play-action, because we didn't know it was coming."

Thus, the constant, chronic, consistent calls from the media for the Steelers to draft an inside linebacker.

Williams, who vowed he would remember every cross word written about the defense during the offseason, surprisingly did not begrudge that consensus media draft wish.

But he didn't agree with it, either.


"I think what everybody needs to understand is that Ryan Shazier is an amazing player," Williams started. "If we would've picked a linebacker this year -- there wasn't a linebacker who had the skillset of a Ryan Shazier in the draft, I mean, unless you're absolutely idiotic. Ryan Shazier is a treMENDous talent. You don't have linebackers that run 4.3s and jump 40-some verticals and can cover athletic tight ends like that every draft. So just to pick a linebacker to say you're picking a linebacker is not really going to accomplish much. You need a really, really talented individual to do what Ryan Shazier was doing for us, or you needed to do it by committee. And I think that the Steelers' commitment to doing it by committee is what's going to pay off for us -- obviously, because that's what we chose to do, and because I believe in what they've decided."


Tyler Matakevich at the mack (Photo: Mark Konezny, USA TODAY Sports)
[For a subscription to SteelCityInsider and the best inside coverage of the Steelers this spring. Click here for a free trial. Or, join our free message board.]

That committee opened this spring with Williams at his usual buck -- or strong side -- ILB spot. Next to him at the mack, where Shazier spent the last four seasons before suffering a spinal cord injury, was Tyler Matakevich, who's entering his third season.

Still known as "Dirty Red" by teammates and the head man, Mike Tomlin, Matakevich knows it's time for him -- the guy who made 493 tackles in college, and was drafted in the seventh round in 2016 -- to show his stuff.

"See ball, go get ball," said Matakevich. "I've had that mentality."

Matakevich was the backup at both inside linebacker spots last season, but he couldn't step up to replace Shazier -- as the team allowed 5.1 yards per carry over the final seven games -- because Matakevich suffered a shoulder injury in the same game. He could play on special teams, but he couldn't square up and take on running backs.

"Coming off the surgery, I feel I'm ahead of the game," Matakevich said of his conditioning. "I'm way ahead of where I thought I was going to be at this point. Now I'm just trying to get my body into as top-notch shape as I possibly can."

Matakevich, like Williams, didn't take offense to the media calls for the Steelers to draft an inside linebacker. But believes the fact the Steelers didn't draft one was a reflection of how they feel about him.

"Absolutely," Matakevich said. "I think they believe in what we have in our room. The addition of Jon, I think, is going to help us out even more. We're just looking to all be on the same page and get this show rolling."

Jon Bostic is one of three defensive players the Steelers signed in free agency. He was first, but he certainly wasn't the highest paid. Bostic signed a two-year deal for only $4 million, but at age 27 is coming off his best season, which probably had something to do with being healthy the first 14 games.

"Got back on my feet last year," said Bostic. "Was healthy, had a good year, so going forward I still think my best years are ahead of me."

His role in Pittsburgh?

"They told me they wanted me to come in at the mack spot," Bostic said. "They just expect me to come in, work hard, and do what I'm asked to do."

"I think he's going to be a great guy," said Williams. "I think he had a productive season last year before his injury. He's very intelligent. We spent a lot of time talking about football. He LOVES football. I know I love football and anybody that can sit around with me all day and talk about football obviously has to really care about football a lot."

Williams was in the mood to talk football with reporters yesterday, and he summed up the ILB situation in Pittsburgh this way:

"We don't have another Ryan Shazier on our team," Williams said. "But we do have very capable, starter-ready middle linebackers."

6
COMMENTS
Unless an injury occurs, a source said, the Steelers won't be fishing for any of the available free agents. They're going with what they have. And the battles are underway.

NOTES -- Le'Veon Bell, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Cameron Heyward were absent from this voluntary OTA. Heyward arrived late and said he was receiving minor treatment. ... Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt flopped sides, reportedly for good. Dupree is now the blind-side rusher on the right side. ... Other number changes in the secondary: Joe Haden 23 and Mike Hilton 28. ... Running back Stevan Ridley changed to number 22. ... Ben Roethlisberger said he offered this bit of advice to rookie QB Mason Rudolph: "He was probably six or seven yards from Rosie [Nix] and he threw it pretty hard. ... I just pulled him aside and said, 'Hey, listen. You’ll learn quickly that every throw doesn’t have to be the hardest throw you can make. You don’t have to put every throw on a guy’s chest as hard as you can. It’s a great opportunity to just give him a nice easy touch pass.'" Roethlisberger's first impression of Rudolph? "He’s got a big arm. He underthrew A.B. [Antonio Brown] ... but he seems to understand the offense. Seems to not have any issues in the huddle, so I thought he did really well." ... The Steelers signed third-round draft pick Chukwuma Okorafor.

