The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers look to have renewed their rivalry in 2020. The teams split their regular-season matchups before the Browns’ convincing win in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, who drew attention all season for dancing on opponents’ logos at midfield, threw gas on the rivalry fire before the playoff game with his statements: “I think they’re nameless gray face” and “The Browns is the Browns.”
The Browns celebrated their playoff victory mocking Smith-Schuster.
The passion between the two teams is not likely to die down in 2021. The Steelers brought back Ben Roethlisberger and Smith-Schuster and are expecting linebacker Devin Bush’s return from ACL injury. While Pittsburgh lost some significant pieces, they still believe they will be competing in the AFC North this year.
Bush recently fanned some flames when asked about being able to cover Browns receiver Jarvis Landry in the slot:
#Steelers LB Devin Bush, in the process of returning from ACL surgery, is asked if when healthy, he can cover #Browns WR Jarvis Landry in the slot: “Yes.”
*pause*
“One hundred percent.”— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) June 9, 2021
While the question may have been a setup for Bush, it is a valid question after Landry scored this touchdown from a bunched formation in the playoff game:
While the Landry touchdown didn’t decide the game, it was a big play to give the Browns a two-score lead early.
Bush, a player the Steelers traded up to draft, hasn’t exactly excelled in coverage. Before being hurt in 2020, Pro Football Focus graded him at 57.7. If he would have had enough snaps to qualify for their leaderboard, Bush would have ranked 40th as a coverage linebacker.
In 2019, he graded better with a 65.2 coverage grade which is far from some of the elites at the position who grade in the 80s and 90s.
Devin Bush’s comments will certainly shine a light on any time he matches up with Jarvis Landry this season. He won’t get his first chance until Halloween but it is likely Landry will have that matchup circled for a variety of reasons.