The Steelers (8-7) rebuilt their inside linebacker room this offseason. However after seeing a number of accidents to the group, they’ve been pressured to signal gamers who would in any other case be free brokers.
On Tuesday evening, Pittsburgh agreed to phrases with LB Jaylon Smith, a second-round choose by the Cowboys in 2016. The transfer was vital after head coach Mike Tomlin dominated out LB Elandon Roberts (pec) forward of the Steelers’ Week 17 matchup in opposition to the Seahawks.
Smith now joins an inside linebacker room that features Mykal Walker, Myles Jack, Blake Martinez and Mark Robinson. A unit that was as soon as headlined by Roberts, Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander originally of the yr has fallen aside.
Roberts might return to play this season if Pittsburgh is one way or the other capable of sneak into the playoffs however the identical cannot be mentioned about Holcomb and Alexander, who every suffered season-ending accidents midseason.Â
It is definitely one of many worst positions to develop into skinny at as inside linebackers are theoretically the quarterbacks of the protection usually sporting the inexperienced dot.
Jack, who performed for the Steelers in 2022, appears to be the favourite to put on it subsequent after a robust six-tackle and one-sack efficiency in Week 16. Tomlin made positive to spotlight Jack’s play earlier this week, saying he “cannot say sufficient” about him stepping up in robust circumstances.
The familiarity between the 2 has absolutely performed a component in Jack’s rising position, however the 28-year-old should proceed stacking good performances to carry down the center of the protection.
It appears Pittsburgh continues to be looking for the correct mix of gamers as Tomlin added that Martinez will play this week as effectively to see how he can match into the linebacker corps.
What was as soon as a place with a ton of upside has rapidly changed into a mix-and-matching of getting old veterans, making the center of the protection very weak.
If the Steelers can work out the correct mix, it might be sufficient to push them into the postseason. With two highway video games forward in opposition to successful report groups (8-7 Seahawks and 12-3 Ravens), their possibilities aren’t wanting nice.
