So what/who should the Steelers be looking for over the next few months as Draft Weekend nears?  Well, if you watched any of Pittsburgh’s games this past year, it was pretty evident that significant amounts of help seemed to be needed in the “Pass-Covering Linebacker” and “Pass-Rushing” departments.  The Defense appeared to be consistently vulnerable in pass situation sub-packages, and just did not seem to have the types of versatile (or healthy) Front-7 personnel who could rush the passer or cover the opposing pass-catchers with any regularity.

Over the next few seasons, the Steelers will be in the market to find some talented play-makers to step in and help to fix these aforementioned problems.  Luckily for Colbert & Co., there are two draft eligible players from Brigham Young University with “Swiss-Army-Knife-like” versatile skill-sets who could very well be on the franchise’s radar this offseason: Linebacker Kyle Van Noy and Defensive End/Outside Linebacker Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah.

Kyle Van Noy has been one of Brigham Young University’s best Defensive players this season. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Van Noy

Over his first two seasons at Brigham Young (26 games overall), Van Noy worked his way into the Cougars’ starting rotation and put up a combined 103 Tackles, 22.5 TFL’s, 9.0 Sacks, 5 Forced Fumbles, 2 Fumble Recoveries, and 3 Interceptions.

This past year though, Van Noy improved upon his previous two seasons and emerged as one of B.Y.U.’s top playmakers on Defense.  Overall, Van Noy recorded 53 Tackles and an incredible 22.0 TFL’s and 13.0 Sacks from his Outside Linebacker position in the Cougars’ 3-4 scheme.  In addition to those gaudy stats, Van Noy emerged as a “Takeaway Machine” this past year as well and was able to force 6 Fumbles, recover 1, and record 2 Interceptions.

Unfortunately for me and the rest of the San Diego State Aztecs’ fanbase, the Redshirt Junior saved his best performance of the season for last as Van Noy made 8 Tackles, 1.5 Sacks, 3.5 TFL’s, Blocked a Punt, Forced a Fumble in the End Zone which he subsequently recovered for a go-ahead Touchdown, and snagged a Pick-6 to put the game out of reach as well as the Cougars scored 20 points in the 4th Quarter to win the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl 23-6.

At 6’3” 235 lbs., Van Noy possesses the appropriate size and speed to mix it up competitively in the running game from an Inside Linebacker position, but also stick and stay adequately with Tight Ends in the passing game.  Best of all however was the fact that Van Noy illustrated over his collegiate career that he could bring the heat off of the edge and create Turnovers.  To me, a “Swiss-Army Knife” and sub-package weapon like Van Noy could be just what Pittsburgh’s Defense currently lacks, and a player who could emerge as a solid “Mack/Weakside” Linebacker in the future as Lawrence Timmons will likely move to the “Buck/Strongside” position later in his career.

Ezekiel “Ziggy” Ansah

Ziggy Ansah has the potential to be either a 5-Technique Defensive End or an Outside Linebacker at the next level. Mandatory Credit: Josh D. Weiss-USA TODAY Sports

If you have not heard about Ziggy Ansah’s journey to B.Y.U. and football fame, then I highly suggest you readers take a gander at this article from CNNSI.com (Van Noy is mentioned in it as well).  The abridged version is that Ansah, whose first love was basketball, came over to Provo from Accra, Ghana with a B.Y.U. student on a Mormon Mission who baptized him into the religion.  Ansah then walked-on the Cougars’ Track & Field Team (he ran a 21.9 in the 200 Meter Dash) after he failed to make the Basketball team, and eventually walked-on to the school’s football team in 2010 with little to zero knowledge about the game at the time.

After two seasons (18 Games) worth of development as a backup, Ansah came out of nowhere this past year, and like Van Noy, emerged as one of the more dominant players on Brigham Young’s Defense.  Ansah recorded 62 Tackles, 13.0 TFL’s, and 4.5 Sacks during his first year as a starter and broke up 9 passes and made 1 Interception over the 2012 campaign.  And like Van Noy, Ansah had a monster Poinsettia Bowl as he recorded 5 Tackles, forced 1 Fumble, and even recorded his lone Interception on the year.

In terms of where the Defensive End would fit in the N.F.L., if Ansah proves he indeed possesses the appropriate strength and gap discipline, he could be used along the line of scrimmage with his hand in the dirt to spell the veterans along the Defensive Line.  In the event he develops quickly or is needed to rush the passer early, Ansah could even fill in as a “light” 5-Technique in 3rd & Medium situations to help free up the Outside Linebackers to do their work, or even rush off of the edge standing up as an Outside Linebacker.

