Devin Bush Option Declined

[Ice]

Thought this deserved its own thread.

[Steeldrama]

[Professor Half Wit]

But but but they do what they do and never admit mistakes.

BS

They fucked up with and declined Jarvis, Artie, now Bush. There have been others.

[Ice]

But but but they do what they do and never admit mistakes.

BS

They fucked up with and declined Jarvis, Artie, now Bush. There have been others.

And (very intelligently) Edmunds, as well. Saved a nice chunk of change. Sadly, that means this isn't necessarily goodbye, possibly just smell ya later.

[Mick]

We’ve spent a lot of 1st round picks in recent years on positions where starter money is much lower than the price tag of the 5th year option.

I don’t think even Devin’s mom thinks he has a good chance of getting a contract for more than $11M/year next offseason, so not sure how much thought we really had to put into this. Speaking as someone that hasn’t given up on him.

[Jobu]

But but but they do what they do and never admit mistakes.

BS

They fucked up with and declined Jarvis, Artie, now Bush. There have been others.

They didn’t admit those mistakes…those mistakes smacked them in the face. Admitting the Bush mistake would’ve been trading him for whatever morsel they could get this past weekend, and drafting his replacement.

[Steelperch]

$10 million is pretty steep for that position, let alone for a bad player at that position. Not surprising.

[blu]

Will that make Bush go all out in order to be able to possibly secure a multi-year contract with another team for next season?

[LakecrestSteeler]

But but but they do what they do and never admit mistakes.

BS

They fucked up with and declined Jarvis, Artie, now Bush. There have been others.

They didn’t admit those mistakes…those mistakes smacked them in the face. Admitting the Bush mistake would’ve been trading him for whatever morsel they could get this past weekend, and drafting his replacement.

Well I don’t think Bush was a mistake. I thought he was on or pretty close to being on the proper development arc until the injury. The injury has appeared to ruin him. The injury highway is littered with dead bodies and success stories.

Bush’s, lack of success also can be attributed to the team’s lack of success with continuity at the Will and defensive line last season.

Injury 20%
Will lack of continuity 20%
Defensive Line play 20%
Attitude 40%

Prove it year is befitting of Bush and the way the Steelers treat players. Bush will have had a completely fair shake from the Ps organization no matter which way this turns.

[Professor Half Wit]

But but but they do what they do and never admit mistakes.

BS

They fucked up with and declined Jarvis, Artie, now Bush. There have been others.

They didn’t admit those mistakes…those mistakes smacked them in the face. Admitting the Bush mistake would’ve been trading him for whatever morsel they could get this past weekend, and drafting his replacement.

They declined fifth year options and let them walk after. That is the Steelers way of admitting a mistake.

[Jobu]

But but but they do what they do and never admit mistakes.

BS

They fucked up with and declined Jarvis, Artie, now Bush. There have been others.

They didn’t admit those mistakes…those mistakes smacked them in the face. Admitting the Bush mistake would’ve been trading him for whatever morsel they could get this past weekend, and drafting his replacement.

They declined fifth year options and let them walk after. That is the Steelers way of admitting a mistake.

I guess.

[TTP]

What a disaster of a trade to move up for Bush. Really poor process to give up that much draft capital for a low value position like ILB. According to the newest trade value charts, the Steelers gave up the equivalent of the #2 overall pick. The dude would have to be Ray Lewis minus the murders for a trade like that to be worth it.

[955876]

Let’s just hope the prancing fairy has a stronger desire to land a decent contract somewhere than his desire to avoid contact is.

So many times I’d catch that POS jogging away from where the play was going.

Jack Lambert he is not.

Going to be a D heavy draft next year

[Steelafan77]

I was hoping they'd let him play it out. Although Bush hasn't ever really played exceptional or to expectation he isn't the worst player in the league/team. We Steeler fans are hard to please, lol. I think he has had some good plays while in a Steeler uniform.

Perhaps with a better Nose in front of him and partner in crime beside him he could re-emerge as was implied above and ultimately sign a more friendly multi-year deal and stay in Pittsburgh. There's still gas in the tank with Bush, tread on the tires or whatever cleaver cliche they have these days.

