Saturday, April 24, 2010
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/?m=1
John Bazemore/Associated Press
The Steelers took former Virginia Tech linebacker Jason Worilds in the second round of the NFL Draft, Friday.
Another lesson, for those who forgot, took place when the Steelers chose their man in the second round of the NFL draft Friday night.
No matter what obvious needs they have, no matter what holes exist on their team, they can never have enough linebackers, especially those who play on the outside.
The Steelers start two of the best in the game at outside linebacker, Pro Bowlers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, yet it did not stop them from using a high draft pick to acquire another. His name is Jason Worilds, he played at Virginia Tech and, like many Steelers outside linebackers before him, he played end in a 4-3 defense in college.
In the third round, they added to the logjam at wide receiver by drafting Emmanuel Sanders of SMU. Sanders stands 5 feet 11, weighs 185 pounds and runs a 4.44 in the 40. He caught 98 passes for 1,339 yards in the famed run-and-shoot passing offense of coach June Jones.
There are any number of obvious needs on this team, including the most glaring at cornerback, but, when you start four linebackers in a 3-4 defense, you always need to replenish and have Pro Bowl linebackers in waiting.
Others who played end in 4-3 college defenses included Woodley, Joey Porter, Clark Haggans, and Jason Gildon. Typically, they play on special teams for a year or two as they make the conversion to outside linebacker, then move in and make the Pro Bowl.
"We stood up a lot of guys here, you guys know that," said Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler. "Some guys are successful, some guys are not. We believe this guy will be successful."
In the past decade, the Steelers have had five outside linebackers make a combined total of 10 Pro Bowls.
"We have two pretty good outside linebackers who are starters right now," Butler said. "We think this kid can come in and help us in terms of depth and on special teams as he learns the defense."
Worilds stands just a tad over 6-1, but he weighs 254 pounds. Harrison, who stands 6 feet tall, changed the way NFL scouts consider height for outside linebackers because of the great leverage a smaller man can get against the tall offensive tackles.
"You've got an NFL defensive player of the year and another guy who's made the Pro Bowl with him last year," Butler said. "It's going to be hard to get on the field for him next year. Those two guys are pretty extraordinary. They don't like coming off the field, and I don't like taking them off the field."
But there is not much depth behind them with Andre Frazier and Patrick Bailey the top two. With the jam inside, it made more sense for them to draft Worilds than Upper St. Clair's Sean Lee of Penn State, strictly an inside linebacker for a 3-4 defense.
"We have a pretty good quartet of guys at inside linebacker," Butler said. "... I feel pretty good about that position at this point in time. I feel a lot better about the outside linebacker position with this draft choice."
Worilds said he has no problem waiting his turn.
"It's a dream come true ... I see myself in their mode -- LaMarr Woodley, James Harrison, physical, explosive types of edge rushers," he said. "I'm excited for the opportunity to come in and learn as much as I can from those guys.
Emmanuel Sanders
The Steelers do not draft third-round picks to cut them, and it appears Sanders has Hines Ward heir apparent written all over him. Sanders joins a group that includes Ward and Mike Wallace, the presumed starters, along with recently signed free agents Antwaan Randle El and Arnaz Battle and the mysterious Limas Sweed.
New receivers coach Scottie Montgomery said Sanders' speed is what stood out.
"Being quick to the tuck," Montgomery called it. "He had the ability to catch the ball and get north-south. I really, really feel good about his quickness with the ball in his hand."
Sanders also will join the candidates to return punts after averaging 13.8 yards a return at SMU.
NOTES -- Ben Roethlisberger will make a statement Monday regarding the four-to-six game suspension he received Monday from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, agent Ryan Tollner told the Post-Gazette Friday. Tollner said Roethlisberger wanted to wait until after the NFL draft. ... The draft concludes today with rounds 4-7.
For more on the Steelers, read Ed Bouchette on the Steelers at www.post-gazette.com/plus. Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com.
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