Good Monday to you Steelers fans.
The surprising trade last Thursday evening for linebacker Joe Schobert keeps looking better and better. The easy explanation for my reasoning is that the financials look great. Originally, it appeared that Schobert would put the Steelers on the hook for about $7.3 million this season. According to profootballtalk.com, that is far from the case.
After conflicting reports and plenty of uncertainty, here's what the Jaguars are paying LB Joe Schobert in 2021 after his trade to Pittsburgh: $3.65 million of his $7 million guaranteed salary. https://t.co/hUMhGs7qLH
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 15, 2021
Joe Schobert also converted $2.36 million of his remaining salary to a signing bonus, in order to shrink his 2021 cap number with the Steelers.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 15, 2021
To get Schobert for a sixth rounder was a good move. To get him for a sixth rounder and have the Jaguars pick up half of his salary for this year was a great move. But then they also restructured/converted money as well. I have been very critical at times of Kevin Colbert and sometimes it’s been justified but in recent years he’s been doing a terrific job for the most part. As for Schobert, he told the media that he will eventually be given the green dot and will call the defense. As a player, Schobert is a terrific cover man and is so-so against the run but he’s smart and will tackle anything that moves. How quickly he can get up to speed will be interesting.
The Tackles
Zach Banner has yet to play in the preseason. Chuks Okorafor made his first appearance Thursday night and he struggled. Once thought of as a potential project, rookie Dan Moore may be finding himself in the mix to start tackle. Since struggling mightily in OTAs and early in Camp, Moore has played very well in his two appearances in games so far. The athleticism we knew he had has been on display but so too has a little bit of a mean streak as well. I’m not making any predictions here because I think Okorafor deserves some time to settle in but I don’t feel confident right now in him or Banner and that’s putting it mildly.
Big Ben
Really cool piece by Mark Kaboly of The Athletic this week that broke down everything that Be Roethlisberger did during practice on Saturday. If you have a subscription it is definitely worth a read. Personally, I don’t think Seven should play Saturday against Detroit but after reading Kaboly’s article it may be necessary. Big Ben does not look all that crisp and efficient right now.
Camp Rumblings
The Steelers wasted no time in getting Joe Schobert on the field and next to Devin Bush. For those that thought this was a “depth trade?” Forget it. This was about replacing Spillane from the first second… Kevin Dotson practiced with the first team on Sunday. Let us hope we look back on this as “the moment when Dotson became a starter and never looked back…” I’m about 98% sure that Josh Dobbs will be the QB on the outside. It’s unfortunate because I think having Dobbs on the sideline is important to Big Ben and his mobility is crucial for a backup. Haskins has been too good and the team has too much invested in Mason Rudolph… OK I’ll admit it; I’m officially getting a bit worried about T.J. Watt’s future. I’ll explain later this week.
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Have a great day Steeler Nation!
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