Myles Jack providing Steelers long-awaited reliability at middle linebacker

It’s much too early to say if the Pittsburgh Steelers, at long last, have found a suitable replacement for Ryan Shazier. After all, that quest is in its fifth year.

But what definitively can be said about Myles Jack is it took three games with the Steelers for him to do something that Shazier never did. For that matter, no Steelers defender had in 14 years.

With 10, 13 and 12 tackles, respectively, during the season’s first three games, Jack became the first Steelers player with at least 10 tackles in three consecutive games since James Farrior in 2008.

“I just try to be the best linebacker I can for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tackles and stats and numbers, I am not a stat chaser,” Jack said when approached about the Farrior distinction late Thursday night in the aftermath of the Steelers’ loss to the Cleveland Browns.

“I am more just out there trying to contribute and get a win. So any time we don’t get a win, it wasn’t a good day. For me personally, that’s how I look at it.”

By that measure, each of the past two games were not good days for Jack, whose Steelers (1-2) have dropped two consecutive after an inspiring season-opening win at the Cincinnati Bengals. But Jack has had the appearance of finally being the Steelers’ solution in their long-running quest to find a reliable, playmaking inside linebacker since Shazier suffered a career-ending neck injury during a 2017 game at Cincinnati.

In the five seasons that followed, the Steelers have tried by acquiring five veterans — Mark Barron, Jon Bostic, Avery Williamson, Joe Schobert and now Jack — and three draft picks, including trading up to select Devin Bush. (In the interim, veteran Vince Williams retired).

None has worked out as planned. The 27-year-old Jack is only three games into his Steelers career, but he appears to be the best fit of those tried.

“He’s a hard-nosed linebacker who loves the game and plays that way and plays hard,” fellow Steelers inside linebacker Robert Spillane said. “Couldn’t be more excited to have him on our team.”

Myles Jack on what he’s learned about being A Steeler so far pic.twitter.com/D1EGapoTIt

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 29, 2022

Jack, Bush and Spillane have filled the two inside linebacker spots this season. Jack (212 of 240 Steelers defensive snaps) has played the most by far. Bush has played 137 and Spillane 81.

Headed into Sunday’s games, only the Houston Texans’ Jonathan Owens had more total tackles per game then Jack. Nineteen of Jack’s tackles have been solo stops, two have been for loss. He also has one official pass defensed to his name.

By all indications, after six seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, it hasn’t taken Jack all that long to find his comfort level within the Steelers defense.

“Definitely, we had camp and everything for that,” Jack said, “so now you just have to go out there and make plays and contribute. That’s what they brought me here for. Just can’t miss any tackles, just go out there and play.”

In Pro Football Focus’ grades, Jack has been the highest-graded of the Steelers’ inside linebackers. He rates exactly in the middle of the league’s 46 off-ball linebackers who have played the most snaps. PFF’s stats credit Jack with 27 tackles among 31 tackle attempts.

In coverage, Jack has not allowed a reception of more than 10 yards. Entering Sunday’s games, no NFL linebacker had been in coverage more often (the Steelers and Browns were the only teams to have played three games), and receivers whom Jack has had in 114 coverage snaps have been targeted just 16 times, with 12 catches for 75 yards.

The 6.3 yards per reception against Jack is the eighth lowest of 44 qualifying inside/middle linebackers in coverage.

“He’s a linebacker,” coach Mike Tomlin said in delivering a compliment in his own way. “He’s a linebacker at all times, 24 hours a day. I’ve enjoyed getting to know him. He’s highly competitive. He’s extremely critical of himself. He’s a good teammate. He loves football. He likes to laugh. It’s been a good get-to-know process with him.”

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