https://247sports.com/nfl/pittsburg...n-We-Dont-Have-Another-Ryan-Shazier-118440658

 

[Ron Burgundy]

There are a variety of reasons why the Steelers might have chosen to go with Matakevich over Bostic at OTAs. Knowledge of the defense at this early point in the offseason is important. The Steelers want practices to run smoothly, and Bostic hasn't been in the system long enough to understand it as well as Matakevich does. They might also be giving Matakevich a fair shot for locker room purposes. Just as Williams becoming a starter last season proved to all of the backups that they had a chance to grow into starters, Matakevich has been a model teammate and deserved a chance to prove himself.

^^^This^^^
Matekevich is fine as a backup and ST player but isn't going to be your long-term first teamer.

 

[antdrewjosh]

^^^This^^^
Matekevich is fine as a backup and ST player but isn't going to be your long-term first teamer.

You never know instincts can make you play alot faster..him starting doesnt mean it still wont be a committee at that position..i really think they will try them Safeties at ILB alot.. sub packages

 

[Drink IRON City]

Smooth operator.......................................................

Big Red's defensive knowledge is what's fanning this whole media conclusion. Until it's for real, I wouldn't count on anything.


Salute the nation

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

SOME people really need to read this:

"If we would've picked a linebacker this year -- there wasn't a linebacker who had the skillset of a Ryan Shazier in the draft, I mean, unless you're absolutely idiotic. Ryan Shazier is a treMENDous talent. You don't have linebackers that run 4.3s and jump 40-some verticals and can cover athletic tight ends like that every draft. So just to pick a linebacker to say you're picking a linebacker is not really going to accomplish much. " ~ Vince Williams

 

[Big Ben Rules]

SOME people really need to read this:

"If we would've picked a linebacker this year -- there wasn't a linebacker who had the skillset of a Ryan Shazier in the draft, I mean, unless you're absolutely idiotic. Ryan Shazier is a treMENDous talent. You don't have linebackers that run 4.3s and jump 40-some verticals and can cover athletic tight ends like that every draft. So just to pick a linebacker to say you're picking a linebacker is not really going to accomplish much. " ~ Vince Williams

I agree with that statement 100%

 

[Steelerfan]

SOME people really need to read this:

"If we would've picked a linebacker this year -- there wasn't a linebacker who had the skillset of a Ryan Shazier in the draft, I mean, unless you're absolutely idiotic. Ryan Shazier is a treMENDous talent. You don't have linebackers that run 4.3s and jump 40-some verticals and can cover athletic tight ends like that every draft. So just to pick a linebacker to say you're picking a linebacker is not really going to accomplish much. " ~ Vince Williams

How much of this is Vince just wanting to protect his job by not bringing anyone else in any linebacker position? Maybe none, but the source needs to be considered.

 

[Coach]

^^^This^^^
Matekevich is fine as a backup and ST player but isn't going to be your long-term first teamer.

BINGO and the fact that he is the projected start should worry fans. The Steelers avoided drafting ILB. Three of the first four picks went to the offense! And 2 of the picks on offense won't see the field unless someone gets hurt.

Matekevich gives his best, but he's small, slow footed, *doesn't accelerate well, and is short. He might make a lot of tackles, but where he makes them is the issue.

 

[antdrewjosh]

How much of this is Vince just wanting to protect his job by not bringing anyone else in any linebacker position? Maybe none, but the source needs to be considered.

Two totally different positions

 

[antdrewjosh]

SOME people really need to read this:

"If we would've picked a linebacker this year -- there wasn't a linebacker who had the skillset of a Ryan Shazier in the draft, I mean, unless you're absolutely idiotic. Ryan Shazier is a treMENDous talent. You don't have linebackers that run 4.3s and jump 40-some verticals and can cover athletic tight ends like that every draft. So just to pick a linebacker to say you're picking a linebacker is not really going to accomplish much. " ~ Vince Williams

He read it and still doesnt get it

 

[Hines57]

How much of this is Vince just wanting to protect his job by not bringing anyone else in any linebacker position? Maybe none, but the source needs to be considered.

If there was a standout MLB we could have drafted, we would have drafted him. Its as easy as that. The draft was much deeper at Safety than it was at LB and for our needs. We don't know how this draft will turn out for us until we start seeing the kids play.

I will hope the FO can do much like they did with CB last year and sign someone off the scrap heap to come fill in at MLB. Bostic may be the guy but I hope they will consider someone else if they become available. Cutting Landry Jones opens up another $1.9M in cap space. Consider him cut if we need some extra loot to sign a player.

