Steelers NFL Draft Series - Georgia DT Jordan Davis

Story by Yinzer Crazy Co-Founder Mike Nicastro. Follow him on Twitter @MikedUpSports1

Last season, the Pittsburgh Steelers finished dead last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed. Let me repeat that: the Steelers were the worst team in the world at stopping the rush attack. When has that ever been something this franchise was associated with? On a per game basis, they allowed 143.8 yards on the ground. That ranked just ahead of the Houston Texans, who finished 4-13. 

When you consider that, it’s incredible that the Steelers made the playoffs. The reason for the run-stopping woes in my opinion is pretty black and white: 

In the second game of the season against the Raiders, nose-tackle Tyson Alualu fractured his ankle, which forced him to miss the rest of the year. Alualu was a game-wrecker the past few years. In 2020, with Alualu, the Steelers ranked 13th in total rushing yards allowed - giving up just 112 per game. That’s over a 30 yard difference. There’s no question the loss of Alualu was damaging, but you can’t ignore the fact that the Steelers failed to have a backup plan at the nose-tackle position. The Steelers play a base 3-4 defense, which has two 3-techs on the edges, and one big ass run-stuffing nose tackle in the middle of those. When I think classic 3-4 nose tackle, I think of Casey Hampton. That should give you some context. Heyward and Wormley weren’t the reasons the Steelers finished dead last in rushing - as they both ranked in the top 5 of Steelers’ players in 2021 by multiple outlets. 

Here's where the challenges lied: Isaiah Buggs, a potential Alualu replacement, was released in Week 11. Carlos Davis never came close to replicating the play of Alualu, and Henry Mondeaux just wasn’t big enough to fill the gap. The position wasn’t remotely close to being solidified, until the unheralded Montravius Adams was claimed from the Saints waiver wire late in the season. Adams wasn’t exactly Casey Hampton, but the Steelers rush defense improved to a degree with him starting. And the fact that he was brought off the streets and immediately thrust into the starting lineup should tell you all you need to know about the struggles at that spot. 

Enter Georgia’s behemoth of a man, Jordan Davis. Davis is 6’6, and 340 pounds. He’s fresh off a national championship, where he was a literal bulldog up front for Georgia. Davis recorded 32 tackles including five for a loss, but stats don’t ever tell the full picture when talking about a clogger like Davis. His presence in the middle for the Steelers would allow the playmakers like Cameron Heyward, Chris Wormley, and potentially Stephon Tuitt to focus more on getting to the quarterback. It would also allow the inside linebackers more freedom to roam in coverage. 

Check out Davis’ ability to fill multiple lanes, and quickly fix his gap control: Warning: NSFW.