With the 15th pick of the first round, the Steelers select former Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier. Shazier will likely play the Mack inside linebacker role, and Timmons will man the buck position. It seems that most of Steelers Nation didn’t see this coming. To that I’ll be that guy I hate and say, ‘you should read here more often‘.

Shazier is the linebacker Dick LeBeau has been waiting for. He’s dynamically fast (4.38 40 yd dash), and has a nose for the ball. He’s a high character young man, who’s father has been the Miami Dolphins team chaplin for the past five years. Mike Tomlin was asked about his speed tonight after the selection.  “Fast. Real fast,” was his response. “Sub 4.5 is rare.”

Many people are up in arms about the Steelers not taking cornerback in the first round, but rest assured, they’ll take at least one from the deep crop in the next couple rounds. Many people don’t realize how much of an issue linebacker play was last season. The front seven made the secondary look bad. Shazier should be a difference maker on this team for years to come.

Shazier was named First-team All-American, First-team All-Big Ten, and finished with 144 tackles, seven sacks, 23.5 tackles for a loss, six QB hurries, and four forced fumbles in 2013. Tomlin said he played a lot of football in Ohio, and “They asked him to do a lot of things we envision him doing here in the base as well as in sub-package football.”

From the gist of Tomlin’s interview tonight, Timmons will take on play calling duties at the Buck position, and Shazier will be in the mix with Moats at the Mack position.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing on the web. I’ll leave you with the Shazier Suplex.