Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Steelers have tried to find a guy that can fill even one-tenth of the shoes that Ryan Shazier left behind. Names of the past come up from the saga of inside linebackers, including Jon Bostic, Mark Barron, Devin Bush, and others in the endless quest to find the perfect guy. Yet, the team is making the inside linebackers do as much as they have this year in a while. They have put more on their plate. But when guys like Kwon Alexander show out and ball out as they do, where is the harm is specializing their roles in a committee and asking them to do what they do best?

Kwon Alexander is one of the better inside linebackers to play for the Steelers in recent years. This inside linebacker room feels like one that will round into shape as perhaps the best the team has had in a long time. But Alexander is already there as a unique player in that regard. He’s a standout coverage linebacker. Since Ryan Shazier got injured, how many of those have they had? I’d say zero. This team has struggled to find a coverage linebacker at any point in this season, and yet, at this point, Alexander is now playing at a high level.

He has the veteran instincts after being in the league for as long as he has, but Alexander is excelling with his athleticism, too. Alexander is the perfect player for this type of defense, where they have a rotational role at inside linebacker and cater to his strengths because those strengths are shining extremely bright.

This group is turning the corner. Alexander might be the best of the bunch. He can do a little bit of everything. When he earned a starting job designation on the depth chart, his game started to showcase what it could be on the field in Latrobe. As a hard-hitter, he fits right in with the other players in that mentality. When he was on, he thumped a few running backs shortly into his stay. His second practice with the team back in August was in pads. That day was simply a sign of things to come.

Ultimately, it has been an impressive last few games for Alexander after the group had a rocky start to the year as they learned each other’s strengths and weaknesses. But now that the rotation is down and Alexander’s coverage ability is at the forefront, his strength becomes even more evident with the more tape you watch.

MORE TAKEAWAYS FROM STEELERS WIN OVER THE RAMS

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Hawks GM 'shocked' that his team won the NBA Draft Lottery
Prolific former Brewers, A's slugger announces retirement
Watch: Padres star passes father on all-time home runs list
Saints to sign veteran offensive lineman
Smother's Day: Pacers shut down Knicks in first half of Game 4
Flyers goaltender suspended from international play for three years
Pistons make wrong kind of history at NBA Draft Lottery
Watch: Pacers C Myles Turner makes absurd three-pointer in first quarter vs. Knicks
Hawks win 2024 NBA Draft Lottery
Giants place key outfielder on injured list
Broncos release former Super Bowl champion WR
Novak Djokovic thinks water bottle incident may have played role in surprising loss
Steelers agree to deal with veteran CB
Bruins captain out for Game 4 vs. Panthers
Veteran WR announces retirement from NFL
Mavericks come from behind to down Thunder, take 2-1 series lead
Stars continue road dominance with Game 3 win over Avalanche
Watch: Paul Skenes wastes no time showing why Pirates drafted him No. 1 overall
Watch: Braves were one out away from first no-hitter in 30 years
Roman Wilson hopes to become Steelers' next 'great' WR

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.