5 players who Pittsburgh Steelers need to be great in 2019

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 16: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, left, gives a hand to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, right, after Pittsburgh's first touchdown of the game in the first quarter. The New England Patriots visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in a regular season NFL football game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA on Dec. 16, 2018. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 25: Devin Bush poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being drafted tenth overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers on day 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

3. Devin Bush

There’s always pressure on first-round picks during their rookie seasons, but Devin Bush might have more than most first-year players. The Steelers moved up to grab him in an effort to give their linebacking corps the type of athleticism they’ve lacked since losing Ryan Shazier to injury.

Bush has all of the physical tools required to be a real force in a 3-4 alignment. He’s not the biggest middle linebacker in the NFL, but he is one of the fastest. The Steelers want to see him making plays from sideline to sideline in 2019.

It’s difficult to ask a rookie to cover that kind of ground while they’re still trying to adjust to the speed of the professional game. For the Steelers, it will be important for Bush to make steady progress as the season rolls along. They don’t need him to be great in Week 1, but they do need him to be an above-average starter when the playoffs draw near.

The front office did make a move to protect Bush by signing veteran Mark Barron in free agency. That should allow the rookie the freedom to try to make plays in the opposing backfield. The more time Bush spends making plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage the more stout the Steelers defense is going to be.

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