Jarvis Jones seems like a player that could make a big impact from day one for the Steelers, but don’t count out the guy already in the OLB spot – Jason Worilds.
For now, it looks like Worlids is the guy that will get the first shot at the position, as Mike Tomlin says it’s tough for a player to walk right in and start from day one.
“I think it’s a daunting task for rookies to start in any system and play and perform well,” Tomlin said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“Obviously it is difficult when you have established veteran players like we have with a lot of continuity. We are not going to close the door on him or anyone else on earning an opportunity, and that is what this is about. This is about people taking advantage of opportunities, so he’ll be given that.”
Linebackers coach Keith Butler agrees that it’s tough for a rookie to start, and says the team has to play better at the LB spot in 2013.
“He’s going to come in and compete, but he’s not going to be given the position,” Butler said. “Some of you think that way. I certainly don’t think that way. My thing is Jason Worilds is here. He’s the next guy up since James has left and I expect Jason to be better than he ever has been.”
11 Comments
Leave a Reply
Show Your Team Spirit
Get Your Steelers Tickets
Steelers Gab Newsletter
Sign up to receive our Steelers Gab newsletter, and keep up to date with all the latest Pittsburgh Steelers news.
Black&gold4life
May 1, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Rookies START and PERFORM well on Defense all the time..just not the Steelers..Players don’t get Rookie of he year awards by Sittin on the bench and just playin special teams. They should remind their selfs that the last rookie to start on defense was Kendrell Bell..and he did win Defensive Rookie Of The Year.Quit acting like LeBeaus System is harder then Chinese arithmetic and trust ya Top picks to play.
George H
May 2, 2013 at 12:08 am
Well said… give them the fair opportunity to compete and let the best man win.
olddog
May 2, 2013 at 8:31 am
Obviously you don’t know defensive football. Coach LeBeau’s system IS that complicated. There are many subtle reads that the average person does not see. I use the 3-4 defense as a football coach and it takes about two years for my guys to learn the system and I am no where near the intricacies of that defense
Black&gold4life
May 2, 2013 at 11:09 pm
LOL LeBeaus “ZoneBlitz” ain’t fooling Nobody anymore ..its become way too predictable. Can’t even call um Blitzburgh anymore. That Defense stays in the top 5 because they tackle well and don’t give up the big pass plays. They could run a 4-3 and be just as good. When He was in Cincy the Steelers Defense was still one of the NFLs best..Maybe better. Not taken nothin away from the him..I’m just sayin if you gona take a Defensive player #1 overall you gota see what he can do EARLY. Not wait 3 years like they did Keenan Lewis.
Jersey Mike
May 3, 2013 at 6:11 pm
It took Lewis 3 years just to play well. Ever watch the games before 2012? Lewis looked bad. Bad enough that he almost got cut after 2011. A lot of folks don’t remember that. I’m going to make a statement and say the Saints will get burned by Lewis when they find out he’s not exactly as good as the contract they signed him for.
George H
May 3, 2013 at 8:08 pm
I would even go as far as saying Allen has a much better year and makes a pro bowl before Lewis
Steel Q
May 4, 2013 at 4:34 pm
I don’t know what games yall been watching. I said 3 years ago he was a beast and should start. I loved all 3 of our young DB’s after I watched the preseason games. He was better than Slaw Ass Gay.
George H
May 3, 2013 at 11:56 am
Defenses have gotten a lot smarter over the years. NCAA football really prepares their players to make immediate impacts in the NFL. QB was supposed to be the hardest position in all of sports and year after year we now see rookies come in and play at a high level. I understand there are tons of small nuances that the average fan doesn’t see, although the rookies have a high enough football IQ to make a difference early on.
Jersey Mike
May 2, 2013 at 7:22 pm
Strange why the title says “Likely”. It should read he “Will” get the first crack at it. Let’s at least wait till the preseason to have this argument. None of us have ever seen Jones in an NFL game let alone a Steeler jersey.
DrGeorge
May 2, 2013 at 7:46 pm
I agree with my mates, here. Worilds will get first shot at OLB, but he hasn’t exactly dazzled anyone, as a #2 pick ought to do. I think it’s really a matter of how fast Jones or Williams can learn LeBeau’s system.
As a side note, in a Post-Gazette interview, our LB coach, Keith Butler, said he lobbied for a LB selection in the 2nd round of the draft to go with Jones at #1. He lost out to Le’Veon Bell, obviously. But suppose they had listened to Butler — we could have had Arthur Brown, Jonathan Bostic, or Jamie Collins (take your pick) instead of Bell — or Johnathan Hankins at DT. Instead, the three LBs went to the Ravens, Bears, and Patriots respectively. All three of those teams know something about the value of D.
When it comes time to evaluate the contribution of our 2013 rookies, it will be interesting to see whether Bell performs as an RB on a level comparable to those three LBs.
George H
May 3, 2013 at 12:02 pm
I suppose we will have to wait and see… From what I’m hearing it seems that Bell is going to get the chance to start and perhaps make an immediate impact, although we know how Tomlin loves to have a running back carousel, so we will see how effective Bell can be. I too was hoping for Arthur Brown in the 2nd, but hopefully Bell can bring new life to the rb position. I for one would have given Dwyer more carries last year. If he would have gotten his fair shot, he could have been easily over 1000 impactful yards. I’m also nervous about the depth at ILB too. Behind Foote theres nothing but big question marks. Can Spence even walk? Is Sylvester an actual option?