Joe Schobert isn’t wearing the green dot right now. But according to him, the plan is for him to sport it at some point this season. In his first interview with the Pittsburgh media since being traded from Jacksonville, he told reporters the Steelers plan to make him their defensive signal caller once he picks up the playbook.
Here’s what Schobert said according to 93.7 The Fan’s Josh Rowntree.
Here is Schobert’s full quote regarding his role.
“Right now, they’ve got me learning the dime linebacker and the Mack ‘backer and Okie personnel,” he said. “So just getting that stuff underway. And once the season starts getting a green dot on the helmet to getting the calls from the coaches. That was the plan.”
Crucially, Schobert says he’s “learning” the dime role. That may not necessarily mean he will play there Week 1, as has been reported by other media outlets.
Schobert is regarded as a smart veteran and central communicator on the defenses he’s been apart of. Last year, he was mic’d up for a Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions, capturing how vocal of a player he is and key communicator of the Jags’ defense.
Devin Bush wore the green dot last season before his season was cut short due to an ACL tear. From there, the green dot was passed around as injuries and illness decimated the inside linebacker room.
Schobert’s exact role with this new information is a little unclear. Players who wear the green dot typically play 100% of the snaps. Presumably, Bush was going to be in that role, just like last season. Schobert practiced for the first time in a Steelers’ uniform today, reportedly logging first team reps next to Bush.
Now, it’s uncertain who will be the lone linebacker on the field in dime packages. Will it be Schobert, competent in coverage with seven interceptions the last two years, or Bush, the super athlete who has been inconsistent (though improving) in coverage? The Steelers don’t run dime packages in most practices and preseason games so it sounds like that will be another thing to watch for when the team takes the field Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills.
