Steelers sign OLB/DE Shayon Green

[SteelCrazy]

The Miami U product signed with the Miami Dolphins last year after going undrafted but did not make their 53-man roster.

Green overcame two ACL tears at Miami and in 2013 he started 13 games and recorded 68 tackles, including 10.5 for losses, and three sacks. He also won multiple awards for leadership.

The Steelers have just three outside linebackers on their roster with NFL experience in James Harrison, Jarvis Jones and Arthur Moats. Howard Jones, Shawn Lemon and Green are among the players who will compete for a roster spot at outside linebacker.

[Rara]

Interesting.

[Iron City Inc.]

Pro day a year back looked fine. 6'1.3 255 4.63 1.64 10 yd split 34 reps. All comes down to bouncing back from the 2 major surgeries. He is a olb for us. Made a lot of tackles when he was healthy. Why not give him a good look!

[Rara]

With all these linebacker signings....does it make everyone think corner in the first?

[SteelCrazy]

With all these linebacker signings....does it make everyone think corner in the first?

Any other team, yes.

[Iron City Inc.]

With all these linebacker signings....does it make everyone think corner in the first?

It never goes the way we think it should. Lake was however at Washington pro day today.

[RuthlessBurgher]

With all these linebacker signings....does it make everyone think corner in the first?

At OLB, we have a veteran who returned to the Steelers after leaving briefly for another team (James Harrison), a young player who certain fans see as a promising potential talent while just as many other fans have already ruled out as a total bust (Jarvis Jones), a guy who will be counted on to contribute more in his second season with the team than the first (Arthur Moats), and a few total question marks who may just be camp fodder unless they show they can contribute on special teams (Howard Jones, Shawn Lemon, Shayon Green).

At CB, we have a veteran who returned to the Steelers after leaving briefly for another team (William Gay), a young player who certain fans see as a promising potential talent while just as many other fans have already ruled out as a total bust (Cortez Allen), a guy who will be counted on to contribute more in his second season with the team than the first (Antwan Blake), and a few total question marks who may just be camp fodder unless they show they can contribute on special teams (B.W. Webb, Kevin Fogg).

So, no, I don't think it's any more or less likely that we take a CB over an OLB in the first at this point. Best player available.

[squidkid]

they should have signed acho

[phillyesq]

With all these linebacker signings....does it make everyone think corner in the first?

I doubt that a guy like this impacts any strategy at all.

[SS Laser]

I doubt that a guy like this impacts any strategy at all.

I agree not sure it effects the draft at all. But I think turning over every stone so there is a chance for a nice pass rush rotation is the plan. And if you hit gold with one of these UDFA/CFL guys GREAT! Good insurance if JJ or Moats end up average or worse.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

With all these linebacker signings....does it make everyone think corner in the first?

Nah, the Steelers always like to restock the cupboard prior to the draft so that they will be in a position to choose their BPA. All these signings do is ensure that they are not forced to select an OLB in the first.

[SS Laser]

Nah, the Steelers always like to restock the cupboard prior to the draft so that they will be in a position to choose their BPA. All these signings do is ensure that they are not forced to select an OLB in the first.

Couple points I wonder here. If your statement is true, are the Steelers doing that with CB's? And with 4 ILB's I think on the roster last off season they still took a ILB rd 1. Was he BPA? I still wonder. Or was he there target all along? Just not sold on having a bunch of question marks at OLB makes OLB not a #1 priority. But I do say go BPA and not need in the first. To important of a pick to reach at all. It is a gamble in every rd though.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Couple points I wonder here. If your statement is true, are the Steelers doing that with CB's? And with 4 ILB's I think on the roster last off season they still took a ILB rd 1. Was he BPA? I still wonder. Or was he there target all along? Just not sold on having a bunch of question marks at OLB makes OLB not a #1 priority. But I do say go BPA and not need in the first. To important of a pick to reach at all. It is a gamble in every rd though.

Rumors had it that the team was high on Kyle Fuller and Odell Beckham last year, but when both were off the board, Shazier was the next best player available for them. They weren't forced to draft an ILB because of a huge need, but the ILB position wasn't exactly a position of strength last offseason either. Timmons was certainly solid, but Vince Williams was a rookie 6th round starter the previous season (out of necessity due to injury...not because he was able to beat out more established player) and Spence was still a complete question mark at that point due to the nature of his brutal knee injury at that point.

Some positions are certainly bigger needs than others right now (corner, pass rusher, safety, etc.), and we will likely address those needs in the early stages of the draft, but we are just making it so that we do not necessarily HAVE TO paint ourselves into a corner where we feel like we must take one particular position with our very first pick (like when we reached for WR Troy Edwards once upon a time when OLB Javon Kearse and OT John Tait were still available). It would certainly be nice if the value available where we draft early on matches one of those bigger needs, but if not, then perhaps we improve our depth along the DL, OL, TE, RB, WR, etc. instead.

[Oviedo]

Couple points I wonder here. If your statement is true, are the Steelers doing that with CB's? And with 4 ILB's I think on the roster last off season they still took a ILB rd 1. Was he BPA? I still wonder. Or was he there target all along? Just not sold on having a bunch of question marks at OLB makes OLB not a #1 priority. But I do say go BPA and not need in the first. To important of a pick to reach at all. It is a gamble in every rd though.

IMO "pass rusher" is the #1 priority and if that equates to OLB then so be it. The reality is we have no reason to be confident in the OLBs we have now being the answers to improving the pathetically low sack totals we had last season.

The quandary with CB is that after Waynes, would a CB you get at #22 really be markedly better than one you could get at #56? I'm not so sure. Given the way the game is called now is CB the premium pick it was 5 years ago. Can a CB really be a tight cover CB?

Make improving the pass rush the priority and the CBs will have an easier job.

[RuthlessBurgher]

IMO "pass rusher" is the #1 priority and if that equates to OLB then so be it. The reality is we have no reason to be confident in the OLBs we have now being the answers to improving the pathetically low sack totals we had last season.

The quandary with CB is that after Waynes, would a CB you get at #22 really be markedly better than one you could get at #56? I'm not so sure. Given the way the game is called now is CB the premium pick it was 5 years ago. Can a CB really be a tight cover CB?

Make improving the pass rush the priority and the CBs will have an easier job.

Unless someone falls or we are able to trade back, the team will likely be choosing between a second tier OLB such as Owamagbe Odighizuwa or Eli Harold or a second tier CB such as Kevin Johnson or Jalen Collins.