Black and Gold Links: How Mike Tomlin had his eye on Devin Bush a long time before the 2019 NFL Draft

POSTED IN | no comments

Time to check on the latest news surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With the 2019 NFL Draft in the rear view mirror, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2019 season is fast approaching, and the news surrounding the black-and-gold is far from over. As the team now turns their attention to more offseason workouts, OTAs and minicamp, there is no shortage of news.

Today in the Black-and-gold links article we take a look at how despite the Steelers moving up in the 2019 NFL Draft to take Devin Bush out of Michigan, this wasn’t a knee jerk reaction. In fact, Mike Tomlin had his eye on Bush for a very long time.

Let’s get to the news:

• Devin Bush was the player the Steelers’ coveted, and they traded up 10 spots to get him. But don’t think Mike Tomlin didn’t have his eye on Bush for a long time before draft night.

Devin Bush landing with the Steelers was 11 years in the making

By: Jeremy Fowler, ESPN

Making a blockbuster draft-day trade is never that simple, though.

It’s about timing, opportunity and growth from the player and the team. A series of roster decisions over the past five years caused Pittsburgh to retool its once-proud defense with an infusion of speed. A demanding ex-NFL father pushed Bush to the brink, until he was a versatile linebacker and leader for any defense.

The culmination of those paths led Pittsburgh to its splashiest Day 1 move since securing Troy Polamalu in 2003, moving up 10 spots in a trade with the Denver Broncos to select Bush, a two-time captain with Michigan.

”Super loyalty,” Bush calls it.

While Bush burned leg muscles and smoothie calories on his way here, the Steelers burned gas miles to ensure he got to Pittsburgh.

To read the full article, click HERE

• Plenty of NFL experts are predicting Devin Bush to be named the 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

NFL experts predict: Answering the 2019 draft’s biggest questions

By: ESPN

Who is your early pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year?

KC Joyner, fantasy writer: Devin Bush, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers. The domino effect he is likely to have on the Steelers’ defense could be what’s needed to get Pittsburgh back into Super Bowl contention.

Jason Reid, The Undefeated: Devin Bush, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s a big-time talent who fills a major need for Pittsburgh. And if he’s as good as we think he could be, Bush could take the Steelers’ defense to a higher level.

Mike Sando, senior NFL writer: Devin Bush, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers. He’ll make an immediate impact on a high-profile defense at an obvious position of need.

To read the full article, click HERE

• There are some who aren’t very convinced James Conner is the answer at the running back position for the Steelers. To that, this answer from Bob Labriola should work just fine…

Asked and Answered: May 9

By: Bob Labriola, Steelers.com

JERRY AVERS FROM LANCASTER, PA: Is the running back position going to be an open competition since we added possibly a better one in the draft?ANSWER: I don’t understand why you have such a low opinion of James Conner, but allow me to refresh your memory with some statistics: In 2018, his second NFL season, Conner rushed for 973 yards and averaged 4.5 per carry doing it; he also caught passes for another 497 yards, which gave him 1,470 yards from scrimmage; and in addition he scored 13 touchdowns. To put this into further perspective, this is a list of the NFL running backs who finished with more yards from scrimmage in 2018 than Conner: Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott, Christian McCaffrey, Todd Gurley, and Alvin Kamara. The one negative that can be associated with Conner’s performance in 2018 was his four fumbles, and if that continues to be an issue for him, well, suffice it to say he would discover that Coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t have a bottomless well of patience for running backs who cannot hold onto the football. But as of right now, James Conner is entering his third NFL season, and he has improved consistently over that time. If Benny Snell Jr. can find a way to carve out a complementary role as a rookie, the Steelers backfield – Conner, Jaylen Samuels, Snell, and fullback Rosie Nix – could be a real force during the 2019 season.

To read the full article, click HERE

• Every want some sweet Steelers swag to show off in your house, office or man cave?

Jerseys worn by Steelers Hall of Fame alumni up for auction

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Lelands are auctioning off more memorabilia from the team archives, including game-worn jerseys sported by Pro Football Hall of Fame players Lynn Swann, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Mel Blount and Rod Woodson.

The Steelers collection contains 28 items, including cleats and a chinstrap worn by Hines Ward during the 2002 season, a vintage jersey/sneaker trunk and sideline jackets. It is part of the Lelands Spring 2019 Classic Auction.

To read the full article, click HERE

• Social Media Madness