Is Devin Bush too small to make an impact at the NFL level? We dig into the latest Steelers stats and analytics:
• Does size really matter? Bush is nearly universally praised for his blend of run-stuffing, pass coverage, and pass-rushing ability. About the only knock you'll hear about the Michigan star and 10th overall selection in the NFL draft is his size. But is it really that uncommon to see a player like Bush (listed at 5-foot-11 and 235) at linebacker? In today's NFL -- where the demands of the position have evolved to include chasing down fleet-footed tight ends and running backs -- it's not as rare. In 2018, there were 40 linebackers who checked in at 6 feet or shorter and 240 pounds or less, according to Pro Football Reference. In 2013, there were 28 linebackers who met those measurables. As the linebacker spot is redefined, so are the types of players who man the middle of the defense. Bush's perceived lack of size shouldn't stop him from succeeding.
• Best in class: Three potential Hall of Fame quarterbacks -- Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers -- were selected in the 2004 NFL draft. On draft day, we debated which of the three would have the best career. Fifteen years later, we're debating which QB has carved out the best legacy so far. So, who you got? Rivers holds the edge in TD passes (374) over Roethlisberger (363) and Eli (360). Ben leads in passing yards (56,194) over Eli (55,981) and Rivers (54,656). Rivers (64.5 percent completion rate) just edges out Ben (64.4) in accuracy, with Eli a distant 60.3. If you measure by Pro Football Reference's Passer Rating Index, which adjusts for different offensive eras and uses a scale where 100 is league average, then Rivers and Ben are nearly neck-and-neck. Rivers ranks 17th all-time with a 112 Passer Rating Index, while Ben comes in tied for 18th at 111. Eli, meanwhile, is just 113th all-time with a 98 index. Of course, Ben and Eli can flash of pair of Super Bowl rings that Rivers would kill for.
• Extending Davis: Considering that a number of free agent safeties cashed in this offseason, and that he's entering the final year of his rookie deal, Sean Davis is facing a pivotal season in 2019. The Steelers' second-round pick in the 2016 draft has bounced around from cornerback to strong safety to free safety, where he seemed to find some traction in this past year. Davis has another year to play his way into a big payday, but how strong is his case right now? Since 2016, Davis ranks tied for 21st among safeties in Approximate Value (AV), a Pro Football Reference stat that tries to measure a player's overall contributions across different positions and different NFL eras. He's not far off from the much more heralded and better compensated Earl Thomas (17 AV) in that regard. He also ranks 11th in tackles (239). On the other hand, Davis hasn't been much of a ball hawk (five interceptions, tied for 32nd at the position since '16). If the Steelers' center fielder can pick off a few more passes, he could cash in too -- in Pittsburgh or elsewhere.
