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Actually, my post was NOT about you...but, if the shoe fits, feel free to lace that &!+€# up and wear it. -
I think that there is almost zero chance that Worilds is released. I thought that he played pretty well last year. He didn't have big sack numbers, but he was among the team leaders in QB pressures. He has a lot of room to continue improving, but I think he will be given the chance, once healthy.
Carter has shown a huge improvement from last year. At this point, I'd bet that Robinson ends up on the p.s., but if he shows good prowess on special teams, he might bump Stevenson Sylvester and convince the team to keep him as the 9th lber.Comment
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Q&A: Keith Butler
Posted: Saturday, August 11, 2012
By Mike Bires [EMAIL="mbires@timesonline.com"]mbires@timesonline.com[/EMAIL]
Steelers third round draft pick, linebacker Sean Spence (51) listens to coach Keith Butler during rookie minicamp in May.
Keith Butler’s 10th training camp with the Steelers has been like none of his previous nine as linebackers coach. James Farrior, one of his favorite players, retired.
Perennial all-star James Harrison (knee) and reserve Jason Worilds (wrist) are on the physically unable to perform list and have yet to practice. Sean Spence and Adrian Robinson have flashed at times but they're rookies trying to learn. Brandon Johnson, a former Cincinnati Bengal, is vying for a roster spot. Times pro football reporter Mike Bires spoke to Butler about his linebacker corps before practice Saturday. Following are excerpts of the interview:
Q: What’s the overall state of affairs with your linebackers?
A: “There are several things going on right now. We got some young guys we need to find out about and we have to get some guys healthy. We need to get James Harrison back. We need to get Jason Worilds back. Thus far in camp, some of them have been good and some of them haven’t. But I will say this: We have some good young players, probably more so now than I’ve had in a long time.”
Q: For the first time since you were hired in 2002, you won’t have James Farrior at inside linebacker. What’s it like not having him around?
A: “In the 10 years he was here, he had always been kind of the face of the defense because of the way he played the game. He was a tough competitor. He loved to compete. His leadership is probably what's going to be missed more than anything. So yes, we will miss him. But we expect our guys to fill that void.”
Q: Are you talking about Larry Foote in particular?
A: “Larry Foote is capable of filling the void in terms of leadership and playing ability.”
Q: Any idea when you’ll get Harrison and Worilds off the PUP list?
A: "No, I wish I did. I’m not so worried about James because I know what he can do. But Jason hasn’t had the OTAs and mini-camps to develop. We didn’t have OTAS and mini-camp last year (due to the NFL labor impasse) and he missed them this year because he’s hurt. Last year, he really improved during the season, but he needs to build on that. That’s why I’m eager to get him back so he can hopefully pick up where he left off because I thought he left off at a pretty good place last year. When he does come back, that gives me confidence about our depth at outside linebacker.”
Q: What’s your take on Brandon Johnson (a seventh-year pro who started 19 games over the past four years with Cincinnati)?
A: “He’s doing pretty good right now, him and Stevenson Sylvester. We need to have some versatility in the group with guys who can play inside and outside. Brandon has been in the league for awhile, so he understands the concepts. He knows what people are trying to do in this league. It’s good to have that kind of experience.”
Q: Last week, coach Mike Tomlin gave LaMarr Woodley the day off as a proactive measure in hopes his hamstring injury from last year won’t resurface. Are you worried that Woodley might re-injure that hamstring?
A: “You hope that he’s over that but pulled muscles happen. The thing you try to do as a coach is make sure your guys are ready at the appropriate time. I know what LaMarr can do. The time he had off last week … he had a little nagging groin strain, and we didn’t want to turn that injury into a three-week injury. So we took him out for a day and limited the number of reps he had (the next few days).”
Q: In the past several years, Woodley, Harrison and Farrior each went to the Pro Bowl. Do you think Lawrence Timmons will ever get there?
A: “He will, if he stays healthy. In my opinion, he’s just as good as them. Lawrence is doing well. Hopefully, we can keep him inside this year unlike last year when he played on the outside due to injuries. If we can keep him inside, he’ll be very productive for us. He’s not a selfish guy. Had he stayed inside last year, he would have gotten more notoriety. He’d have been more productive.”
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Now that y'all have mentioned it. It does seem like the Steelers have lost the touch on picking these 3-4 type LB's. Really have not found a significant one since Woodley and that was way back in 2007.
I can't comment on Worilds since for some reason I have never seen him it seems. I think I watched all the games too. All I know about him is he is always injured. How is this happening? What is he falling out of bed or what? Why don't they put those freaking bars up on the side of his bed, I mean wtf.
Fortunately, the Bengals have saved our butts again I think. No doubt Brandon Johnson can play the position. I would not be surprised to see the Steelers try to work him in on the other side too. I am another one who also thinks our depth at the OLB positions is zilch.Comment
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