The Steelers are having a hard time replacing Bruce Davis.

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Here is a little background information on Bruce Davis from the Official Steelers website.

BRUCE DAVIS – LB

HEIGHT – 6-3

WEIGHT – 252

COLLEGE – UCLA

BIRTHDATE – Sept. 2, 1985

BIRTHPLACE – Los Angeles, Calif.

HOW ACQUIRED – D3-’08 (#88)

NFL EXPERIENCE – Rookie

PRO: Drafted by the Steelers in the third round (88^th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft out of UCLA…played primarily as a defensive end in college but will make the transition to linebacker in the NFL.

COLLEGE: Davis ranks second in school history with 29 quarterback sacks, topped only by David Ball’s 30.5 (2000-03)…his 42.5 stops for losses rank third in school annals behind Ball (43.5) and Carnell Lake (45.5, 1985-88)…his 17.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 2006 rank ninth and his 15.5 stops for losses in 2007 rank 10th on the school’s season-record list…his 12.5 sacks in 2006 tied Justin Hickman (2006) and Donnie Edwards (1994) for third on UCLA’s season-record chart, topped by Dave Ball (16.5 in 2003) and Carnell Lake (13 in 1987). 2007: All-American second-team choice by The NFL Draft Report and Walter Camp…added All-Pac 10 Conference first-team honors…semifinalist for the Bednarik Award and was on the watch lists for the Lott, Nagurski, Lombardi and Hendricks Awards…started all 13 games at right defensive end, ranking tied for ninth in the nation and tied for first in the league with 12 sacks for minus-66 yards…ranked sixth in the Pac-10 with 15.5 stops for losses of 77 yards…recorded 45 tackles (32 solos) and three quarterback pressures…caused two fumbles and recovered another for a 12-yard return…deflected nine passes…helped the Bruins rank 14^th in the nation in run defense (109.15 ypg.). 2006: All-American first-team selection by College Football News and Sports Illustrated…All-Pac 10 Conference second-team pick…co-winner of UCLA’s N.N. Sugarman Memorial Award for Best Leadership…started all year at right defensive end, tying for the league lead and ranking fourth in the nation with fellow defensive end Justin Hickman, as each recorded 12.5 sacks for minus-75 yards…ranked second in the Pac-10 and 18^th nationally with 17.5 stops for losses of 104 yards…recorded 47 tackles (35 solos) with three forced fumbles and three pass deflections…recovered two fumbles, returning one eight yards. 2005: Davis moved to outside linebacker from defensive end during spring drills and played both positions early in the season before moving back to end due to injuries on the team…finished with 28 tackles (17 solos), two sacks for minus 17 yards, six stops for losses of 30 yards and two quarterback pressures in 12 games as a reserve…caused one fumble and broke up four passes. 2004: Davis appeared in all 12 games, starting the team’s first two games vs. Oklahoma State and Illinois at right defensive end…finished with 17 tackles (11 solos), 2.5 sacks for minus 12 yards and 3.5 stops for losses of 18 yards…also deflected one pass. 2003: Redshirted as a freshman…majored in history…earned Director’s Honor Roll in Spring of 2005.

PERSONAL: Attended Clear Creek (League City, Tex.) High School, playing football for head coach Aubrey Schulz…received a six-star prospect rating from Max Emfinger’s recruiting service and earned All-American accolades, in addition to being ranked 19^th among the nation’s defensive ends, according to Tom Lemming…added Super Prep All-American and All-Southwest/Texas honors, as that recruiting service rated him the 20^th-best overall prospect in the state…the Prep Star All-American selection added All-Greater Houston Area and All-League recognition as a senior…that season, recorded 65 tackles (50 solos), 12 quarterback sacks and 17 stops for losses…as a junior, registered 32 tackles, including eight sacks…lettered in track, competing in the long jump…father, Bruce, Sr., was a member of two Super Bowl championship teams, playing offensive tackle with the Oakland Raiders (1979-87) and Houston Oilers (1987-89) after earning varsity letters from 1975-78 with the UCLA Bruins…uncle, Ronnie Davis, played for the Bruins from 1977-79…son of Lorna Hawkins and Bruce Davis, Sr…Full Name: Bruce Edward Davis II.

“Defense: Bruce Davis–The big knock on him right now is that he is not as strong as he needs to be to dominate at the NFL level. Not many rookies are physically ready 2 weeks into training camp so that’s not a huge deal. He will put on weight and get stronger working with Steelers strength and conditioning coaches all year. Tonight he will most likely get some action later in the game against 2nd and 3rd team Tackles. His speed and quickness should allow him to toast a few slow-footed UDFA Philly linemen on the edge.”

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“Rookie outside linebacker Bruce Davis is off to a slow start, and Tomlin said he needs to see some results from the team’s third-round draft choice.

“He was active, not to be confused with productive [against the Eagles],” Tomlin said. “He’s a young guy with a lot of energy and desire. He’s playing catch-up and he has to catch up in a hurry this week. I’m pleased with his approach, but I need to see some results.” ”

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Bruce is learning the ropes quickly as he trains.

“Although he rooms with second-year pro LaMarr Woodley, Bruce Davis and fellow rookie Tony Hills have seemingly become inseparable at Steelers training camp.

Davis, a third-round pick from UCLA who is being converted from defensive end to outside linebacker, and Hills, a fourth-round offensive tackle from Texas, spent the latter part of last week repeatedly butting heads in one-on-one pass rush/pass protection drills.

The two were matched up by design to get extra practice reps for Davis, who couldn’t attend the offseason OTAs because his class had not yet graduated, and to spark a competitive fire in the two draft picks.

“We’re the two young ones and we have to make each other better,” Davis said. “They drafted us. They expect us to play sometime in our careers. I’m actually fortunate to have a young guy like that because we teach each other a lot.”

Read the rest of the article at: Pittsburghlive.com

TimesOnline.com talk about back in 2006 when Bruce gave a small speech about beating Southern California, and how much he has changed since then.

Click here for the article.

The guys over at MVN.com talk about the good qualities of Bruce Davis. Written by James Pete, he shows us why the Steelers have made a good choice for makeing Bruce an OLB.

You can find the article here.