Ulysses Gilbert III

Talk about blowing an opportunity, with all the injuries the Steelers had at LB he could've gotten significant playing time, but he just can't stay healthy. Marcus Allen isn't the answer, at least Vince is back this week, and Spillane should be back for the playoffs.

 

Clearly, the coaches have no faith in him, or he would have seen more playing time before his latest injury.

 

The injuries are definitely the problem.... He has all the athletic ability of a poor man's Devin bush, but every time he steps on the field he gets hurt.... I had high hopes for a Bush/Gilbert pairing, but your best ability is availability

 

Yeah, I'm not expecting Gilbert on this team next year.

 

I have a feeling he is not mentally grasping the defense. Why did a converted safety get snaps before him?

 

I would say his time ran out. With all the injuries we have, this would have been his chance to show
what he has got. Didn't happen, he will go with the purge.

 

I was really hoping he was going to make a name for himself but as mentioned already, he is not physically able to play at this level. Athletic ability must be accompanied with physical strength and endurance (wear and tear) and one without the other seems to be the case here. I played at Akron (many years ago) and I always root for fellow Zips to make it in the NFL and do good things. I am afraid his chance to do so has come and gone and that's a shame.

 

Gilbert has two more years on his contract. The Steelers are facing an offseason of major changes with little cap room and many key free agents. I guess it's possible they cut him loose to save $965,000 on the cap, but I think it is far more likely that he is back in training camp competing for a backup inside linebacker job again. I'm assuming either Williams or Williamson will be gone. (I think it is the latter.) That leaves the Steelers needing a fourth inside linebacker behind one of those two, Bush, and Spillane. Given the resources they are going to have to spend elsewhere and the fact that Gilbert is still a much better option than Allen, I think he stays.

What Gilbert has done is missed a great opportunity to establish himself as a potential starter.

 

The back injury is an ongoing thing. I don't think he was ever healthy but we had so little available that they tried him. I see him ir'd this year and maybe next. We have to draft one. We have no idea if Bush will be the same or even ready by next year. I had concerns early before this year began about this position and it keeps rearing its ugly head.

 

If he is injury prone then might as well add ILB in the early rounds. As I have stated before, assuming all other options are gone in Round One and if Dylan Moses is available, snag him up. Him and Devin Bush would patrol the middle of the field much like how both Foote/Farrior did back in their heyday.

 

They just have so many holes to fill right now that it is difficult to address that one early in the draft. Quarterback, running back, and the offensive line have to be higher priorities. They are also thin and old on the defensive line, and will likely be thin at outside linebacker with Dupree leaving.

 

I'm not sure they will be addressing the QB position in the draft, OL,TE,RB, ILB should be the priority, they should get get some comp picks that will help.

 

Dump vince draft sarratt, sign williamson, sign Spillane. With Bush there is our four. 4.818 mil. getting rid of Vince and UG3. Highsmith is the future opposite TJ.