With the 2019 NFL Draft in the books, we’re wrapping things up by offering player profiles on all the UDFAs signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The franchise’s history is strong with diamonds in the rough though in recent years, the classes have been weak. Hopefully this crop changes that trend.
#18 Alexander Myres /DB Houston – 5’11” 187
The Good
- Experience playing outside on both sides of the field
- Good explosion numbers at Pro Day
- Sticks his nose in the pile vs the run
- Good aggressiveness and physicality as a tackler
- Experience on special teams
The Bad
- Poor agility numbers at his Pro day
- Limited in coverage schemes in games watched
- Gives up the underneath passes too easily
- Nearly no press coverage shown
- Ball skills were limited
Bio
- Career – 98 tackles, 73 solo, 2.5 TFL, 2 INT for 22 yards, 12 PBU, 1 FR
- 2018 – 55 tackles, 45 solo, 1 INT for 9 yards, 6 PBU
- Started 18 of 24 games
- 2018 – Second on the team with 7 special teams tackles
- Transferred to Houston from Ouachita Baptist: totaled 69 tackles and 4.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 interception return for57 yards
Tape Breakdown
Alexander Myres (#18) was a rotational defensive back for the Houston Cougars and played on the field side the majority of the time. He showed good explosive numbers at his Pro Day registering a 4.52 40, 36.6 inch vertical and at 10’10” broad jump all of which were comparable with some of the top DB’s in the draft. His agility numbers were less impressive with a 4.18 short shuttle and 7.07 3 cone time.
In coverage, he played on both sides of the field and was used in limited coverage schemes. He was primarily used in off Man that looked like a lot of Cover 3 and in zone coverages. He would line up in Press at times usually to bail before the snap. There was one instance where I saw him jam at the LOS and did a solid job to redirect the WR. Most of the time he was lined up well off the ball and seemed to play with the mindset of staying deeper than he WR to not give up the big play which softened the area underneath him. He didn’t have a lot of opportunities to make a play on the ball but showed a solid ability to close on the ball after release.
Vs East Carolina, he’s on the left side covering a go route. He gets turned around a bit but shows good effort to continue to fight and ensure the ball is incomplete
Vs Fresno State, lined up on the left side he shows a solid plant and break on the ball and puts a pretty good hit on the WR
Vs Fresno State in Zone coverage he closes on the underneath route and gets low on the tackle and lifts the WR off the ground making the tackle
At Navy another good hit on a WR to make sure the pass isn’t completed.
Against the run he was not afraid to stick his nose in and make a play. He showed good aggressiveness to attack the backfield which also led to him leaving the edge open. He’s a good tackler, physical at the point of attack and able to get the runner down. He uses his hands well to extend and hold off the blocks of WR and works to disengage to make a play.
Vs Navy, from the top of the screen he knifes into the backfield on 4th and 1 to try to make a stop short of the line to gain.
Vs Fresno State, supporting the run he makes the play vs the Jet sweep close to the LOS
He has experience on special teams and would seem to fit that role well with his speed and willingness to tackle. He was second on the team with 7 special team tackles.
Based on what I saw, Myres looks like he would be more comfortable in a Zone coverage scheme where he could play off the LOS and close WR. When he was in Man coverage he kept distance between him and the WR limiting his chances to play the ball. Despite his size he is a physical tackler and is willing to help in the running game. I’m not sure he fits what the Steelers are trying to do defensively right now but they may be taking a look at him primarily as a special team player due to his tackling and his ability he showed in college but he’ll have a lot of roster numbers to overcome.
Chance to make the team: 3%
Games Watched: 2017 – East Carolina, Fresno State, 2018 – At Navy
