Steelers' Fans Critical Of Head Coach Mike Tomlin's Linebacker Selections

In the 2014 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers sought out an immediate long-term solution at linebacker. With an aging defense, the Steelers needed a spark and found that with the 15th overall pick: linebacker Ryan Shazier. After arriving in Pittsburgh, it didn't take long for the rookie linebacker to make an impact. With his alma mater Ohio State having run a very similar defensive scheme as the Steelers, Shazier was able to jump right in.

Shazier's rookie season didn't quite go as planned. The linebacker had an injury-riddled season and appeared in just nine games for the black and gold. When healthy, he was the preferred linebacker to work alongside Lawrence Timmons, but no one was able to see his true potential until the 2015 campaign. For the next three seasons, the linebacker would be a consistent and powerful force on the defensive end. After registering 87 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles in 2016, it appeared that Shazier was just getting started. No one could've expected that his career would soon be cut short.

Things Take An Unexpected And Devastating Turn

On December 4, 2017, the Steelers were on the road against AFC North rival, the Cincinnati Bengals. Just four minutes into the game, Shazier made a tackle on Bengals' receiver Josh Malone that would change his life forever. The crowd fell silent as it appeared that this injury may be way worse than it had first seemed. The young linebacker was placed on a stretcher and taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he was diagnosed with a spinal contusion. Miraculously, Shazier would be able to live life with some normalcy again following a long recovery. He announced his official retirement from football in 2020. 

The Steelers Had Big Shoes To Fill

With the absence of Shazier, the Steelers thought they found the right guy to fill his shoes in the University of Michigan's Devin Bush Jr. They were so confident that they had found their solution that the Steelers traded up to get the 10th pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. In a deal with the Denver Broncos, the black and gold acquired pick number 10 in exchange for Pittsburgh's 2019 first and second-round picks, as well as a 2020 third-rounder. It was one of General Manager, Kevin Colbert's more aggressive moves, but no one was complaining.

Bush lived up to expectations his rookie season and the ceiling seemed high. That is, until 2020 when he went down with an ACL injury. After that, nothing was the same. Though Bush made a full recovery, he struggled to make plays and live up to high expectations. The Steelers declined his fifth-year option and the linebacker was picked up by the Seattle Seahawks on March 17, 2023. 

Ray Fittipaldo Shuts Down Shazier Slander

In addition to Bush's departure, Robert Spillane and Myles Jack have gone their separate ways in the 2022 offseason as well. Wednesday, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hosted a Steelers Chat and was asked about Head Coach, Mike Tomlin's rocky history with drafting inside linebackers. The guest stated that Shazier was a bad pick, and Fittipaldo didn't hold back his thoughts.

"Shazier was a bad pick? I don't know if he ever would have made All-Pro, but he was pretty effective for them as a run stopper and pass defender. They haven't come close to getting anyone close to his caliber in the past five years."

As far as Tomlin's history with linebackers goes, neither Shazier's heartbreaking injury nor Bush's downfall could have been predicted. Even with his injury, the franchise should have no regrets when it comes to Shazier. In 2023, the former Steelers linebacker is a family man, philanthropist, entrepreneur and author. While prioritizing his other ventures, he still is a grade-A teammate and member of the Steelers community. 

Talking poorly about Shazier should be a crime. Bush, however, is absolutely deserving of the criticism. 

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