Caught in the Trap - The State of Steeler Linebacking
Much has been written this week regarding the Steeler�s lack of success this season in defending 3rd downs. Funny thing is, people are not looking at the real factor behind the decline. The culprit is right in front of their face; it�s the perennial strong suit of the Stiller defense, the linebacking corps.
The fall-off of this group has been precipitous this season.
Let�s start with team MVP, James Farrior. He is nowhere near the force he was last season. He has gone from playmaker to player. Just another one of the guys. One of eleven. Lost somewhere in the scrum. Rarely does he make plays, and even rarer does he make an impact. He gets little pressure, has some trouble shedding blocks, and seems a step behind on many a play. Perhaps he is on the downside of his career. Perhaps the constant battering he�s taken of the last two seasons since moving inside has taken its toll. He is no longer inspirational, and he can no longer be counted on to make the big play, let alone any big plays.
Next up is Joey (or is it �Jason�?) Porter. He has not been the same player since his gunshot, and it seems like he�s actually regressing most every week. Trap has been a proponent of getting Mill to start up a �Gildong Report� for Porter. Possibly just call it �The rePorter�, and have miscellaneous pictures to �reGurgitate� Porter�s lambastings he takes each week from opposing tackles and tight ends. The guy has gone from a highlight reel player of a few years ago, to the invisible man. Not since Gildong stole money from the Rooneys has a Stiller linebacker been so pathetic as Porter has been in most games this season!
What to say about Larry Foote�? He seems to make strides each week, and seems to be a better linebacker than he was last season. He even makes a play here and there, and at least plays steady. But, he�s no impact player, and is undersized for the position, which enables him to be �caught up in the wash� on many a running play. If Farrior were playing his ILB position the way he did last season, Foote�s progress would be acceptable and Trap could live with him. But, since Farrior has not done that, Foote�s play is below par for a Stiller linebacker.
At the other outside linebacker position, we now have the two-headed monster of Clark Haggans and James Harrison. Haggans was easily the best linebacker on the team prior to shredding his groin. The funny thing is that the lambrained Stiller front office allowed this guy to languish on the bench while we had to vomit through Joggin� Jason�s final two season at OLB. The reasoning at the time was that Haggans was simply not quick enough to man the position, a curious thought given that Jason was joggin� through half the plays in any football game!?!? Haggans has shown that he is plenty quick enough, and is far more stouter on the run than either Jason was, or Porter is. Haggans is now an unknown entity since he had the groin surgery. James Harrison is by far the toughest linebacker on the roster. Though undersized, he is fearless, and has an uncanny ability to get leverage, and insert his pads under a blocker, using his legs to drive them back. Harrison is a keeper who�s best value may be in playing the �fifth linebacker� on this defense to give both OLBs a breather every do often, and present the offensive blocker a unique challenge in that his technique is so different.
Looking to the future�
It seems as if Farrior�s best days are behind him, and that Porter might never be the player he was. Foote is OK, Haggans is a question mark, and Harrison is a �super-sub�. This adds up to some opportunities in the next draft. The Stillers need look no further than the current undefeated team in the NFL to figure out the blueprint for their future linebacking corps. Dungy has put together a group, led by Cato June, that is built on speed, speed, and more speed. Exactly what our group lacks. In case anyone has been blind the first 8 games, our linebackers can cover exactly no one. Probably can�t even cover any fullbacks in the league, let alone halfbacks. Farrior is two steps behind, Foote is one step behind, and Porter isn�t in the same area code as the running backs they all used to routinely cover. This group needs a massive infusion of speed. Speed makes impact, speed makes plays, speed causes pass breakups, speed intercepts, and speed kills. Clearly, the Stillers need to take a draft approach much in the same way they did with DB�s in recent years, and draft speed in volume, and groom the best ones to replace Farrior and Porter�.soon!