While not talked a lot about so far during the Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 training camp, rookie defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs appears to be having a very nice first showing on the fields of Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. During a recent interview on “Movin’ the Chains” on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert talked some about Buggs when asked about him.
“You asked about Buggs, Buggs will flash,” Colbert said of the sixth-round draft pick out of Alabama. “Now Buggs is probably about 15 pounds lighter. He’s a little quicker. He’s a solid, consistent run defender, but he’s got the hand use you want as a pass rusher. So, we’re thinking he’s going to be able to help.”
Colbert didn’t elaborate any on his comment on Buggs being 15 pounds lighter. For whatever it’s worth, the Alabama product weighed in at 306-pounds at the scouting combine back in February. The Steelers, however, have Buggs listed on their website at 295-pounds. Maybe these recent comments from Colbert will result in Buggs being asked in the next few days what his current weight is.
The Steelers should have already known quite a bit about Buggs prior to selecting him in this year’s draft due to defensive line coach Karl Dunbar working with him one season when he was on Alabama staff in 2017. In his two seasons at Alabama, Buggs registered 102 total tackles of which 17.5 of them resulted in lost yardage. 11 of those were sacks and he had two forced fumbles and 3 passes defensed in 29 games played in of which he started 28 of them. Buggs played up and down the defensive line at Alabama and even some over the center.
The Steelers normally like to keep six defensive linemen in total on their 53-man roster and dress five for games every week. On the surface, it appears as if Buggs is on course to potentially be number six currently with defensive tackle Daniel McCullers being number five and defensive end Tyson Alualu being number four.
The Steelers first preseason game of 2019 will take place in Pittsburgh this coming Friday and Buggs will likely play quite a few snaps in that contest and possibly even some in the first half.
