Hi everyone! Just heard that the Steelers traded with the Jaguars and got Joe Schobert. Do you think he has anything left? Thanks for your feedback.

I haven't followed him much since he was here, but I don't think he's ever been a standout player. He was one of our best when he was here, but that's been a minute and we've changed a bit since then. He's kinda your standard, slightly above average coverage LB journeyman. He's not going to make a ton of tackles in the backfield, or even at the LoS. He can cover and he's rangy; athletic. You can probably expect one good year out of him, at least, but he's not going to bring back Steel Curtain memories, at all.

and, I'm not bagging on him; trying to give an honest evaluation.

We don't care about Joe Shobert anymore.

I hate your team!

Correct.

And, he's still playing in the nfl.

Steelers have acquired for themselves a quality role player who will perform for them as he performed for us.

Capable.
Professional.
Good for a dozen really great plays in a 16-17 game reg season.
Good veteran locker room presence.
Strong depth (for the next 2-3 years).



.02

Lighten up Francis.

I believe Schobert was one of the worst linebackers in the league last year according to PFF.

...and smart.

Thanks everyone - much appreciated. I don't think they mean for him to be a starter, though Spillane didn't look too good Thursday vs the Eagles.

Yes, and he was ranked 48th his last year with the Browns. Last year he missed 20 tackles -- 2nd worst in the NFL. To put that in perspective, Takitaki, Smith, Goodson and Wilson combined to miss 26.

and the jags signed him away from us for a 5 yr 53 million deal. his base this year is 7.3 million

Scouting report: Smart player, always around the ball. Excels in zone-coverage, but don't expect him to cover TEs or RBs 1-on-1. Also is pretty good about timing his blitzes.

Decently quick, but gets swallowed up by OL on running plays. He is also a poor tackler, and he routinely leads the league in missed tackles.

Could've done much worse at this point.

I think he is on the downside now. Still playing, but not a force. My gripe with him here remains. Missed tackles, and I remember he had what we called "chase tackles," which was not a great thing for LB. If he can't step up in the hole to make his play, the tackle he may get (and sometimes misses) is with the ball past him into the second or even third level. So it is good I remember JS making so many tackles, but they were late too often, sticks were moved, and short yardage was converted. That kinda made him s face for that defense. He plays hard, smart, and can probably give them some help for this year, maybe next as well. Can't consider him an upgrade. JMO.

This.

Kirksey was playing.
I remember cracking up when, some talking head from whatever team waived Kirksey said,
" He wen't down the wrong one, and several people beat him onto the jetway as he got on the plane to leave town." ouch.


Joe Schobert, may not be a star at this point but he won't make any dumb plays. A solid pick up.

Sucks he went to such a team.
Keep the Edge Francis!

Is it just me, or has nobody else been able to find what the Steelers gave up in the trade?

Hi GMdawg - 6th round pick in next year's draft

Ham Sammich!

That's a good deal for yinz

Dang... like I said, could've done way worse than Joe.

Schobert is expected to start next to Bush. Possibly even get the green dot.

Big upgrade over Spillane

Steelers traded a 6th for him... and the JAGS agreed to pay for like half the 7 mill he is owed for 2021... then the Steelers converted 2 millish into signing bonus...he is only counting about 1.2 mill against Steelers cap this year.

If they cut him next year.. they will just have the remainder of the new signing bonus as dead cap.

As bargain bin shopping goes. It doesn't get much better.

HACK

It's going to be fun to watch your team lose 10 games this year!

Thanks for the update SteelHack! I'm a bit nervous about this, but I hope it works out

Sounds like a low-risk move.

Of course, I am *not* hoping this turns out well for you.

Almost every team has some weaknesses in at least certain units on the field. As for the Browns I consider that the DL. Teams that aren't trying to upgrade their weakest units are doomed to fail.

Despite what you are hearing he is a decent journeyman LB'er. Nothing that's going to light it up or anything. But if he is better than they guy he is replacing it's a step in the right direction and an upgrade with a very cheap price tag.

Contary to what you hear here now, there were a LOT of upset people on these forums when we didn't keep him.

Joe Schobert was a bit over rated as a Brown.
He only looked as good as he did cause
Of what came before him in Browns uni's
Wali Rainer Chaun Thompson Scooby Wright Andra Davis etc etc

He works hard. Gives you all he has.
But is not a game changer at all.
He had issues shedding blocks. He gets blocked
Very easily.

If Urban Meyer thought he had these traits
To lead a defense he would kept him.

Echo that. Lots of people were up in arms at his departure, and now that he's gone, he magically sucks.

I never thought that Shobert 'sucks'...I have thought for years that he's a JAG. It's his smarts that are keeping him in the league...not his tackling or coverage abilities.

I fall in line with the "up in arms" about his departure. I was disappointed that towards the end of the 2019 season it became clear that Schobert wasn't even approached about a contract. Once the new regime came in, it was evident the free agency was on his horizon.

And I still think he would be an asset to the starting LB corp. Especially last year's. Yikes!

Schobert was overpaid in FA and did not have a great 2020 according to PFF. Still, he will be asset in coverage and blitzing for Pittsburgh, IMO.

I think he was the best option we had at the time and that was why people were upset with the lack of a contract. It was like OK he is gone now what are you going to do?

I think the FO was doing their job and not overpaying for marginal talent, which when you look at it from a financial perspective it was the wise move. It's sort of strange to say this but these folks know what they are doing which is strange for a Browns FO. Keeping and overpaying for a player that wasn't really going to get you to where you want to go is way smarter then overpaying so you are at best marginally better IMO.

For too many years, marginal talent described many of our best players. When they became FA, our fanbase hated to see our 'best players' leave. Often enough, their replacements were worse, as in less than marginal talent.

I love the difference between then and now.

A former Steeler (Ramon Foster) said on his weekly show that Schobert was THE GUY they game planned against in his time in Cleveland, and he still made plays. Take that for what it's worth.

HACK

That probably says more about the talent surrounding him than anything else, but that's interesting to hear.

This is a very valid point. Let him for a 6th round pick.

I don't know if I would rely on Urban in that department. Urban also believed a 34 year old Tim Tebow was capable of competing for roster spot as a TE. A position he had never taken a snap at. We all saw how that looked.

Besides, who thinks Schobert was ever really being looked at to "lead a defense"?

Joe was never overated as a Brown, as most folks did nothing but witch about him. Joe is a solid NFL LB, he is not a hall of famer, or even an all pro most years, but he is a solid NFl vet who gets the job done. He is a improvement to what the Steelers had last year.

That's a fair assessment. I wanted to keep him, too, but not for the market value that he commanded. I understand the Browns not signing him, but I agree that he would definitely have been an upgrade over what we had last year.

JMHO, he's a good guy, high character, etc. But limited athletic ability. I remember most of his tackles being made after 4 or more yards. Made some nice interceptions....I'd have never paid what the Jags did. Meyers didn't want his contract or his pay for play numbers. Again, I agree with his call. I think we will pick on Joe often, no way he'll cover our TEs or WDs. Go Browns!!!

No one that I know...but I'd say the guy that signed him to a 5yr #50 million deal did.

That is probably one of the reasons he no longer has his job.

Joe was once a brown so as always I wish him well (except against the Browns of course