In the third installment of some of the key questions heading into Steelers training camp, we will look specifically at the left inside linebacker position.
When it comes to the inside linebacker position, it’s fair to assume that Lawrence Timmons is locked in on the right side. Timmons is coming off an outstanding season where it easily can be argued he played at a Pro-Bowl level, and there is no reason to think there will be a significant decline for the eight-year pro.
With that assumed, let’s focus specifically on the left inside linebacker position, where there will be a new opening day starter this season with Larry Foote no longer a part of the team.
Last year, Foote joined center Maurkice Pouncey as one of two key starters lost for the year in the opening game of the season after rupturing his bicep. The veteran was missed the remainder of the 2013 campaign, and the Steelers, lacking depth to replace Foote, scrambled to find adequate replacements on the fly.
The Steelers would eventually look to rookie Vince Williams to fill the void. Williams, a sixth-round pick out of Florida State, was pressed into to duty and played fairly well considering the situation, finishing the season with 40 solo tackles, and 13 assists in 11 starts.
Even though Williams did an admirable job in a tough spot for any rookie, the Steelers first pick in the 2014 draft, Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier, looks like he may replace Williams sooner than later.
Physically, there is no question Shazier has all the tools to step in and excel from day one. Clocked unofficially at 4.36 in the 40-yard dash, Shazier has uncanny speed and range for his position. While playing for the Buckeyes, he was one of those players who seemingly was in on every play, and his non-stop motor and athleticism made him a dominant performer.
There is no question he’s a player that stood out at the collegiate level, and his combination of size, speed and skills make Shazier a potential superstar in the making.
The true question becomes how will all of these things translate not only at the professional level, but in his rookie campaign? More times than not, rookies attempting to learn the complicated schemes employed by defensive wizard and Hall of Fame inductee Dick LeBeau have their fair share of struggles.
One of the most notable examples of this was Troy Polamalu, who spent much of his rookie season looking lost, and it was not until Polamalu felt comfortable knowing where to be, that we saw the true greatness of a future Hall of Famer.
If Lebeau and linebackers coach Keith Butler can find a way to allow Shazier to play fast, and feel comfortable in the Steelers defensive schemes, there is a chance Shazier can not only start immediately, but thrive.
Considering he has the chance to replace an aging player in Foote and a limited upside guy in Williams, Shazier starting immediately will make the Steelers defense must faster, and dynamic.
Though it looks like Shazier will have the inside track to starting opposite Timmons this season, keep an eye on a guy I believe could be a dark horse at the position, third-year linebacker, Sean Spence.
Undersized at 5’11 and right around 230 pounds, a lot of scouts said he was too small to get the job done in the pros. During the early portions of the 2012 training camp, Spence was doing much to prove those scouts wrong. Spence displayed the similar characteristics on the field as he did at Miami, and it looked like James Farrior’s eventual replacement might have been found.
That leads me to reason number two. In the Steelers final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, Spence tore all three ligaments in his knee (ACL/MCL/PCL) and more importantly, did significant nerve damage in the process. Spence would not only miss the entire 2012 season, he spend additional year continuing his rehab, not knowing if the nerve damage would ever be something Spence could overcome.
Then, as it appeared he was making serious headway in his rehab, Spence missed the remainder of the 2013 season with a broken finger. So it has been two years of obstacles and disappointment for Spence, so I won’t lie when I say I am personally pulling for the guy to have success.
If healthy, and reports are that Spence is “100 percent” going into training camp, it’s not a stretch to think that Spence will give Shazier a real push for the starting nod this season. He’s definitely a guy to keep an eye on in the preseason.
