The Steelers are already planning on playing one draft pick out of position.
It was a wise decision for the Pittsburgh Steelers to double-dip along the defensive line during the draft. An extremely strong and deep group, the team drafted Derrick Harmon in the first round and followed it up with Yahya Black in the fifth round.
Unfortunately, it already looks like the Steelers are going to screw it up.
While Harmon was always viewed as a traditional defensive end, and that is the role he will take on in Pittsburgh, Black is a different story. His body type screams defensive end, given his height and incredible length. However, his actual play got worse the further he moved away from the nose tackle spot.
The Steelers seem adamant, at least at first, to use Black as a base end as well. Given his style of play, this seems like a silly mistake. I get that Black is only a fifth-round pick, but focusing on getting him to play end seems nonsensical.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ hyper focus on versatility will ruin Yahya Black’s career
Versatility is an important trait for a backup if they want to stick. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers can overly focus on versatility at times to the detriment of the player. If young players can’t focus on and grow in one spot, they often wind up becoming a master of none.
While Black will need to be able to play multiple spots, his best spot is over center as a nose tackle. If he becomes a viable starter at the next level, it will be in the middle of the defense.
His run defense is his best trait. He can take up space and open lanes for other players to sneak in and make the play. He is a throwback style of player with a limited role, but a role nonetheless.
While letting him dabble as a base end is fine in practice in case he has to step in for injury, making the focus on him being a base 3-4 end seems like a massive mistake. It was his worst type of play in school, and I hope the team isn’t adamant about playing him there.
Black isn’t a lock to make the team either way, but his odds of cracking the final roster go down significantly if he is playing in a weak position for his style. It could be the first mistake of many for a team with a potentially solid draft class.