 

[ark steel]

i would expect that where someone is playing today and is a 'projected starter' is ******* irrelevant

 

[Supersteeler]

Red is just holding the spot until Bostic gets up to speed with the system and terminology. I like Red but I think he's more of a depth guy. They signed Bostic to start.

 

[Stryker]

I'm on the other side here guys. I love Big Red. Kid can play. If he didn't get hurt in the same quarter as Shazier, we still had a shot at the Superbowl. Instead we were down to our 5th option at ILB and that's a hole you can't cover.

Matakevich can play in this league. He's instinctual, he won't be pushed around, and if he wasn't playing with one arm, he would have shown it last year.

This is why I track injuries. It's Big Red's job to lose, not Bostic's. Bostic is a backup, and needs to severely outplay Big Red to earn a spot on the starting team.

 

[slashsteel]

I'm on the other side here guys. I love Big Red. Kid can play. If he didn't get hurt in the same quarter as Shazier, we still had a shot at the Superbowl. Instead we were down to our 5th option at ILB and that's a hole you can't cover.

Matakevich can play in this league. He's instinctual, he won't be pushed around, and if he wasn't playing with one arm, he would have shown it last year.

This is why I track injuries. It's Big Red's job to lose, not Bostic's. Bostic is a backup, and needs to severely outplay Big Red to earn a spot on the starting team.

I don't doubt Big Red could take on the run D aspect of the position and excel. I question if he can drop in coverage and be better than Bostic in that area.

Obviously training camp will sort it out...........

 

[Drink IRON City]

BINGO and the fact that he is the projected start should worry fans. The Steelers avoided drafting ILB. Three of the first four picks went to the offense! And 2 of the picks on offense won't see the field unless someone gets hurt.

Matekevich gives his best, but he's small, slow footed, *doesn't accelerate well, and is short. He might make a lot of tackles, but where he makes them is the issue.

Some good points BUT I don't think he is projected to start. I think he ran with the #1s due to knowledge of the "D" so the Youngins could learn without having to stop and teach. I wouldn't read to much into this "MEDIA" projection until the REAL training camp starts.



Salute the nation

 

[SteelChip]

I have liked 'Red' from his first day but the reality is that he brings good football instincts to the field with a bit of a cumbersome style. Sure tackler for sure but a bit slow. IMO he is more of a backup for Williams than a replacement for Shazier.....jus sayin'

 

[Drink IRON City]

I have liked 'Red' from his first day but the reality is that he brings good football instincts to the field with a bit of a cumbersome style. Sure tackler for sure but a bit slow. IMO he is more of a backup for Williams than a replacement for Shazier.....jus sayin'

I see you and Big Red go back a long ways........................... Paternity test maybe????? LoL



I hear yaz Steel, he does have instincts and does make yaz play faster but even with that his speed is questionable when it comes to covering RB / TE / slots.................................. Or even the QB flare (although he could keep up with most QBs)




Salute the nation

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

I'm on the other side here guys. I love Big Red. Kid can play. If he didn't get hurt in the same quarter as Shazier, we still had a shot at the Superbowl. Instead we were down to our 5th option at ILB and that's a hole you can't cover.

Matakevich can play in this league. He's instinctual, he won't be pushed around, and if he wasn't playing with one arm, he would have shown it last year.

This is why I track injuries. It's Big Red's job to lose, not Bostic's. Bostic is a backup, and needs to severely outplay Big Red to earn a spot on the starting team.

I hope you are right. I know he got hurt same game as shazier. Was he dealing with another isse earlier in the season.? I need to revisit your injury tracker

 

[Stryker]

I hope you are right. I know he got hurt same game as shazier. Was he dealing with another isse earlier in the season.? I need to revisit your injury tracker

He was killing it on special teams and played well in sub packages (though he had trouble in the goal line package) for the first 6 weeks. I think he had a shoulder that didn't limit him in practice, and he was active game 7. From that point on, Sazier was getting all the snaps in every package. Then the injuries happened for both in the Cincy game to open December.

 

[Steelerfan]

Two totally different positions

No ****. Hence the word "any."

 

[SteelChip]

I see you and Big Red go back a long ways........................... Paternity test maybe????? LoL



I hear yaz Steel, he does have instincts and does make yaz play faster but even with that his speed is questionable when it comes to covering RB / TE / slots.................................. Or even the QB flare (although he could keep up with most QBs)




Salute the nation

You're confusing me with my brother, he was the carrot top in his yout but has since outgrown most of the color.