When Pittsburgh Steelers’ inside linebacker Devin Bush went down with a torn ACL in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field, the lack of overall depth at the inside linebackers position was put on full display. Without its star linebacker in the middle defending the run and pass with the best of them, the Steelers’ vaunted defense gradually fell off, ultimately being exposed in the AFC Playoffs against the Cleveland Browns, ending a promising season.
Now, with Bush working his way back from injury, Vince Williams back in the fold, and Robert Spillane with legitimate starting experience under his belt — not to mention the additional depth of guys like draft pick Buddy Johnson and young linebackers Marcus Allen, Ulysees Gilbert and Tegray Scales — the Steelers look pretty solid in the middle one year after having to trade a draft pick away for Avery Williamson and fully convert Allen to the position just to try and shore up depth.