You have to appreciate the confidence new Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Mark Barron is bringing with him. Barron addressed the media shortly after signing his new two-year contract with Pittsburgh and noted he doesn’t think he’s going to be coming off the field much at all.
If this is true it would be great news for the Steelers’ defense. Barron is entering his ninth season in the NFL and not all of them have been great. Barron came into the league as a safety out of the University of Alabama but his body and his game has evolved and at 230 pounds he’s a true inside linebacker at this point.
And inside linebacker is exactly what the Steelers need. Specifically, they need a guy who can come in and do more than defend the run. Vince Williams and even Jon Bostic have been able to handle those chores. However, the absence of Ryan Shazier has created a void in terms of athleticism and Pittsburgh is hoping Barron can fill it.
Looking back at Barron’s career, his struggles seem to be directly related to the transition to linebacker full time. When he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he was primarily a hybrid linebacker/safety and in 2015 and 2016 Barron saw tremendous success. He topped 110 tackles both seasons.
With the way, the Steelers utilize personnel groupings, especially in the nickel and dime. Barron should be able to once again be a sort of hybrid player, similar to what Pittsburgh wanted from Morgan Burnett and then L.J. Fort last season.
A new team and a new system should be exactly what Barron needs to get his career back on track. The Steelers have confidence in him and have invested heavily in his ability to come in and contribute. This will be especially true as a coverage linebacker against slot receivers and tight ends.