Why I believe he wasn't talked about being on the trade block or even rumored that I recall. I think they still believe he can bring more to the table and this may be the catalyst for him to reach the potential they saw the day they drafted him.

[955876]

I was hoping they'd let him play it out. Although Bush hasn't ever really played exceptional or to expectation he isn't the worst player in the league/team. We Steeler fans are hard to please, lol. I think he has had some good plays while in a Steeler uniform.

Perhaps with a better Nose in front of him and partner in crime beside him he could re-emerge as was implied above and ultimately sign a more friendly multi-year deal and stay in Pittsburgh. There's still gas in the tank with Bush, tread on the tires or whatever cleaver cliche they have these days.

Why I believe he wasn't talked about being on the trade block or even rumored that I recall. I think they still believe he can bring more to the table and this may be the catalyst for him to reach the potential they saw the day they drafted him.

The problem is his effort or lack thereof.

Linebackers need to be tenacious. He played like a pussy. Loafin & joggin around.

Way too much tape of him giving half assed effort.

Is he the “worst” player? No.

But he certainly doesn’t meet the eyeball test of a #10 overall.

If he was a 4th rounder or worse he wouldn’t get as much heat as he does.

[Steelafan77]

@955876 Fully Agree.

I believe with both Bush and Edmunds in the middle is why this defense was gashed a lot and suffered in the run game.

That said, the Steelers didn't have a replacement ready for the injury bug apparently. Once Alualu was out there were a several try hard players inserted but had no real solid results which exacerbated the shit play in the middle of the defense. Insult to Injury?

[Jobu]

If he was a 4th rounder or worse he wouldn’t get as much heat as he does.

If he was a 4th rounder or worse, and gave the same piss poor effort, he’d get the same heat.

[Scunge]

If he was a 4th rounder or worse, and gave the same piss poor effort, he would have been benched and/or cut.

They gave up a lot to get Bush, he was supposed to be an elite ILB, supposed to be a leader, a cornerstone of this defense. For him to be seen loafing and not giving total effort on every play is unforgivable. If I am the head coach I cut him. Chuck Noll would not have accepted that bullshit.

[SteelerDayTrader]

NT ILB SS FS …….if your strong up the middle it forces the offense to move laterally to one side and a short field

The Steelers haven’t been solid up the middle in almost a decade now

[LakecrestSteeler]

NT ILB SS FS …….if your strong up the middle it forces the offense to move laterally to one side and a short field

The Steelers haven’t been solid up the middle in almost a decade now

Pretty concise post.

On top of that, our book ends are usually top notch which means, unfortunately, exacerbation of middle weakness; they are coming down the funnel!

[LakecrestSteeler]

I was hoping they'd let him play it out. Although Bush hasn't ever really played exceptional or to expectation he isn't the worst player in the league/team. We Steeler fans are hard to please, lol. I think he has had some good plays while in a Steeler uniform.

Perhaps with a better Nose in front of him and partner in crime beside him he could re-emerge as was implied above and ultimately sign a more friendly multi-year deal and stay in Pittsburgh. There's still gas in the tank with Bush, tread on the tires or whatever cleaver cliche they have these days.

Why I believe he wasn't talked about being on the trade block or even rumored that I recall. I think they still believe he can bring more to the table and this may be the catalyst for him to reach the potential they saw the day they drafted him.

The problem is his effort or lack thereof.

Linebackers need to be tenacious. He played like a pussy. Loafin & joggin around.

Way too much tape of him giving half assed effort.

Is he the “worst” player? No.

But he certainly doesn’t meet the eyeball test of a #10 overall.

If he was a 4th rounder or worse he wouldn’t get as much heat as he does.

I am pretty sure he was the worst 1st round draft pick in all the league last year! And that makes him the worst player on defense last year in totality.

I have to question Jerry Olsavsky at this point. Oddly 2021 is omitted from ye olde Steelers.com bio!

