Steelers Morning Huddle 2/15/14
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
It’s time to huddle up, Steelers Nation. Here are some links to get you through your day:
Sean Spence an ILB Wild Card?
Many believed that Sean Spence’s professional football career was over after he sustained a gruesome knee injury during Pittsburgh’s final preseason game of the former Miami Hurricane’s rookie year in 2012. The inside linebacker tore his ACL, LCL, dislocated his knee cap and even suffered nerve damage in his left leg.
Hopes were high that the team’s third round pick would shore up the inside linebacker position and take his place alongside Lawrence Timmons in Pittsburgh’s starting lineup. Sadly, Spence has missed the 2012 and 2013 regular seasons recovering from his brutal knee injury.
Although then-rookies Vince Williams and Terence Garvin shined down the stretch last fall for the Steelers at inside linebacker, Spence is apparently close to making a comeback to challenge his fellow youngsters. In fact, general manager Kevin Colbert is encouraged that Spence could challenge for playing time this fall according to ESPN.com’s Scott Brown.
While the long-term future of Spence’s once-mangled knee is unknown, I for one am happy to hear that the inside linebacker might see the field at some point this summer and spirits are high that he can do just that.
Discussing Defensive Backs at 2014 NFL Scouting Combine
Mark Huguenin of NFL.com is providing position-by-position looks at the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine. Yesterday, Huguenin laid out his look at the 2014 draft class’ defensive backs. I was interested to read Huguenin’s analysis, especially since the Steelers need plenty of depth and personnel help in their secondary.
Luckily for Pittsburgh, this draft class is extremely deep when it comes to cornerbacks. The Steelers have not selected a cornerback in the first round of an NFL Draft since 1997, so that trend could continue this year with the type of talent which could be had on the second and third days of the draft process.
Dom’s Draft News
I know that some of you are gearing up for the 2014 NFL Draft. With that in mind, I have been publishing one full, first-round 2014 NFL Mock Draft and one seven-round, Steelers-only 2014 NFL Mock Draft on a weekly basis.
For those of you who missed this week’s installments, you can follow the links here and here.
Stats & Contract Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com, Spotrac and Pro Football Reference
Follow on Twitter: @DominicDiTolla and @NicePickCowherC