Devin Bush has made waves with his rookie season, leading the Steelers with 52 tackles -- 10th-most in the NFL -- in their first six games, in addition to two interceptions and six recovered fumbles.
The defense desperately needed an inside linebacker to step up in this regard after Jon Bostic and L.J. Fort struggled across from Vince Williams. But Bush isn't just playing like a rookie trying to make every play. He's displaying veteran-like tendencies that are a much higher floor to work with than anyone could've expected.
Let's take a closer look at his tackling:
Bush leads the team in tackles because he's playing disciplined within his assigned gaps. He closes down on gaps to prevent running backs from having space to escape. Watch how he does that in a huge gap opened between Stephon Tuitt and T.J. Watt.
Much like how a goalie comes farther out to challenge a lone skater in one-on-one hockey, Bush has to close in to make the size of that gap not matter. But he can't afford to fly in like an unguided missile, miss his target, and give Mixon a huge lane to run. Watch how he chops his feet while closing in, then wrapping up Mixon in the hole and finishing the play for no gain:
What's most impressive is how Bush is aggressive in his play but not overly so that he sells out too much to miss too many routine tackles. That's what Ryan Shazier was guilty of plenty in his first three years in the NFL. He had amazing speed and could wipe out big plays, but would sometimes let his speed get him in more trouble.
Shazier also only played 258 snaps in nine games during his rookie season, while Bush has already played 358 in six games. The reason for that is the dependability Bush brings at the position.
Watch how he brings down Austin Ekeler on a delayed release from the backfield. Bush sees him stay in to block, but never uses that as an excuse to charge in and blitz Rivers. Instead he stays home, waits for Ekeler's release and is ready for the catch. Ekeler does a good job getting four yards with a stiff arm, but he never loses Bush and is eventually tackled:
Bush does lead the Steelers in missed tackles with 10, but that's another example of his intense nose for the football. And most of those missed tackles come from good plays by running backs where Bush made the fundamental tackle attempt and was beat by a legitimate football move.
Like this missed tackle by Bush on Ekeler making another short reception. Bush doesn't fly past Ekeler and does attempt to wrap. But Ekeler does put on a nice stutter step to absorb the hit and avoids the tackle:
Most of Bush's missed tackles are like that where he's in position and attempting to wrap his opponent but beat by a solid move. That's a far way ahead of where most young linebackers enter the NFL as collegiate stars often fly around the field looking for big hits.
Bush does fly, but it's always with a purpose as he diligently plays within Keith Butler's schemes. If this is his floor, the Steelers have a linebacker whose ceiling may be higher than any inside linebacker they've had for decades.
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MORE CLASSROOM
Oct. 17: How to do it without Tuitt
Oct. 16: Disguised defensive schemes
Oct. 15: Ground game’s revival
