Omar Khan did a lot of heavy lifting in the offseason to improve the Steelers' roster heading into 2023, and there wasn't a position that was more affected than inside linebacker. But, does a complete overhaul at the position mean it will be better this season?
Welcome to the sixth edition of our 2023 Steelers positional preview, in which we will break down and preview each position on the roster to get you ready for that wonderful first training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.
Throughout this series, we'll take a look back at how each position fared in 2022, how that position was addressed in the offseason and wrap up with how it looks heading into 2023. Of course, the roster can still go through some changes between now and when the roster is cut down to 53 players. But, this will help give you a better understanding of how the team is shaping up heading into the season and how realistic it is for them to get back to a playoff chase or maybe even a division title.
This series is wrapping up quickly as we near the start of training camp this week. We've already knocked out the entire offense, and last Friday was spent focusing on the defensive front and edge rushers. Now, we're going to dive deep into a massive overhaul at inside linebacker.
2022 IN REVIEW
There wasn't a high expectation for the Steelers' inside linebackers (also called off-ball linebackers) in 2022, though there was some hope that Devin Bush might elevate his play in a contract year or that free-agent signing Myles Jack could look more like he did earlier in his career. Even if both of those scenarios played out, it would still be a less-than-stellar group.
The truth is, Bush never lived up to the hype of being the first prospect the Steelers traded up for since 2006 (Santonio Holmes). Even if Jack played his very best, he would be a fine complement, nothing more. Needless to say, the Steelers needed the other two levels of the defense to play their very best in order to maximize what they had at off-ball linebacker.
Unfortunately for the Steelers, Bush didn't perform at a contract-year level, or even as the team's No. 1 linebacker. While he played in all 17 games, he recorded only 81 tackles, finishing behind Jack and Minkah Fitzpatrick, respectively, for the team lead. He also didn't excel in other areas, recording only two quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and two passes defended.
While Bush wasn't nearly as awful as he was in 2021, he certainly wasn't anything more than ordinary. His 58.8 grade on Pro Football Focus was right on par with his 2020 mark (59.7), with his pass rush being his highest-graded ability. However, he still ended up with zero sacks in 2022.
Jack certainly had moments where he appeared to be the best off-ball linebacker on the roster. His team-leading 104 tackles didn't happen by accident. He was often the first one to the ball, especially early on in the season when he was at his best.
However, health became a major issue for Jack over the course of the season, especially in the second half. At first, a knee injury slowed Jack down. Then, he suffered a Grade 3 strain in his groin during the Week 14 loss to the Ravens. Jack wound up playing in all but two games in 2022, but there is no doubt that he played at far less than 100% quite often.
Unfortunately, the Steelers didn't have much else in terms of quality behind Jack. Robert Spillane often earned a place on the field any time Jack or Bush needed a breather, and he even earned some dime linebacker snaps due to his strong communication at the center of the defense. But, Spillane performed as he always did: Very strong against the run and very poorly in pass coverage.
That might not have been more evident than in the Week 11 loss to the Bengals:
Given the contractual status for Bush, Jack and Spillane (more on that in just a little bit), there was very little hope on the roster for the future. Rookie Mark Robinson was the only rostered linebacker that was secured without any options beyond 2022, but wound up playing meaningful defensive snaps in only the final two games of the season. Robinson, a seventh-round pick, was very raw at linebacker as he converted to the position from running back in college.
Robinson's potential stood out in the Steelers' Week 17 road victory over the Ravens, in which he recorded seven tackles and played with a physical edge. However, he followed that up with a very poor performance against the Browns in the season finale.
Overall, the linebacker position was far and away the Steelers' worst position in 2022. There was nothing spectacular about it, but there was a lot of cause for concern. But, the offseason was going to give Khan, Mike Tomlin and the rest of the front office an opportunity to properly address the position.
THE OFFSEASON
While Khan first had to address cornerback since Cam Sutton left in the first few hours of free agency, he didn't wait too much longer to make the first addition to the linebacker position. In fact, he made two additions in the first days of free agency. However, it didn't go exactly as fans hoped it would.
The offseason promised a phenomenal class of off-ball linebackers, including Tremaine Edmunds, Lavonte David, David Long, T.J. Edwards and many more. With a healthy amount of cap space, some thought the Steelers would be active and aggressive in the upper tiers of the free agent class. However, all of those players went elsewhere while Khan and the Steelers addressed other needs.
The first addition made by Khan was signing Cole Holcomb, who grew into a productive linebacker and became a captain for the Commanders. However, his value was low due to a foot injury that cut his 2022 season short after only seven games. Thus, his value took a hit over short- and long-term concerns. But, when healthy, Holcomb grades better than Bush, Jack and Spillane. Now, with the commitment of only three years and $18 million, it's certainly worth the small risk that his health will sustain enough to perform at a better level.
