The Pittsburgh Steelers added more competition to the reworked inside linebacker room with the addition of veteran, Kwon Alexander. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers fourth-round selection has bounced around a little bit after finishing his rookie deal in Tampa. He signed with the San Fransisco 49ers in 2019 and started eight games before landing on injured reserve. The next season he started five games for the 49ers before he was dealt to the New Orleans Saints. He played one more season with the Saints before signing with the New York Jets for the 2022 season.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander jumped right in to start training with his new team at Saint Vincent College shortly after putting pen to paper on a contract.
Pittsburgh took an interest in the 2015 PFWA All-Rookie Team member earlier in the 2023 offseason by bringing him in for a visit in May, but a contract offer didn't materialize then. Now that he's signed, the former LSU Tiger told 93.7 the Fan's Jeff Hathorn that he's a quick learner and ready to show he can do a little bit of everything once the pads come on and the football in shorts portion of the offseason ends Tuesday.
Former Steelers linebacker, Arthur Moats is excited about what Alexander can bring to the defense. In a recent edition of Master Moats Film Session, he broke down some of the tape from a 2022 Jets game in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins. Alexander played in 94% of the snaps on defense that week, racking up a season-high 10 tackles while adding one for a loss in a 40-17 Jets win.
Steelers' Newest Addition Game Is Highlighted By Three Major Keys
The first thing Moats pointed out when looking at the Miami game was Alexander's ability to communicate about coverages. He added that watching the 2022 film of Alexander in New York, he was often vocal with his teammates in trying to diagnose what the offense was trying to run at them.
Arthur Moats
Former Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats breaks down the play of the newest addition to his former position in Pittsburgh.
In the photo above, Moats highlights Alexander letting safety, Lamarcus Joyner know what he is supposed to be doing. As the play unfolded, Moats pointed out Alexander making a read on the movement of the fullback coming back into a hole that had previously looked open. He was then able to plant his foot, sidestep a Dolphins lineman and reverse back to stop running back, Raheem Mostert from breaking out for a big gain. He makes good initial contact with Mostert allowing safety, Will Parks to get over and help finish the tackle.
Moats commented on how Pittsburgh's inside linebacking core underperformed when it came to making splash plays in 2022, and the numbers back it up. Per Pro Football Reference, Robert Spillane, now with the Las Vegas Raiders, was the only player in the group to get a sack and also led the unit with four tackles for a loss. Alexander should help in that regard, Moats said.
Throughout his career, Alexander has shown a propensity for some splash plays and, while they've diminished with age, his six wrap-ups behind the line of scrimmage in 2022 were better than anyone in Pittsburgh at the position.
Arthur Moats
Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander, then with the New York Jets, quickly gets into the backfield for a tackle.
On the play above, the Dolphins were trailing 33-17 and decided to try to run to the outside to pick up the first down on a fourth and one with time dwindling in the fourth quarter. Moats detailed that, in the play, as the backside linebacker with no eligible receivers on his side, Alexander knew he would be able to take anything that came his way. Then, when the play came his way, with the fullback looking to pitch it back to the running back, he was able to use his speed to quickly pick up the tackle for a loss.
"That is Kwon Alexander baby," Moats said. "Smarts, pre-snap communication, athleticism, and playmaking ability."
Alexander has had just one practice so far since joining the team, so trying to nail down his specific role is a fool's errand until we see more of him in camp, especially with the pads on. The team has to see some of what Moats saw from the linebacker in 2022 and think that they can find a way to use him to help them in 2023.
What did you think of Moats's breakdown? What kind of a role do you think Alexander can have in 2023? Comment below!
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