Black and Gold Links: How Devin Bush was well worth the trade for the Steelers

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

With the 2019 NFLDraft 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 some fans being critical of what the Steelers gave up to get Devin Bush, he is well worth the cost.

Let’s get to the news:

• For the first time since I took over this website, the vast majority of the fan base was happy with the team’s first round draft pick. But there is still a small contingent who think the team gave up too much to get Devin Bush.

Carter’s Classroom: Why Bush was worth it

By: Chris Carter, DKPittsburghSports

Kevin Colbert broke the mold by trading up for Devin Bush. The Steelers are the team that always patiently waits for their turn in the draft and builds the roster without sacrificing other draft picks. Only twice have they traded up in the first round — Troy Polamalu (16th) in 2003, and Santonio Holmes (25th) in 2006 — and never into the top 10.

Here’s why Bush merits the move:

When I wrote in early April that this was the year for Colbert to trade up in the first round, it was because I knew the caliber of talent available with the top two inside linebacker prospects was too good to pass up in 2019, and Colbert had the ammunition — ten draft picks — to move up.

Bush was widely considered the second best linebacker of this draft behind LSU’s Devin White, but more accurately White was 1-A and Bush was 1-B. Bush had the second-best 40-yard dash time behind White’s 4.42 seconds and tested high across the board:

But combine those measurements with Bush’s game tape at Michigan and the Steelers have an impeccable athlete in the middle of their defense. Bush combines playmaking ability with sideline-to-sideline speed, leadership skills and awareness of how his roles in a defense. That’s worth more than what Colbert gave up — the 20th pick, 52nd pick and a 2020 third-round pick — to draft Bush.

To read the full article, click HERE

• This might be the best headline ever…

Shazier: ‘I consider myself a Yinzer’

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

Shazier is a prime example of that, someone Art Rooney II refers to as a ‘remarkable person.’

“To me it’s truly an honor to have Mr. Rooney think of me for this award” said Shazier, who was placed on the PUP list on Monday. “I am thankful. I have been working my tail off through the good and the bad. They have been there for me. I thank them for all of the support they have given me. I am thankful they even thought about me for this.

“I consider myself a Yinzer. It means a lot because I know the whole city has my back in every form, when it comes to sports, life, on a daily basis. I am thankful he thinks I represent the city, and the sports here.”

To read the full article, click HERE

• In case you are someone who is still skeptical about Devin Bush, this article helps make you a believer.

‘He runs all the way through the sideline’

By: Steelers.com

Why you should be excited about first-round pick Devin Bush:

He’s highly regarded: Bush, a 5-foot-11, 234-pound linebacker from Michigan, was widely considered by draft analysts as one of the top two players available at inside linebacker, a perceived position of need for the Steelers. Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked Bush No. 1 and Devin White of LSU No. 2 at the position.

The Steelers uncharacteristically traded up to get Bush: “We thought that highly of him,” General Manager Kevin Colbert said. “I don’t want to say it was an easy trade to make, but it was easy in our minds to pick him with the 10th pick. So, we did what we had to do.”

Bush was exhaustively scouted: ”This is a unique football player and it was across the board in our evaluations,” Colbert said. “We had four personnel people, myself included. We had three coaches, Coach (Mike) Tomlin included and everybody said, ‘Wow, that’s a first-round pick.’”

To read the full article, click HERE

• All you need to do to see what the Steelers truly value is to look at the 2019 NFL Draft class. It will tell you all you need to know…

Steelers show what they value in 2019 class

By: Dale Lolley, DKPittsburghSports

Character. Position flexibility. Special teams ability.

Those were all catch phrases thrown about by no matter who the Steelers brought to the podium this weekend to talk about their 2019 NFL Draft class.

After a few years of tumultuous things happening both on and off the field, the Steelers made an obvious attempt to change things. It’s not exactly “changing the culture,” because the Steelers feel they have a good one.

The Steelers have made a habit in recent years of not only drafting young players early — if they can — but also guys who have a background in football.

This year’s first-round pick, Devin Bush Jr., has a father who played in the NFL. If that sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same as last year’s first-round pick, Terrell Edmunds.

To read the full article, click HERE

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