Steelers Sign Third-Round Pick Sean Spence

[RuthlessBurgher]

Steelers Sign Third-Round Pick Sean Spence
Posted 31 minutes ago

The Steelers have signed their third-round draft pick from the 2012 NFL Draft, linebacker Sean Spence. Financial terms of the four-year deal were not disclosed.

Spence (5-11, 231), who was the 86th overall pick, played collegiately at the University of Miami. He started 40-of-47 games at linebacker, finishing 11th in school history with 318 tackles (170 solo). Spence also recorded 10.5 sacks, 47 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and one interception returned for a touchdown. He is one of six Hurricanes to record 100 tackles at least twice in his career. As a senior, Spence earned All-American fourth-team honors from Phil Steele and was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.

[URL]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-Sign-Third-Round-Pick-Sean-Spence/81e50f73-2d6a-4561-bcab-9b4ee617bf45[/URL]

[Oviedo]

Let's hope he can contribute early. Oooops...my bad he plays on defense and isn't allowed until the mandatory two year hazing period ends.

[flippy]

I'm not sure why, but this is the pick I'm most jazzed about.

I think we got a 3rd rounder that's going to have a Troy Polamalu like impact on this defense.

[Oviedo]

I'm not sure why, but this is the pick I'm most jazzed about.

I think we got a 3rd rounder that's going to have a Troy Polamalu like impact on this defense.

...in two years!!!! I just wanted to fix that. However I agree that Spence could be a real player whenever he gets on the field. No way any other team in the NFL has the speed at ILB that we would with Spence and Timmons.

[skyhawk]

I'm not sure why, but this is the pick I'm most jazzed about.

I think we got a 3rd rounder that's going to have a Troy Polamalu like impact on this defense.

Yep. I really think this IS Troy's replacement and may someday be moved to SS. Thoughts?

[RuthlessBurgher]

Let's hope he can contribute early. Oooops...my bad he plays on defense and isn't allowed until the mandatory two year hazing period ends.

...in two years!!!! I just wanted to fix that.

[Oviedo]

ostrich.jpg

Lots of pictures

[birtikidis]

Rarely will a third round pick see significant playing time in any defense. I can't understand why you feel spence should be any different.

[Northern_Blitz]

Lets hope he does as well from the bench as Woodley did in his first two years:

Year---G-----GS----COMB---Solo----Sacks---Int---FF
2008--15----15-----60-------41------11.5----1----2
2007--13-----0-----14-------14-------4.0-----0---1

Timmons' first two years were also fairly productive:

Year---G-----GS----COMB---Solo----Sacks---Int---FF
2008--16-----2-----65-------43------5.0-----1----1
2007--16-----0-----13-------11------0.0-----0----0

IMO, if Spence doesn't see the field, it will be due to his talent level vs. his competition (Woodley vs. Haggans: Timmons vs. Foote/Farrier) and his ability to pick up his role (learning responsibilities as a pass defending LB is likely more difficult than a LB who mostly rushes the QB). He'll have to earn his PT by competing on ST and sowing that he's worthy to contribute in sub packages (just like Woodley and Timmons). I don't think most would expect a 3rd round player to beat out a solid (if unspectacular) vet like Foote.

[SidSmythe]

Even if this kid never becomes a FT Starter, he might be a valuable ST Ace and situational LB.
Eventually he might be a Deshea Townshend kinda guy at LB

[RuthlessBurgher]

Even if this kid never becomes a FT Starter, he might be a valuable ST Ace and situational LB.
Eventually he might be a Deshea Townshend kinda guy at LB

Right up to wearing the number of a recently departed star (Woodson's 26 and Farrior's 51).

[skyhawk]

Like I said, I think he's too small to play ILB. He will be moved to safety one day if he's good enough. Otherwise he will be a Fred McAfee ace on ST's at the very least

[skyhawk]

Even if this kid never becomes a FT Starter, he might be a valuable ST Ace and situational LB.
Eventually he might be a Deshea Townshend kinda guy at LB

What does this mean?? A solid LB on passing downs only?

[SidSmythe]

What does this mean?? A solid LB on passing downs only?

undersized star who's overlooked by the league b/c his size doesn't fit the prototype.
I thought Townshend was an amazing CB and if he was 6' tall he would have been considered a star

[SidSmythe]

Like I said, I think he's too small to play ILB. He will be moved to safety one day if he's good enough. Otherwise he will be a Fred McAfee ace on ST's at the very least

exactly someone who came to mind, except Fred never had explosiveness like this kid