For those who have frequented BTSC for a few years, you may remember the hype surrounding a certain nose tackle out of Baylor University back in 2016. Andrew Billings was the draft crush of many Steelers’ fans that year, myself included. Those who had fallen for him argued passionately for his selection in the comments section of BTSC articles for months on end.
Why Billings? Well, the Steelers were a 3-4 defense without a nose tackle. Casey Hampton had retired in 2012 and the Steelers had not adequately replaced him. The defense was in decline and, according to the narrative, unless we had a player with Andre the Giant-like size clogging both A-gaps, there was no way to revive it.