Former Steeler Vince Williams attributes Devin Bush’s struggles to injury, youth

Devin Bush could never get his career back on track after a knee injury.

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

One of the biggest NFL draft busts for the Pittsburgh Steelers under previous general manager Kevin Colbert is the pick of linebacker Devin Bush. The Steelers traded up from the No. 20 pick to No. 10 in the 2019 NFL draft. Bush went through four tumultuous seasons with Pittsburgh before leaving for the Seattle Seahawks in free agency this offseason.

But what went wrong? Well, former Steelers linebacker Vince Williams was on the Steelers Sanctuary Podcast and he offered some insight into Bush and why he believes things didn’t pan out.

“I think Devin is a mystery to me,” Bush said. “I’ve seen people say that Devin don’t like football, but he really loves football. That was evident in his rookie year. He was having a tremendous amount of upside. I think that the knee injury did play a role in his development and how far he fell behind. I think he was also a very young guy, like a 20-year-old in the NFL is a difficult thing to handle.”

Williams and Bush were teammates for two seasons. There’s no denying the knee injury Bush suffered has had a significant impact on his development. Losing an entire year so early when you are still learning the position is huge.

Having said that, when Bush returned, you could tell his confidence was impacted as well. If you want to say he didn’t love football, that might be fair but he didn’t play with confidence once he recovered and that falls on him either way.

Hopefully Bush can salvage what should have been a stellar career and regain the confidence he played with as a rookie.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers decline fifth-year option on LB Devin Bush

As anticipated, the Steelers did not exercise Devin Bush’s fifth-year option.

The fifth-year option of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush has been declined. The news was first reported by Adam Schefter, confirmed by Trib Live’s Joe Rutter.

It’s no surprise the team did not pick up Bush’s contract, as he’s performed well below the $10.89 million the option would’ve paid him.

Pittsburgh traded up in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft to select Bush 10th overall. He had a promising rookie season, finishing with 109 total tackles and two interceptions.

Bush’s second season ended early after he suffered a non-contact torn ACL in Week 5. Though he returned to play in 2021, he was hindered by a slow recovery physically and mentally.

Bush will have a final season to prove that he’s worth a long-term contract, otherwise, he’ll enter free agency in 2023.

[vertical-gallery id=517548]

[listicle id=517706]

Ryan Shazier’s advice for struggling Devin Bush: ‘Dive into the playbook’

Ex-Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier knows what Devin Bush is going through and how he might be able to turn things around.

Devin Bush has had a rough go of things in the NFL. His transition from college to the pros was a bumpy one, and just when it seemed things were starting to click, Bush destroyed his ACL.

October 18 marked one year removed from Bush’s devastating injury on a non-contact play versus the Cleveland Browns.

The average time a player returns to action is 12 months, though some players believe they are not 100 percent until as many as three seasons post-injury.

Since his return, Bush has failed to make an impact. By the looks of it, he’s not mentally or physically fit to play the game. There are points where it seems having him on the field hurts the Steelers more than helps them.

Quarterbacks are picking on Bush in coverage — and succeeding. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s allowed 34 receptions on 41 targets for 306 yards, 11 first downs and two scores for a passer rating of 114.

Defending the run, Bush’s PFF grade is 27.6. He’s tackling poorly and has shown an inability to shed blockers.

Been There

Bush’s predecessor, Ryan Shazier, has some thoughts as to what could be going on. “I’m not surprised that Devin is not having the year that everybody expected,” Shazier told Steelers Wire. “I think Devin is still getting used to having something different about his body that he didn’t have before.”

Shazier certainly empathizes with Bush and understands what he’s going through.

“I remember when I sprained my MCL and was wearing a knee brace, I felt like I was the same player but I knew in the back of my head that my knee was not what it once was,” Shazier said. “That’s one thing Devin is just learning how to deal with right now. He’ll turn it around.”

When the MCL sprain sidelined Shazier for three games midway through the 2016 season, Vince Williams stepped in and had some monster games. Behind Bush on the Steelers depth chart is safety-turned-linebacker Marcus Allen and Ulysees Gilbert III.

Shazier’s advice for Bush is to try to refocus his energy from his knee to his opponent.

“I think with Devin is when you understand that you’re not 100 percent healthy or you might be a hundred percent healthy, but you have doubts on your mind when it comes to your body, just focus on the plays a little bit more and on what the other team is going to do.”

“Knowing what the other team is going to do gives you much more advantage than just your athletic ability,” Shazier added. “Devin should try to dive into the playbook a little bit more than he probably is already doing.”

“When it comes to football, it’s an every-week type of thing. If Devin catches a pick every game for the rest of the season, everybody will be like, He’s the greatest linebacker ever.”

Shazier’s football career came to a sudden halt on a routine play versus the Bengals on Dec. 4, 2017. He suffered a devastating spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed. Today, he’s a walking miracle.

“Walking Miracle” will be available on November 30.

[vertical-gallery id=505811]

[listicle id=505883]

Pittsburgh Steelers place LB Devin Bush on injured reserve

Bush is officially done for the season after tearing his ACL versus the Browns on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Friday that second-year linebacker Devin Bush has been placed on injured reserve. He tore his ACL on a non-contact play in Sunday’s clash with the Browns.

“I just want to send out my thoughts and prayers to Devin [Bush] and his family and everything he’s going through right now,” Ben Roethlisberger told Steelers reporters after Sunday’s game. “It just makes you sick when someone, a young player, skilled like that, gets hurt.”

It appears that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin plans to address the Bush’s void internally with a combination of the reserve inside linebackers. Robert Spillane was named the starter on Wednesday. The third-year player entered Sunday’s game and logged six tackles, including one for a six-yard loss.

[vertical-gallery id=479241]

[lawrence-related id=479232]

Steelers LB Devin Bush among underrated in 2020 per ESPN

Devin Bush is set up for a breakout this season.

[jwplayer lNMqp3Xb-ThvAeFxT]

Last season the Pittsburgh Steelers made a big move to go up and get linebacker Devin Bush in the first round. It was a risk but for the most part, the most part the move has paid off. Bush started 15 games in 2020, finished with 109 total tackles, two interceptions and nine tackles for loss.

Yet when pundits would have conversations about the best all-around off-ball linebackers in the league, Bush rarely got a whisper. This is part of the reason when ESPN put together their most underrated players of 2020, Bush made the list.

Both top-10 picks in 2019, Bush and Devin White have superstar potential as anchors in the middle of the Steelers’ and Buccaneers’ defenses, respectively. They combine 4.4 40-yard dash speed with the ability to create turnovers.

But Bush got slightly more top-five consideration among NFL personnel because of his microwavable splash-play ability.

When combining interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, sacks and tackles for loss, Bush edged White 17 to 14.5 last year.

Reports out of training camp are glowing for Bush. He’s in great shape and looks like he is ready for an expanded role on defense. It’s interesting to note in the ESPN article that in terms of splash plays, Bush beat out edge T.J. Watt, who is a top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.

[vertical-gallery id=475066]

[lawrence-related id=475006]