One question I've been repeatedly asked about the Steelers' roster in recent years is about the future of Dan McCullers. Despite underperforming and not bringing much value outside of his size, he has retained a roster spot for five years.
If there's a chance for a rookie to replace him before the sixth, it could be with sixth-round pick Isaiah Buggs.
Buggs is an interior defensive lineman who wore No. 49 from Alabama who occasionally lined up on the edge. That versatility made him an attractive late-round pick for the Steelers along with the prospect of reuniting Buggs with his former position coach, Karl Dunbar, the Steelers' defensive line coach.
But the Steelers tried this in 2018 when they selected Joshua Frazier, another Alabama defensive lineman, in the seventh round to no avail. Buggs was available late because he was one of the worst performing defensive linemen at the scouting combine. From his defensive line class he ranked:
• Bench press: 20 reps, second-worst;
• Vertical jump: 24.5 inches, tied for worst;
• Broad Jump: 96 inches, worst;
• 40-yard dash: 5.15 seconds, 25th of 30;
• 3-cone drill: 8.01 seconds, third-worst; and
• Shuttle: 4.83 seconds, 21st of 24.
What sold Buggs was his 9.5 sacks in 2018 when he shared the line with the third overall pick, Quinnen Williams. But Buggs wasn't your supreme pass rusher, plenty of them came from hustle plays like this sack against Texas A&M. Watch how he works from the right edge, gets stood up, but sticks with the play to make the sack once the pocket breaks down:
Here's a direct example of how Williams' simple presence on the field opened up opportunities for Buggs. Buggs lines up to the right of Williams (No. 92) and stunts around him after the snap.
Watch how Williams attracts the initial attention of three linemen and only one player can impede Buggs. It makes for an easy sack as Buggs fought through just one arm of a lineman in A-gap:
Buggs lacks the elite burst and footwork of a top-grade lineman, but I like his hand technique when lined up inside. Watch how he beats this Missouri guard up the middle with a hard jab from his inside hand. He follows it up with a swipe from his outside hand to break free and force the fumble on the sack:
Notice on those two plays, Buggs lined up both inside and on the edge. Mike Tomlin has valued players that can fill multiple roles on a roster like B.J. Finney, Matt Feiler, and Cameron Sutton.
This is where Buggs can prove his worth and win over the staff to make the roster instead of McCullers. Tomlin and Keith Butler wouldn't mind having a guy who can be at the bottom of the depth chart as a defensive end and a defensive tackle.
But make no mistake, Buggs has a lot to prove.
Buggs looked more comfortable lined up inside than outside, and often was too passive at the point of attack. Watch how he plays the edge right edge of the defense as he not only doesn't dominate the tackle in front of him, but can't do anything to impede the pulling guard that opens up the run:
Last season I wrote about how Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt being "battering rams" was important for the Steelers as they ate up blockers and freed up space for linebackers. Buggs doesn't do that as well on the edge, but he's not afraid to get his hands dirty for that purpose lined up on the inside.
You can see here where he lines up one the left side of the offense and takes on a double team from No. 62 and No. 81. Not only does he stonewall them, but he cuts off the pulling guard and blows up the designed quarterback draw. Plays like this are where he doesn't make a play, but can have a significant impact:
Buggs at 6-foot-3, 294 pounds, is a lot smaller than McCullers at 6-7, 352. That is an automatic disadvantage to a lineman who didn't test well athletically and was ranked very low among his draft class.
But if Buggs can show some burst in OTA's, training camp and in preseason, and shows that versatility of being effective on the edge and lined up inside, maybe that wipes out the difference between him and McCullers.
He's certainly on the outside track for a roster spot, but if he digs deep and gets a boost from a rapport with Dunbar, maybe he's the dark horse of the late draft picks and undrafted free agents to win a roster spot late in camp.
