INDIANAPOLIS -- One of the laws of motion coined long ago by Sir Isaac Newton states as follows, in a paraphrasing way:
For every action, there must be an equal and opposite reaction.
The NFL isn't interested in teaching science class and the subject matter isn't referring to two stationary objects, but that law can be used as a metaphor to describe how organizations are drafting and developing talent on defense.
The NFL is as driven by quarterbacks as ever. The last two Super Bowls were won by Patrick Mahomes, a sure-fire Hall of Famer. The majority of Super Bowl champion quarterbacks are either currently in the Hall of Fame or are on course to be inducted into the Hall of Fame some day. The league's MVP award has been dominated by quarterbacks, too, as the last non-QB to earn the honor was running back Adrian Peterson in 2012.
This discourse -- a topic in and of itself -- about the importance of that position is a challenge to get right for any NFL team, but so is the counter-punch of the defense deployed to try and stop this position. Linebackers who can cover are valued, and their skills in coverage and quarterback spying are vital components to their stocks as prospects perhaps more now than ever.
With respect to the Steelers' defense, it brings to mind the importance of having an off-ball linebacker who has skills in coverage and has the athleticism to roam sideline-to-sideline to help contain opposing quarterbacks. The AFC North boasts two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, an athletic DeShaun Watson, and a mobile Joe Burrow at the position, and those quarterbacks face Pittsburgh a collective six times across an 18-game season.
"To be great in coverage I feel like it's important to know what your job is, really," Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg said Wednesday at the Indiana Convention Center. "What type of coverage you're playing, who are our eyes on, and I think that's really starts in coverage. You've got to know your job first and execute your job, as well."
That all begins a conversation without mentioning the use of running backs on passing routes. In 2018, four running backs were targeted more than 100 times in the passing game, with an additional two being targeted more than 90 times.
In the 2023 season, only Breece Hall of the Jets was targeted more than 90 times while three others were targeted more than 80 times. Some of this has to do with the increase in quarterbacks targeting more routes downfield, but that decrease also is attributed by more quarterbacks being willing to scramble for short burst of yards rather than throwing for them.
Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts tied for second in the league with their 15 rushing touchdowns, and nobody has rushed for more touchdowns over the last two seasons than Hurts. Six quarterbacks rushed for more than 400 yards this season, and 10 quarterbacks rushed for at least four touchdowns.
Linebackers aren't just blitzers. They have to have all of the other 10 pieces of their defense accounted for in order to properly execute their play.
"The linebacker is the quarterback of the defense," N.C. State prospect Payton Wilson said. "We have to know what's going on. We have to be in the pass game, we have to be in the run game, and I think it's literally one of the most important positions on the field in today's culture. You have to be a linebacker that can be in the pass game as well as defend the run, so I think the versatility that we have to bring to this position, I don't think it's going anywhere for a long time."
And being a great coverage linebacker comes with many traits. Eichenberg and Wilson came forward with the same response when I asked them what makes for a great coverage linebacker.
"I think it's football I.Q.," Wilson said. "Understand route concepts, understanding whether it's a condensed split, whether they're split out wide, or if it's just watching tape and understanding what's coming. I think talent and speed can only take you so far but if you have that football I.Q., understand route concepts that are coming behind you, and more importantly understand what your defense is doing so you know where you have to be, know where the holes are."
The Steelers are in need of youth at the inside linebacker position. Cole Holcomb is coming off of a serious knee injury sustained in November, Elandon Roberts battled through groin and pectoral issues late in the regular season and is entering a contract year, Kwon Alexander is a free agent, and Mark Robinson has not developed enough to be considered for a starting spot.
This draft class of inside linebackers is not appealing on a consensus. Only one went in the first round last year -- Jack Campbell to the Lions -- and a linebacker has not been picked inside of the top 10 since 2020. That is likely to continue. The Mock Draft Database has Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper rated 51st overall in its consensus rankings. Wilson is 54th, Michigan's Junior Colson is 62nd, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is 74th, North Carolina's Ced Gray is 85th, and Eichenberg is 118th.
Trotter, the son of former All-Pro and 11-year veteran Jeremiah Trotter Sr., could continue a lineage of players with NFL family ties selected by the Steelers. Mike Tomlin drafted Joey Porter Jr. last year to continue a family lineage in Pittsburgh. The Steelers had T.J. and Derek Watt in the same locker room before, and now brothers Cam and Connor Heyward and Nate and Nick Herbig share a room together.
Trotter confirmed he held a formal meeting with the Steelers this week in Indianapolis.
"I feel like I have a lot of capability of being a three-down linebacker," Trotter said. "I have a wide variety of talent in my game and a lot of versatility. But there's a lot of linebackers in this draft class that I top my hat off to because they're great linebackers and great players and guys that I also watch and really respect their games."
Cooper brings upside in coverage but has undeniable traits in stopping the run. He posted 84.0 tackles, 17.0 tackles for loss, and eight sacks in 2023. Cooper said he held a formal meeting with Tomlin and the Steelers.
"It was good. Great conversation going on," Cooper said. "Great coach. Just talking it up, they're getting to know me and I'm getting to know them. ... (Tomlin has a) great personality. Goofy, silly just like me, so I feel like it's a great thing. That's my personality."
Colson also confirmed he met formally with the Steelers, while Gray said he met with them informally. Teams are allowed 45 formal meetings running a maximum of 18 minutes each during NFL Combine week.
