Carter's Classroom draft profile: Reuben Foster, inside linebacker

The Steelers' vacancy left by Lawrence Timmons at inside linebacker opened up a new draft need for a team that already had a strong priority at finding a premier edge rusher at outside linebacker.

Both positions share an integral role in the scheme of Keith Butler when it comes to both stuffing the run and confusing the quarterback on passing plays.

We have focused on edge rushers primarily with this series, so it's time we shift our focus to look at inside linebacker candidates:

Reuben Foster is far and above the top athletic candidate at inside linebacker. His time at Alabama showed off great sideline to sideline speed and made him the best cover linebacker in the draft class.

However, what has worked against Foster's profile is that he never got a chance to show off at the NFL scouting combine because of an unexplained altercation during a physical. Foster was excused from the combine and issued an apology that indicated he was at fault for something.

Whether that will impact his stock has yet to be seen for certain, but Foster is a top ten talent coming into the draft and he could slip into the middle part of the first round if it does. But all that could be a non-factor when people remember what his tape looks like:

EXPLOSIVE SPEED IN THE BOX

Foster is a reliable player in part because he is so explosive while also being able to control himself in space and run down athletic running backs.

Watch here how he chases down his man and is able to cut with him and make the tackle:



Watch his feet and how he's able to break stride and get into a solid defensive stance from running at full speed without crossing his feet up.

FIELD GENERAL

Foster is the prime prospect at deciphering offenses and attacking the correct gaps when facing the run. Watch here when he picks up on the pulling center and follows him quickly to get in the backfield:


Normally, the eyes of an inside linebacker are trained to read for a pulling guard, but here Foster picks up on the center pulling out to be a lead blocker and cuts down the running back for a loss.

Foster shows a strong command of gap responsibility, which is an extremely valuable trait and can turn an athletic prospect into an immediate impact player.

Watch here as he directs his defense through the shifts and motions against LSU and premier running back Leonard Fournette:



Foster consistently displayed abilities to read and communicate pre-snap adjustments to his teammates. This is something that Timmons did regularly for the Steelers, and a communication and leadership skill every defense needs. Foster could be the ultimate defensive quarterback, and that's just as important as his athletic talents.

COVERAGE SKILLS

Foster best combines his athleticism and field awareness in the passing game. While he plays zone coverage assignments, Foster reads the eyes of quarterbacks and quickly reacts to what he sees.



The above play is an example of Foster going from faking a blitz, to playing a middle zone to jumping the pass on the other side of the field.

Foster's speed and quickness also allows him to keep up with running quarterbacks and make quick adjustments on the ball when running with receivers. Watch how he quickly cuts back and makes a good play on the ball before it reaches its target:



Both of these plays came from two seasons ago when he faced the now starter for the Cowboys, Dak Prescott. Foster's a player who didn't just have success against average quarterbacks, but the best that the NCAA had to offer.

BIG HIT FACTOR

What you'll read from many scouts when you first look up Foster is how he's a tenacious hitter. Many will point to how he put a huge hit on Fournette seasons ago and how that put him into the national spotlight, but this play stands out to me even more.

Being a big hitter requires quickness, good leg drive and the attitude to attack. Watch how Foster explodes through the running back who tries to seal the edge and gets Josh Dobbs on the sack:



Foster isn't just the athletic cover linebacker with good field awareness, he has the demeanor of a hard-hitting inside linebacker who any team would welcome. He can set the tone with a big hit even when he's outside of the box and chasing down faster players.

MISSED TACKLES

The biggest knock on Foster is that sometimes he doesn't finish tackles. It's a trait that many big hitters share, but one that is correctable.

Often, Foster will show good form when going in for a tackle, but his problem arises when his opponent is able to fight through the first blow:



This characteristic is shared by many NCAA players and still some NFL players who prefer big hits over fundamental tackles. A player can exhibit both and Foster does at times, but with all the strengths he exhibited in his college tape, this could be the one weakness he needs to refine to live up to his full potential.

STEELERS STOCK

As always, we finish with the question of how Foster might fit in with the Steelers.

The notion that Foster's draft stock dropped after his combine incident may have merit, but he still might be a top ten draft pick when you consider that teams like the 49ers, who have the second pick in the draft, made Foster their first prospect visit, according to a report from CSN Bay Area.

Still, if Foster drops outside of the top ten, teams will be looking to snatch him up as any team can use an inside linebacker with his potential.

What the Steelers have to weigh is the possibility of them trading up to get Foster, and which teams might bite at an offer. Trading first round picks is a must, but what accompanies it could be one, or even both of their third round picks, or possibly even their second round pick.

Foster may be worth such a trade by himself, but not when the Steelers still have drafting an outside linebacker as a primary concern. The last and only time the Steelers have traded up in the first round under Kevin Colbert came when they moved to get Troy Polamalu with the 16th pick back in 2003.

The chances of Foster lasting until a middle pick like the 16th are slim, and the chances that the Steelers sacrifice a great deal to get him if he's there make it even less of a chance.

Still, the team failed to bring in Donta' Hightower and has yet to bring in a suitable replacement at a blatant need. This leads me to think that the team has to make a move if they want to continue to build a defense that continues to get younger and faster.

From the last three drafts, the Steelers have only selected two offensive players in the first, second and third rounds. That trend will most likely continue during this draft, and if the Steelers trade up to get Foster, he could be the biggest name who has come through in this youth movement.