Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on how long before ILB Mark Robinson may start

According to some of the Pittsburgh Steelers at OTAs, inside linebacker Mark Robinson is making a noticeable jump in his second year. Not just because of growth after his rookie season. But he also made a position switch from running back at Ole Miss before his final year with the Rebels.

Robinson flashed a bit late in the 2022 season for the Steelers as he started to gain more playing time, making nine tackles over the last two weeks. He also had an eye-catching interception of Kenny Pickett in OTAs, and teammates said he was very disruptive in those drills over the past few weeks with projected starter Cole Holcomb limited as he recovers from foot surgery in December.

“Just understanding the playbook and which pieces are going to be doing what. Whichever role I may be assigned on a weekly basis that’s what I’m prepared for,” Robinson said after a recent practice.

However, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is tamping down any suggestion that Robinson will be a starter.

At least not this year.

“We thought that we saw enough from Mark Rob (last year) that we could bring him along,” Austin said after Tuesday morning’s walk through. “Still a work in progress. Still probably not quite ready. But really making good strides. I think when you watch him as I watch him, he’s better at communication, he’s better at pass coverage, he’s better at some of the things where he was hurting last year. But still has a way to go. So, what you’re hoping for is as he continues to improve, maybe next year he’s ready to really compete for that starting job.”

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So that means, for this year, as anticipated, Holcomb and Elandon Roberts are likely to start.

“E. Rob is really a first and second down thumper type of guy. Cole may give you a little more flexibility to be able to play every down. And so, we like that. We knew they started in the NFL. We know they’re capable starters,” Austin said.

Holcomb’s contract is for three years and $18 million. Roberts is at two years and $7 million. Holcomb insists he’ll be in good shape physically — and up to speed mentally — by the time the team gets out to Saint Vincent College for training camp.

“I’ll be fine. It’s going to be fine,” Holcomb insisted during OTAs. “We are going to be good. … The pieces allow you to play fast. They let us play to our strengths. (The defensive scheme) is good. We’re the ones out there going. It allows us to play to (our) instincts and play fast.”

Austin better hope Holcomb is right. And he better hope Roberts and Holcomb can fill the Ryan Shazier void so many players such as Devin Bush, Myles Jack, Jon Bostic, Joe Schobert, Mark Barron, and others have tried to fill.

If that doesn’t happen, get Robinson in there. It looks like he has something. Find out in 2023. If he doesn’t, reevaluate the need to continue the experiment in 2024.

Unless the Steelers finally get a playoff win this season for the first time since 2016, plenty of reevaluation will be going on anyway.