As the No. 192 overall draft pick, rookie defensive end Isaiah Buggs wasn’t necessarily expected to make the Pittsburgh Steelers’ active roster.
After all, none of the past three players taken at that draft spot made the 53-man roster when the regular season began. Five of the past six Steelers draft picks 192 overall or lower did not survive their final cuts.
Last season, for example, the Steelers let go a player who played Buggs’ position and went to the same college (Josh Frazier, also of Alabama, was taken 246th overall and is out of football this summer).
In other words, while “rare” is too strong of a word, it’s noteworthy when a player taken in the middle of the sixth round becomes an immediate roster contributor.
By all accounts, though, Buggs is fitting the bill.
“He can be a big player for us,” said Steelers veteran defensive end Cameron Heyward, a captain on defense. “He’s just got to continue to grow throughout the year and continue to learn. But he’s picking up on the speed and the physicality of (the NFL).”
Isaiah Buggs had 9½ sacks last season, fourth-most in the #SEC and ahead of the four Crimson Tide defenders taken ahead of him#Steelers https://t.co/XK6cEiVfUm
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) May 1, 2019
Buggs has gradually climbed his way up the depth chart throughout training camp, and he is heading into Thursday’s preseason finale at the Carolina Panthers as the favorite to grab the sixth and final roster spot among defensive linemen
“Each and every day, I just come out and do my job, what I am supposed to do, what the coaches ask of me,” Buggs said. “And they see I can do things their way, so they’ve put me with a lot of reps with the ‘1s.’ As long as I continue to develop and be the player I need to be, I’ll be all right.”
The composition of the Steelers defensive line has been remarkably stable in recent years: Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt are entering their fifth season together as full-time starters at end, and Javon Hargrave is in his fourth season as the No. 1 nose tackle. Tyson Alualu re-signed for years 3 and 4 as the top reserve at all three positions, and Dan McCullers is in his sixth season as a backup on the interior.
For the past four years, L.T. Walton — like Buggs, a sixth-round pick taken in the 190s (No. 199 during the 2015 draft) — served as a No. 6 D-lineman. But Walton wasn’t re-signed, opening a DL roster spot. All of the players competing were rookies or first-year players.
The group cleared out further after the Achilles injury to Lavon Hooks. Buggs said the injury to his friend and position mate “traumatized” him (“We’re praying for him to have a quick recovery and get back,” Buggs said) — but the truth is, it probably made a roster spot Buggs’ to lose.
#Steelers 2-a-days: Isaiah Buggs adds youth to D-line; pivotal camp for Artie Burnshttps://t.co/POlSHYbbnk
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) June 20, 2019
Buggs, a former disciple of Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar when Dunbar held the same role at Alabama, made a quick impression during his NFL preseason game, making three tackles in a 64-second span during his first series as a regular. Then, during the next series of the second quarter against Tampa Bay, Buggs recovered a fumble.
In 74 preseason snaps, Buggs has five tackles (two solo). His most recent outing was cut short because of an injury Sunday at Tennessee. But Buggs was back at practice Tuesday and is expected to play Thursday night.
For a player whose first training-camp practice had him running with the fourth-team defense, Buggs’ ascension up the depth chart has been earned. In part, Buggs believes it’s because he has been a quick learner.
Nothing is assured. A strong finale by Henry Mondeaux or Casey Sayles could unseat Buggs’ grip on one of the final roster spots. But Buggs (a.k.a, “Big Pooh”) is in good position.
“It’s all about consistency and doing what you’re supposed to do each and every play,” Buggs said. “Once you do that, you will be fine.”
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