Making the Leap No. 18 Steelers LB Ryan Shazie

*For the straight , the crew will document the players we believe will be . This could be a player emerging from no-name status to a quality starter. Or it could mean an excellent player jumping to superstar status.*Next on the list is linebacker .Why Shazier is on the listIt's 2015, not 1986. In today's increasingly pa s-happy NFL, inside linebackers are demoted to special teamers if they can't cover monstrous tight ends moving like wide receivers and lightning-quick scatbacks running precise routes.After finishing third nationally with 144 tackles and tying for second with 23.5 tackles for lo s, Shazier blazed an with a 42-inch vertical leap at Ohio State's pro day before the 2014 draft.When Shazier was drafted a couple of months later, he became the fastest linebacker to arrive on the scene since a freakishly talented Brian Urlacher was converted to the position after starring as a safety, wide receiver and kick returner at New Mexico.Legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau cited that "" as the primary reason Shazier was thrust into the lineup, emerging as the ' first rookie defensive starter since Kendrell Bell in 2001."The young man ," coach Mike Tomlin said of Shazier after the draft. "... He's a defensive playmaker. Bigger than positional needs, what we needed was a defensive playmaker."That a se sment rang true when Shazier dominated the in a spectacular preseason debut, picking off a pa s with cat-like reflexes and recording 11 solo tackles in le s than two quarters of action.The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette labeled the performance one of the more impre Brian McCann Jersey sive debuts in recent memory.Tomlin was even more effusive in praise, as was LB ."His pa s coverage is awesome," Timmons raved at the time. "You saw the tackles; he was making tackles left and right. He has the pedigree. He has in an inside linebacker."The Shazier hype reached its apogee after he authored his own personal highlight reel in the regular season opener, blasting running backs and behind the line of scrimmage, running down wide receivers from behind and nearly executing a diving interception over the middle.Just when it appeared that Shazier would justify a summer's worth of breathle s accolades, he was struck down by a severely sprained MCL in Week 3, effectively sabotaging his rookie season.ObstaclesShazier returned from the knee injury in late October, only to sustain an ankle sprain the next week. By the time he reappeared in Week 15, he was limited to special teams while relinquishing his starting job to and .As an undersized linebacker/safety hybrid, Shazier must prove he can remain durable through a season's worth of collisions.In drafting Shazier, the pa sed on the le s dynamic but more powerful , who earned a nod, garnered All Pro votes and was in the running for Defensive Rookie of the Year.To validate that decision and emerge from Mosley's AFC North shadow, Shazier will have to do a better job of putting himself in the right position and fighting through heavy traffic -- or play "," as inside linebackers coach Jerry Olsavsky recently put it.As you can see in the Week 1 highlight video above, Shazier's biggest plays occur when he blasts through the line of scrimmage unblocked.Mosley wins his fair share of one-on-one battles with blockers. Can we say the same for Shazier?2015 expectationsIn an effort to answer that question in the affirmative, Shazier has -- roughly 10 pounds more than his 2014 playing weight.He has not only regained his starting job, but is also preparing for "" because the coaching staff views him as an every-down linebacker capable of rushing the pa ser, excelling in coverage and tackling in the open field.The LeBeau-era had an excellent track record of developing linebackers, as evidenced by the trio of Timmons, and over the past decade.A key factor in that succe s has been long-time linebackers coach Keith Butler, who was recently elevated as in the defensive coordinator position.Under Butler's guiding hand, Shazier has the potential to break out as the ' latest defensive star. Even in an abbreviated rookie season, his playmaking ability jumps off the screen.We fully expect Shazier to rack up more than 100 tackles and force a handful of turnovers if he stays out of the trainer's room this season. If he can reach those numbers without surrendering big plays to overpursuit, s will soon follow.The latest Podcast , the Jr. drama and unveils the Superstar Club. Find more content on . Kevin Gausman Jersey