Biography
Jerry Olsavsky is in his seventh season as the team's inside linebackers coach. Olsavsky was promoted to his current position on February 6, 2015.
Olsavsky's inside linebackers room developed a next-man-up mentality in 2020 with a season-ending injury to 2019 first-round pick Devin Bush in Week 6, followed by a Week 13 injury to his replacement, Robert Spillane, which held Spillane out through the end of the regular season.
Despite the personnel changes, the inside linebacking corps continued to play at a high level, as the defense finished top-five in the League in 46 defensive categories.
Olsavsky oversaw the development of rookie Devin Bush in 2019. He set a franchise rookie record with 109 tackles, which is the most by a Steeler in a season since Lawrence Timmons had 114 in 2016. Bush was the only NFL rookie with a fumble recovery (4), interception (2), forced fumble (1) and 100 or more tackles (109).
Bush was the first NFL rookie with at least 100 tackles, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble and 1.0 sack in the same season since Bennie Blades of the Detroit Lions in 1988. He also was the first NFL rookie since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger with at least 85 tackles, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions and 1 TD fumble return in a season.
Two veteran inside linebackers and one a new face to the Steelers' defensive unit led Olsavsky's room in 2018. Vince Williams led all linebackers with 76 total tackles (50 solo) starting all of his 14 games played, adding 4.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits. Jon Bostic made 73 tackles (46 solo) in his first year with the Steelers, along with 2.5 sacks.
The inside linebacker unit was faced with adversity three quarters of the way through the 2017 season. Ryan Shazier, who earned his first Pro Bowl selection, was tied for the most interceptions among AFC linebackers (3), tied for second among all AFC defensive players in solo tackles (68) and leading all NFL linebackers with 11 passes defensed before he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 13. Despite losing Shazier, the inside linebacking corps continued to play at a high level.
Williams finished second on the Steelers with a career-high 8.0 sacks and registered a single-season best 88 tackles to finish third on the team's defense while starting all 16 regular-season games.
Tyler Matakevich scored the team's first points of the 2017 season by recovering a blocked punt in the end zone in Week 1. He led the special teams unit in tackles for the second consecutive season with 14.
In 2016, the inside linebacker unit was led by Shazier and Timmons. Including the postseason, Shazier totaled 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate for his efforts.
Counting the postseason, Timmons totaled 143 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 interceptions and 1 forced fumble. The 2016 season marked the fifth straight year Timmons recorded at least 100 tackles, and it marked the fourth straight season that he led the team in tackles.
Olsavsky also guided Matakevich, a rookie inside linebacker, who led the Steelers with 12 special teams tackles during the 2016 regular season.
In 2015, Shazier finished second on the team in tackles, while adding 3.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles, despite missing four games due to various injuries. In Week 2 vs. San Francisco, Shazier had a breakout game, recording 15 tackles, 1.0 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. Shazier also led the team in tackles (20) and forced fumbles (2) during the postseason.
Another member of Olsavsky's group, Williams, led the team with 11 tackles on special teams during the 2015 regular season.
Prior to his promotion, Olsavsky was a defensive assistant for five seasons. He assisted all areas of the defensive staff in their daily operations. In Olsavsky's five years as a defensive assistant, the Steelers' defense ranked top-two in the league in total defense three times, including back-to-back years (2011-12) as the number-one ranked defense.
A 10-year NFL veteran, Olsavsky spent seven seasons coaching linebackers for Youngstown State University. Prior to coaching at Youngstown State, Olsavsky spent one year as an assistant strength coach at the University of North Carolina. He also coached at his alma mater, Chaney High School in Youngstown and at Duquesne University.
Olsavsky, was selected by the Steelers in the 10th round (258th overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft, and played linebacker from 1989-97. He saw action in 108 games for the Steelers, making 227 tackles, while also excelling on special teams. Olsavsky battled back from a career threatening knee injury in 1993 and helped lead the Steelers to a berth in Super Bowl XXX. In 1995, he was the recipient of the Steelers' Ed Block Courage Award, given annually to the Steeler that overcomes many obstacles to achieve great success on the field. Olsavsky finished his playing career in 1998 with the Baltimore Ravens.
Playing collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh, Olsavsky was a first-team Kodak All-American as a senior in 1988, when he made 129 tackles. He became the Panthers' first defensive player since 1976 to record more than 100 tackles in three consecutive seasons. He earned his degree in information science in 1990.
Olsavsky was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and he resides in Pittsburgh with his three children, Joseph, Emma and Dominic.

