Looking better at linebacker

[mesaSteeler]

Looking better at linebacker
http://communityvoices.sites.post-ga...-at-linebacker
Saturday, 05 November 2011 09:00
Written by Bob Smizik

It’s been a good week of practice for the Steelers. They went from the probability of having none of their top four linebackers at their regular positions in the starting lineup to having four of their top six linebackers ready to go and in their proper positions for the crucial game tomorrow night against the Baltimore Ravens.

It’s still a game-time decision on right outside linebacker James Harrison, but the Steelers went from looking like this from left to right on the linebacker depth chart:

Chris Carter, Stevenson Sylvester, Larry Foote, Lawrence Timmons.

To this: Jason Worilds, Foote, Timmons, Harrison.

In the first group, only Timmons was a starter but he was out of position at right outside linebacker.

With the second group, Worilds is the team’s top replacement at outside linebacker and there’s a good chance he would have replaced Harrison, instead of moving Timmons over from the inside, if had had not been hurt at the same time.

Timmons and Harrison will be starting at their regular positions and Foote, in place of James Farrior. But Foote, a former starter, had been getting significant playing time even when the Steelers were at full strength.

Harrison is scheduled to see a doctor today to get final word on his availability and the status of the broken orbital bone that has kept him out of the lineup for four games. The Steelers are listing his as probable, which technically means

[tanda10506]

Great news. Hopefully Harrison will get the pressure Woodley has been getting. My only woory is that he was playing below his average in the first few games, and now has missed more and has anothet injury besides his healing back. He is a true football player though, hopefully he makes a big impact. Im glad Timmons is back in the middle but we still need to put a CB on Dickson. Also, Carter played well when he came in for Woodley, I think as the game goes on we will see him more then Worilds. Overall, yes it is looking better at LB.

[steelers33]

Originally Posted by tanda10506

Great news. Hopefully Harrison will get the pressure Woodley has been getting. My only woory is that he was playing below his average in the first few games, and now has missed more and has anothet injury besides his healing back. He is a true football player though, hopefully he makes a big impact. Im glad Timmons is back in the middle but we still need to put a CB on Dickson. Also, Carter played well when he came in for Woodley, I think as the game goes on we will see him more then Worilds. Overall, yes it is looking better at LB.

Thats because his back was really bothering him those first few weeks. Maybe this injury was a blessing in disguise, because he's had time to heal his back and won't have to go through the wear and tear of a whole season. I expect Debo to play well, and plus we've won all the games that he's been out.

[SH-Rock]

The standard is the standard. I don't expect them to play at Steeler LB, but at least good enough to show that there isn't a deficiency.

[Dodens Grav]

Carter has a good motor, but he gets completely stalemated as soon as he gets some hands on him. He's not strong enough. Worilds is definitely the better player right now.

[DanRooney]

Originally Posted by Dodens Grav

Carter has a good motor, but he gets completely stalemated as soon as he gets some hands on him. He's not strong enough. Worilds is definitely the better player right now.

Based on Worilds' last 4 weeks of epic play?

[Steel_Bus_24]

I really worry about Worilds in run support too

[Yinzer Dolt]

Whats the latest on Grubbs? Turf Toe? He has been out since week one, and a lot of their offensive troubles have been attributed to his back up not be athletic enough to reach the second level defenders line backers. The left side of their line has stunk it up and if he is a go, it could pose problems like week one.

[SCMom]

Originally Posted by Yinzer Dolt

Whats the latest on Grubbs? Turf Toe? He has been out since week one, and a lot of their offensive troubles have been attributed to his back up not be athletic enough to reach the second level defenders line backers. The left side of their line has stunk it up and if he is a go, it could pose problems like week one.

From everything I've heard, he should be ready to go...though he's still listed as questionable.

Keep in mind as well, that we didn't have Starks in week 1 and we did have McFadden. We're a bit stronger in those areas now. It also helps that (probably) both Woodley and Harrison won't be out.

[DanRooney]

Hope Kapinos is ready for the challenge. I expect we're going to see A LOT of him tomorrow.