PITTSBURGH (93.7 the Fan) The Pittsburgh Steelers had one of the lowest ranked running defenses in the NFL throughout the 2021 season.
The sudden retirement of Stephon Tuitt doesn’t help in any way, but a former Steeler thinks there is a bigger issue with a different defender.
Merril Hoge told 93.7 the Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi that Devin Bush won’t get any better this upcoming season.
“No, there’s nothing there.”
Hoge went on to mention that keeping Bush in the fold can be chalked up to management mistakes.
“This is where management makes mistakes when you don’t want to admit you made a mistake,” Hoge said. “You hold on. You think someone’s going to turn the corner and you hold on.”
Hoge noted that he doesn’t care if Bush was a first rounder or that he’s a fast player; Hoge believes that Bush doesn’t play with good instincts and hurts the Steelers on the field.
Other linebackers in the Steelers system consist of Myles Jack and Robert Spillane; Hoge thinks those guys are an upgrade from Bush.
“Spillane is they’re best inside linebacker, period.”
So what should the Steelers do with Bush if there is no signs of improvement?
According to Hoge, “You cut bait and you move on.”