[955876]

I am pretty sure he was the worst 1st round draft pick in all the league last year! And that makes him the worst player on defense last year in totality.

I was simply being kind to the poster I was responding to.

I do after all refer to Bush as the “prancing fairy”.

He far from fits the mold as a “Steelers Linebacker” to me.

[punum123]

I was hoping they'd let him play it out. Although Bush hasn't ever really played exceptional or to expectation he isn't the worst player in the league/team. We Steeler fans are hard to please, lol. I think he has had some good plays while in a Steeler uniform.

Perhaps with a better Nose in front of him and partner in crime beside him he could re-emerge as was implied above and ultimately sign a more friendly multi-year deal and stay in Pittsburgh. There's still gas in the tank with Bush, tread on the tires or whatever cleaver cliche they have these days.

Why I believe he wasn't talked about being on the trade block or even rumored that I recall. I think they still believe he can bring more to the table and this may be the catalyst for him to reach the potential they saw the day they drafted him.

The problem is his effort or lack thereof.

Linebackers need to be tenacious. He played like a pussy. Loafin & joggin around.

Way too much tape of him giving half assed effort.

Is he the “worst” player? No.

But he certainly doesn’t meet the eyeball test of a #10 overall.

If he was a 4th rounder or worse he wouldn’t get as much heat as he does.

If he plays in camp....like he played last year...I'd cut his ass quick!

[LakecrestSteeler]

I am pretty sure he was the worst 1st round draft pick in all the league last year! And that makes him the worst player on defense last year in totality.

I was simply being kind to the poster I was responding to.

I do after all refer to Bush as the “prancing fairy”.

He far from fits the mold as a “Steelers Linebacker” to me.

I knew we were on the same page. My disgust has softened somewhat over time…but when I read you posts on loafing during plays it reminded me again of how bad he was.

My position softened when I read an article explaining the Will and Mack positions in depth and explaining the defensive line’s role in their success.

Maybe he had one time off the field issues that were kept hush hush…baby momma stuff etc.

Maybe he will unleash the Kracken this year….

We could go to instant Super Bowl contenders if he plays pro-bowl level.

[franco32]

This was the best news of the week. I can't stand Bush anymore. His idea of a winning play is being blocked 8 yards downfield and then somehow making the tackle. It's humiliating.

If you are a glutton for punishment, go back and watch the Charger game from last year. Complete dumpster fire performance from Bush.

Pre-ACL some of his athleticism covered for all of his warts. But, last year he was slow to process, slow to react, and acted like a pussy most of the time.

I'm glad some of you have some hope. I don't.

[jebrick]

The problem with this mistake though, is how much it cost the team in the long run. Not just the draft pick like with Jarvis and Burns.

[Steeldrama]

Yep a VERY costly error as Jebrick and many posters have said.

Tomlin once again falling in love with the wrong guy.
This time predicated on his relationship with Derrick Brooks who obviously hasn’t tutored his Godson in the art of linebacker.

Yep Bush a bust and worse a waste of extra draft capital Thankfully Houston declined our trade offer to go up for Kenny freakin Pickett.

Hopefully the next GM can end this trend of tunnel vision drafting. This year however it was more position tunnel vision with Tombert zeroed in on the quarterback position

More likely Tomlin personnel powers will expand which scares the ever loving shit out of me.

As for Bush.
I hope Tomlin makes him earn the starting job
Perhaps Buddy Johnson takes a year 2 leap

[KCSteeler]

$10 million is pretty steep for that position, let alone for a bad player at that position. Not surprising.

Exactly.

Give me Jerry Olsavsky out of retirement. Bush sucks.

[Baltostiller]

My biggest problem with Bush can be summed up by Chris Hoke
"Devin Bush is playing with no heart," Hoke said during on KDKA following the game. "... the Steelers are playing with 10 guys on defense."

There were plays when he turned his back to the play and didn't even put out any effort. Pathetic.

[Jizz Mop]

Yes, the Bush selection is now the worst Steelers 1st round pick ever given what the Steelers gave up to go and get him.

Mistake made. But you must move on. What choice can you make?

Shazier injury, selection of Bush, run defense a sieve

Dominoes