FanPost

Some late Summer pick-ups they Steelers could entertain at ILB

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

This time of year, for NFL fans, the big questions are about filling out the roster – who's developing, who does the team need, and who’s available. Earlier this week, in fact, an article ran on this site listing available free agents at various positions and considering their utility for the Steelers.

We’re a little spoiled in these parts, with the Steelers roster pretty solid from top to bottom. Never say never, but I don’t predict that the Steelers will be bringing in veterans for anything but depth at this point. Except at one place: inside linebacker. Specifically, I'm wondering (as I think all probably are) how the team will fare in replacing the irreplaceable Ryan Shazier.

The Plan at ILB

There was an uptick in excitement recently when the Eagles released Mychal Kendricks, followed by consternation as the Steelers showed no real interest and Kendricks signed with the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, former Pro Bowl ILBs like Navarro Bowman and local-man Lawrence Timmons remain unsigned as the Pittsburgh brass seems intent to proceed with Vince Williams and Jon Bostic/Tyler Matakevich manning the middle. The conventional wisdom appears to be about the rookie safeties, Terrell Edmunds or Marcus Allen, playing a Troy Polamalu-like hybrid role more often to account for Shazier’s missing quickness. Meanwhile word on the street is that UDFA rookie Michael Thomas is getting a long look so far at OTAs—more on that story as it develops.

This may be the Steelers’ ILB situation when the dust settles in September. But I wouldn’t bet the kids’ tuition on it just yet.

The team doesn’t know at this point whether Bostic and Matakevich can handle the inside duties, and they’re not sure whether Thomas is even going to make the team. They’re optimistic on all counts (or they wouldn’t be proceeding the way they are), but training camp and the preseason will tell a lot more.

That is, the smart money says the team’s ILB roster won’t change in the next 24 hours. But that doesn't mean it won't change. This team has a history of picking up late-summer veterans to plug very necessary holes.

The Value of Late-Summer Signings

When I mention late-summer signings, last season’s snagging of Joe Haden at cornerback is probably the example you’re immediately thinking of, and it’s a good one. But this is also the team that plucked former All Pro offensive tackle, Flozell Adams, out of unemployment in 2010 only after the need arose (when Willie Colon went down just before the preseason began). It also signed a Mike Tomlin favorite, the talented but then-unproven Ross Cockrell, to steady the secondary in 2015 when Cortez Allen began his death spiral. Cockrell came on so late he didn’t even dress for the opener that year.

In each of the above cases, the new player was signed after training camp, and long after one would assume the core of the team was assembled. And yet, each player wound up as a starter at a position of great need on a highly successful team. Adams started every game on a Super Bowl squad in 2010; Cockrell was probably the best CB on an 11-5 unit (which had finally turned the corner after back to back 8-8 campaigns); and Haden was an indispensable steadying force on a 13-3 team last year.

So where am I going with this? I’m not exactly suggesting that they’re going to sign Bowman or Timmons tomorrow. In fact, I’d bet against it. There’s always a chance (especially with Timmons), but since they didn’t sign either man (or Kendricks) right away, history suggests that they’re more likely to ride into training camp with the bodies they’ve got, and see where it goes from there.

Instead, my prediction hinges on Joe Haden’s arrival last year. Or more specifically, the conditions that made him available.

NFL Roster Cuts Schedule

In 2017, the NFL changed its calendar for roster cuts. For most of recent memory, training camp rosters were capped at 90. During the preseason rosters were trimmed to 75, then cut to 53 just before the regular season began. In 2017, rosters went from 90 to 53 in one cut, after the final preseason game. Because of this, lots of unpredicted (if not unpredictable) players came free – cap casualties, one-too-many-at-this-position casualties, not-developing-fast-enough casualties, rising-star-waiting-behind-you casualties, etc.

Those cuts happen every year, but last year, they happened all at once, all at the last second. And a team that's in win-now mode, and not afraid to plug-and-play a veteran might just make a killing in that kind of feeding frenzy.

You can see where I’m going with this...

Thought Experiment

For a second, let’s play pessimist. Let’s assume the VW/Bostic/Dirty-Red combo underwhelms and Thomas is on a slow learning curve. Let’s also assume that there will be some expected and unexpected cuts on that feeding-frenzy day this fall.

If the Steelers felt compelled to fill the middle with one of those last-second vets, who, realistically, would you like it to be?

Note: I’m figuring Timmons and Bowman are on the table (assuming they’re still unsigned when you read this). Also, "stay the course and let the guys develop" is an option as well, if that's what you're feeing. The only stipulation I’ll throw out is to think realistically. Bobby Wagner and C.J. Mosley aren’t getting cut this year, and the Steelers couldn’t afford them if they came loose anyway.

Instead, think of who might actually be there. Maybe you've had your eye on an underutilized young guy with some upside (like Cockrell was); maybe you think the Steelers could squeeze one more year out of a aging great in search of a ring (like Adams); or maybe you feel like there's a former Pro Bowler playing for an idiot GM who you think might cut the guy to save a buck (like Haden). As long as it's plausible, it's fair.

So have at it, BTSC – who could you see appearing in western PA this year and steadying the ship? Who might be available all the sudden, that would right-away make these guys better? Like the headline suggests, this is pure speculation; I don't have any insider information, but I'm interested in the argument. What ILB would look best in black and gold this fall?

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