The curious case of LBs
Can signing of Holcomb, Roberts fill the gap since Shazier?
Bringing in a new inside linebacker, whether in free agency or by trade, is nothing new for the Steelers. It seems to be annual occurrence, just like the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Unfortunately, the luck of the Irish hasn’t been on their side.
Since 2018, the Steelers have brought in four linebackers to help solidify a position that has been anything but since the careerending injury to Ryan Shazier. All of those linebackers — Mark Barron, Jon Bostic, Joe Schobert and now Myles Jack — didn’t last more than one season.
Jack is the latest casualty. After signing a twoyear contract a year ago and leading the team with 104 tackles, he was cut the other day because his troublesome knee injuries, along with his $8 million salary and $11.2 million salary-cap hit, made him expendable.
His departure, along with the free agent defections of Robert Spillane (Las Vegas) and Devin Bush (Seattle), has left second-year linebacker Mark Robinson, who played 44 defensive snaps in 2022, as the only remaining tenant in the building. And it has forced the Steelers to undergo such a major renovation of the position that the project might require the approval of the city’s planning commission.
So instead of bringing in just one inside linebacker in free agency, the Steelers have brought in two — Cole Holcomb, who started 48 of 50 games in four seasons with the Washington Commanders; and Elandon Roberts, an eight-year veteran who started 43 of 47 games the past three seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Both were signed with the intention of being starters — the first time the Steelers have signed two starters at the same position in the same year since at least Kevin Colbert came aboard in 2000.
Of the two, Holcomb, 26, is the more curious addition.
He was signed to a threeyear, $18 million deal despite missing the final 10 games of the 2022 season with a Lisfranc injury. The injury was extensive enough that his contract offer was predicated on passing a physical, which he did. But it remains to be seen if the Steelers limit Holcomb’s availability for offseason workouts, much like they did last year in training camp when defensive end Larry Ogunjobi was returning from a similar injury.
Nonetheless, the Steelers view Holcomb (6-foot-1, 240 pounds) as a potential three-down linebacker, an aggressive, sure tackler who was 10th in the league in tackles in 2021 and was on pace for his third 100tackle season in Washington when he was injured last year.
Roberts (6-1, 238), who will be 29 in April, plays a different style. He is a downhill linebacker who will crash the line of scrimmage — a more experienced version of Robinson, last year’s seventh-round draft choice, who displayed a similar explosive approach in his limited appearances in 2022. Roberts was second on the Dolphins in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (10) and set another career high with 107 tackles last season.
The addition of both players does not preclude the possibility the Steelers might select an inside linebacker relatively high in the draft, though it might not be until the third round (80th overall) at the earliest.
But, for now, it might be considered a victory of sorts if one, or even both, lasts more than one season.
New number
Cornerback Patrick Peterson, who wore No. 7 in his two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, said he knows the number formerly worn by Ben Roethlisberger “is off limits, for sure.”
Instead, Peterson will wear No. 20 with the Steelers — the same number worn by his cousin, Bryant McFadden, who had two stints with the Steelers (2005-08, 2010-11). It is also the same number worn by the player he is replacing, Cam Sutton.
Of course, the most famous Steelers player to wear No. 20 is running back Rocky Bleier, who actually wore No. 26 his first season with the Steelers in 1968.
Peterson said McFadden told him what to expect playing for the Steelers — that the fan base is unlike any other.
“Just telling me how loyal the fans, the organization, the Rooney family are, just how the passion this city has for not only the Pittsburgh Steelers but for sports in general,” Peterson said.
“For me, being a defensive player, when you have the fans making it hard for opposing teams, even on the road — I can remember the Cardinals fans and seeing a bunch of Terrible Towels taking over that stadium — seeing your fans do that, it makes you want to play that much harder. It is quite an honor to finally be a part of this organization, this rich tradition that this organization has.”