The second addition to the linebacking corps was Elandon Roberts, a veteran thumper who previously played for both New England and Miami. Khan also added former third-round pick Tanner Muse, who profiles more as a special teams player, and veteran Nick Kwiatkoski, who's racked up 293 tackles over a seven-year career.
With all of the additions made, the Steelers officially cut ties with Bush, Jack and Spillane. Bush and Spillane were free agents and signed with Seattle and Las Vegas, respectively. Jack was initially under contract for the 2023 season, but the Steelers had the option to cut him and save $8 million in cap space, avoiding a hefty $11.25-million cap hit. Given his production and inability to stay healthy in 2022, the Steelers obviously did not believe that large of a cap hit was worth the risk. No other NFL team yet either as Jack is still a free agent at the time this article was published.
Thus, the only holdover from the 2022 group was Robinson, ushering in a complete overhaul at off-ball linebacker.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2023
Of all the positions on the roster, off-ball linebacker is by far the most difficult to project. Yes, each of the newcomers have their own resumes and reputations with other teams, but it's yet to be seen how that meshes with the Steelers' style of defense. Obviously, the front office and pro scouts believe they can fit well Teryl Austin's system.
Both Holcomb and Roberts represent a different, more physical style than we've seen in recent seasons. That's surely not an accident. But, what's perhaps more important to the Steelers is both players were leaders on their previous teams. They have experience wearing the green dot. They're smart football players, and that's something the Steelers will always value.
Holcomb figures to be the every-down linebacker for the Steelers. He's the most versatile player in the group, having the ability to move sideline to sideline to help in support of the run defense, he's flashed the ability to blitz every now and then, and he's a more accomplished defender in pass coverage than anyone the Steelers employed at off-ball linebacker last season:
If PFF grades mean anything to you, Bush had the highest grade in pass coverage among Steelers off-ball linebackers last season with a mark of 58.6. In comparison, Holcomb had a grade of 67.0 before his season was ended, and posted a 73.0 grade in 2020. In addition, Holcomb had 69 tackles in the seven games he played last season. That's only 12 tackles behind Bush in 10 fewer games played.
Roberts profiles similar to Spillane, at least in terms of him being considerably better in run defense. Roberts isn't an ideal choice to be the dime linebacker, and as long as Holcomb has the green dot, he shouldn't have to be. Roberts does grade a tad better than Spillane in pass coverage, but what really sets him apart -- and may even consider him an upgrade -- is his ability as a blitzer.
Roberts racked up 4.5 sacks with the Dolphins last season, which is considerably more than the one whole sack produced by the entire group of Steelers' off-ball linebackers in 2022. PFF approves of Roberts' blitzing capabilities as well, giving him an 89.2 grade as a pass rusher, the highest among all qualifying off-ball linebackers.
Roberts is a physical, down-hill linebacker that can easily be defined as a thumper. He accelerates to the ball carrier, which gives the Steelers a different wrinkle than what we saw on the 2022 defense:
After Holcomb and Roberts, the Steelers are really relying on Robinson to take a significant step forward. If that Week 17 performance in Baltimore last season is a sign of things to come, Pittsburgh found themselves a nice pickup in the seventh round of the 2022 draft. But, there's a lot riding on that for 2023. Injuries are part of the game. And, even if the Steelers run the nickel and dime defense more often next season and don't need as many snaps from the linebacker spot, there's still the need for a quality option in the third slot on the depth chart.
If Robinson shows well during training camp and Holcomb and Roberts come out of the preseason healthy, problem solved. If not, maybe the Steelers bring Jack (on a much cheaper contract) or another free agent veteran into camp for some competition and/or depth.
Muse and Kwiatkoski are the leading candidates to make the team to round out a usual group of five off-ball linebackers on the 53-man roster. But, they will likely make the roster for their abilities on special teams rather than on defense. In other words, if Muse and Kwiatkoski are ever on the field in a regular role on defense, it's very likely something went very wrong between now and then.
If the Steelers' defensive front and secondary play to the level they're capable of, the Steelers don't need this group of linebackers to be extraordinary. They may only need to be adequate. Nothing special, but do enough to limit the opportunities for opposing offenses in the middle of the field.
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART
• Cole Holcomb
• Elandon Roberts
• Mark Robinson
• Tanner Muse
• Nick Kwiatkoski
2023 STEELERS POSITIONAL PREVIEW SERIES
Previously...
• Quarterback
• Running Back
• Wide Receiver/Tight End
• Offensive Line
• Defensive Line/Edge Rusher
Still to come...
• Secondary (July 25)
• Special Teams (July 26)
