Steelers Linebackers Becoming Unsung Heroes of Defense

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh has struggled to find quality inside linebacker play for years. They tried to fix it in 2019 by trading up to select Devin Bush. When that did not work, the Steelers pivoted this year to a committee approach instead of loading it all onto two guys. That is how you get the rotation of Cole Holcomb, Kwon Alexander, and Elandon Roberts. So far, the results are favorable for the team.

“I feel like we’re jelling and more comfortable with each other,” Holcomb said. “The communication is there. We feel like we’re playing well. Just reading out keys and playing fast.”

People still rag on this team’s inside linebackers, but I think for what it is, the Steelers have received solid play from this group in the first block of their season. Cole Holcomb is on a heater right now. He had a terrible first game at San Francisco but has proven to be a solid starting inside linebacker in the past four games. Kwon Alexander still has his intensity and smarts. After the first quarter, they sniffed out the screen game at a high level and made some impact plays in that facet. Alexander was everywhere down the stretch. Elandon Roberts is limited, but his run defense is excellent. When he is asked to do what he does well, I like Roberts a lot.

Pittsburgh asks a lot of their inside linebackers. But this group has given them solid play when they have simplified it and catered to their strengths. It’s eons better than last year. Not perfect. For example, the group does not have a star like Fred Warner or Roquan Smith, but it has held its water and is giving the Steelers a solid level of play. It’s much appreciated and the best linebacker room they’ve had in years.

It’s reasonable to expect the team to get this type of linebacker play out of this group. They never paid for the star inside linebackers. That’s fine. There is no freak Ryan Shazier in this group that runs the Tampa 2 pole as he did during his days in Pittsburgh. But there also doesn’t need to be as long as the Steelers continue to put those guys in good spots to succeed. These guys can play fast and with a significant edge when they do. Linemen do not want to climb to meet these guys because they pack a serious punch. But that’s part of what makes this linebacker room perfect for this team. Expect the group to continue their upward trajectory.