Countdown to Kickoff: Pittsburgh Steelers No. 50 Ryan Shazier
By Ryan Disdier
The Countdown to Kickoff series wages on, as today, we take a look at Pittsburgh Steelers third-year linebacker Ryan Shazier.
If you’re a fan of the NFL, chances are you’re aware of the storied history of Pittsburgh Steelers’ linebackers. Guys like Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, James Farrior, Joey Porter and James Harrison have made their names known.
But who cares about the past? I mean, the past is gone, dead and obsolete. So let’s talk about the present. And if we’re going to talk about the present, in regard to Steelers’ linebackers, it’s impossible to not mention third-year man Ryan Shazier.
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The Ohio State product fits the mold of the “new-era” linebackers, in the sense that he has the ability to fly around the field and make plays. That ability was on display on Shazier’s signature play from last year.
Against the Bengals in the playoffs, Shazier demolished Cincinnati’s Giovani Bernard, forcing a fumble in the process.
While it may be a little premature, Shazier has a shot to join the upper-echelon of great Pittsburgh linebackers.
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For starters, Shazier has un-paralleled athletic ability for a linebacker. Sure, it’s a bit redundant to say an NFL player is athletic, but Shazier is truly in a class of his own.
How athletic is the former Ohio State Buckeye? Well, he ran an unofficial 4.36 at his OSU pro day. And oh, he beat Antonio Brown — AKA the best receiver in the NFL — in a foot race, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
No, seriously.
In fact, when Shazier entered the league, his then-defensive coordinator used him to cover AB84, according to Alan Robinson.
At one point, Dick LeBeau used ILB Ryan Shazier to cover WR Antonio Brown. Those are the options a fast LB like Shazier give you. #Steelers
— Alan Robinson (@alanrobinson412) June 11, 2014
I refer upon this tweet often when describing Shazier, mostly because it’s just frankly insane to me.
Speed aside, the asset that impresses me the most about Shazier is his aggressive style of play. He’s not going to arm-tackle guys and be content wrapping ball-carriers up. No, Shazier flies around the field with a relentless approach.
That’s what really makes Shazier a blend of old school and new school. He has the desired athletic ability of today’s stellar athletes, but he combines that with the ruthless aggression that was synonymous with players from yesteryear.
So what’s holding Shazier back from becoming one of the NFL’s very best linebackers? Injuries, and that’s about it. In his short career, Shazier has missed a total of 11 games, including four a year ago.
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Despite the time he missed, Shazier racked up 87 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one interception. He was a force during the Steelers’ playoff run, as he was the man who forced Jeremy Hill to fumble the ball late in the AFC Wild Card game.
If he can stay healthy, I sincerely think Ryan Shazier — great first name, by the way — will ascend, becoming one of the AFC’s best linebackers in the process. He’s flying under the radar a bit right now, but by season’s end, he’ll be flying into mainstream recognition.