Steelers to sign LB Genard Avery

[Greeksteel]

Adam Caplan
@caplannfl
·
1m
Former #Eagles LB Genard Avery is expected to sign with the #Steelers on a one-year deal, source said.

[RemoAZ]

Who?

[DP39]

When I squint, he's always sort of reminded me of a James Harrison mini-me. Hopefully he's a late bloomer. I think Flores can work with him and increase his production.

I like the pick up -- assuming it's a cheaper deal.

If nothing else, Bazooka Joe is gonna love him on STs!

[franco32]

Good athlete. He used to be on the Browns. Didn't follow him on the Eagles. He's better than Taco and he brings versatility (can play ILB and OLB) so now a bad signing in case we have injuries or Bush continues to play at half speed.

[Stosh-67]

Have to imagine it is a small contract.

Played for $928k last year.

https://nfltraderumors.co/steelers-expe ... one%20sack.

Avery just finished out his four-year, $2.7 million rookie deal and made a base salary of $660,00 for the 2021 season. In 2021, Avery appeared in 16 games for the Eagles and recorded 43 tackles and one sack

[Stosh-67]

43 tackle this past year is pretty decent, considering......

His snap counts were pretty low.
Played in 16 games with 12 starts last year.
Played in more than 50 % of the snaps in only 3 games last year, with a high of 56% in an early season game.
11 of his 16 games, he played in 35% of the snaps or less.

Rotational guy I assume.
Will assume he was in on more run downs than pass downs....Anybody know?

Beefy guy....
yeah...James Harrison sized....6-0" 250

[DP39]

43 tackle this past year is pretty decent, considering......

His snap counts were pretty low.
Played in 16 games with 12 starts last year.
Played in more than 50 % of the snaps in only 3 games last year, with a high of 56% in an early season game.
11 of his 16 games, he played in 35% of the snaps or less.

Rotational guy I assume.
Will assume he was in on more run downs than pass downs....Anybody know?

Beefy guy....
yeah...James Harrison sized....6-0" 250

He was the SAM at Philly in a Mike Zimmer-like 4-3. It was his first year playing LB in a 4-3. He did ok. He's best suited to blitz off the edge or straight up A-gap, imo.

His Browns rookie year he came off the edge a lot and did very well. That's where I see him here. Although, with his last years' SAM role he has some rover flexibility now. He's a much more explosive edge athlete than Highsmith, but with shorter arms. Then again, James Harrison was short (and short-armed), compact, very powerful...yet very effective.

Let him train with Debo for an offseason and I could see a very productive rotational pass rush specialists role for him. At 26, I'm sure that's what he's hoping for -- to get his pass rushing career back on track, chasing those almighty sack contract dollars!

[bradshaw2ben]

IF they're going to play him at EDGE
and
IF he's put on some strength since getting to the NFL

he could be a nice signing for depth

[Scunge]

I remember this guy. He may be short and stocky, but he is a good athlete, his combine numbers, 4.59 40, 36 vertical, 6.90 3 cone, 26 reps.

Steelers love Memphis guys, have had our coaches with ties there, always seem to have a soft spot for picking these players up. DeAngelo Williams, Paxton Lynch, Anthony Miller and now Genard Avery.

I think this is a nice signing, has more experience than Tuszka, but I think both of them as your #3-4 OLBs is pretty good. Tuszka has more length but ran a 4.79 but his 3 cone is 6.87 which is great for a 6'4" 250 pounder.

I think having these two makes the special teams stronger, you want young, fast, strong athletes to cause havoc on special teams. Taco or another veteran like him, wasn't going to have much of an impact or even play ST at all.

[smithessmokin]

I always liked Avery and he’s a good athlete to boot. Sounds like a good special-teams signing at the least.

[steelmann58]

Nice depth signing

[COR-TEN]

I'll repeat what's been said here by more knowledgeable posters = Nice depth. I think spelling both Watt and Highsmith is a good thing. I guess that's what ingram was for last year - until he wasn't?

[lifelongsteel]

Go get as many sub 7 3 cones as you can find. I didn't know Tuska had that kind of bend. Maybe a better prospect than I thought.

[Scunge]

One of the things that was sad for me to see last season was how soft and passive this team was against the run. There were too many examples of players not running to the ball, of giving up on a play, of loafing, jogging. Looking at you Devin Bush.

It was so bad that Cam would be visibly upset after games and was trying to diplomatically not throw his teammates under the bus.

Avery plays like his hair is on fire, his motor runs extremely hot, he does not give up on plays and even if he is JUST a backup and special teams player THAT can still have a big impact in reversing this 'softness', this lack of 'hustle'.

You add an Avery, a Levi Wallace, a Myles Jack and you have suddenly injected three physical tone setters for this defense.

[jewelsongs]

Jim Wexall thought he was going to be an ILBer. Imagine him and Jack coming downhill.

[Thrillsseeker]

One of the things that was sad for me to see last season was how soft and passive this team was against the run. There were too many examples of players not running to the ball, of giving up on a play, of loafing, jogging. Looking at you Devin Bush.

It was so bad that Cam would be visibly upset after games and was trying to diplomatically not throw his teammates under the bus.

Avery plays like his hair is on fire, his motor runs extremely hot, he does not give up on plays and even if he is JUST a backup and special teams player THAT can still have a big impact in reversing this 'softness', this lack of 'hustle'.

You add an Avery, a Levi Wallace, a Myles Jack and you have suddenly injected three physical tone setters for this defense.

Absofuckinglutely need these types!

Us older folks are still wrapping our heads around how bad our run D was last year. Soft as wet toilet paper. Can’t wait to see these tone setters and the improvements!

[steelmann58]

I like this guy a lot and can be used at both inside and outside. I don’t think we see Taco back from what been hearing. I really think Tuszka is a guy who plays with a high motor. He was a big time guy @ND St and think they like him he showed promise.

[Who Dee Knee]

Like the signing. Colbert going out with a bang. Hopefully keeps it up through the draft.