Although it might take two to three seasons before Ansah would be able to start on Pittsburgh’s Defense, he would be an athletic sub-package option for Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau to insert and wreak havoc off the edges while he grows into a position and learns the Defensive scheme.  While Ansah might be raw in terms of his skill-set and his overall lack of experience playing football, there are just some things which can’t be taught, like a 6’6″ 270 lb. frame, and a high “talent/athleticism ceiling” which could entice the Steelers to select him.

Final Thoughts

At this point, Van Noy has yet to declare for the Draft, and still has one year of eligibility remaining.  Thus, he does have the option to return to school to improve his draft stock next year.  Yet after his Poinsettia Bowl performance, people outside of the Mountain West Conference and the West Coast have not only taken notice of what he has done over his three year career with the Cougars, but also seen the type of versatile “matchup-nightmare” he has the potential to be at the next level.  If the Steelers have a chance to take the underclassman in the early stages of Round 2, then I would be totally down if Colbert & Co. passed on a Kevin Ogletree prospect in Round 1 and addressed another area if they intended on taking Van Noy.

Overall, I would be a bit more weary if the Steelers selected Ansah simply because of his limited football background in addition to Pittsburgh’s need for immediate help at the Outside Linebacker and Defensive End positions.  Do not get me wrong, Ansah has the tools to succeed, but it might take him longer to adjust to the speed of the pro game and longer to inevitably develop.  Nevertheless, pass-rusher would definitely be worth a late-1st Round selection, but it would be difficult for the Steelers to take him with more polished Defensive players (especially pass-rushers) likely on the board between #14 and #17 (Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery, Dion Jordan, and Alex Okafor come to mind).

Since this franchise barely “makes it hail” during Free Agency, the spotlight will be on the Draft.  I sincerely hope that Colbert & Co. can find the appropriate pieces to the rapidly calcifying and under-performing Defensive puzzle in April.  Otherwise, 2013 and 2014 could be even bigger disasters than 2012 on the Defensive side of the ball.

Figures, Stats, and Player Profiles Courtesy of: ESPN.com and BYU Football Team Pages (Ansah & Van Noy)

#56 will look to build off of his solid 4-game mid-season stretch from the 2011 season. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Because the Front Office already had salary cap issues, were intent on and allowed veteran dead-weight to hang around on the roster, did not address other positions of need (particularly Offensive Line), and did not use the money to lock up other talented players already on the team (#17), I am still not what you would call the biggest fan of the $61.5 million dollar extension that the club signed LaMarr Woodley to last season.  Quibbles about the size and the nature of the extension aside, I am however glad that the Steelers extended Woodley for one very important reason.  Why you may ask?  Well, because if there is anything the Steelers currently need which they appeared not to need in August of 2011, it is experienced and quality depth at the Outside Linebacker position.

With “Deebo’s” status already discussed, the Steelers are not exactly setting the world ablaze in the pass rushing department as they enter the 2012 campaign.  Top backup Jason Worilds is on the shelf nursing a bum wrist, and who knows when he will be ready to play.  Chris Carter is a talented player ready to break out but still without any significant game experience. Veteran Free Agent pickup Brandon Johnson is likely to split time on the Inside, used in pass coverage in sub-packages, and star on Special Teams where he has excelled in the past.  And raw UDFA Adrian Robinson is on the roster but will likely be a Special Teams contributor this season if he makes the team.

Because of this, Pittsburgh needs all hands on deck in the pass-rushing department this season, and Woodley will be counted on to step up his game and lead the charge.  If the Steelers Defense wants to improve on the paltry Turnover statistics which they put up in 2011, it starts with the pass-rush and attacking the Quarterback on a consistent basis, and this is where Woodley unquestionably helps this team the most.

Final Thoughts

In a recent post by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.com (via Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review), Linebackers Coach Keith Butler is ready to see Woodley take “the next step” and emerge as an elite player.  Unlike 2011, Butler wants Woodley motivated and hungry to step his game up in 2012 and become a the “great” player (DPOY like Harrison in 2008) he knows that he can be, not a “good” one (48.0 career Sacks) which Woodley already is.

The stage is thus set for #56 to become the next terrific 3-4 Outside Linebacker which this system has produced and helped to achieve greatness since the early 1980′s.  As I alluded to before, Pittsburgh’s pass-rush and improvement in said department will be of the utmost importance this season, and could be the biggest thing between success and failure for this team in 2012.  Pittsburgh will be inserting Keenan Lewis, Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown into the lineup quite a bit this season, and there is no better way to help young and inexperienced Corners (inexperience as a starter for Lewis) than a fantastic pass rush.

A hampered Deebo playing not at 80%, a PUP List Deebo, or Deebo not around come 2013-2014 is bad.  An injured Worilds, plus Carter not panning out compounding those events is even worse.  Regardless if events do transpire in these directions or not, the soon to be 28 year-old former Wolverine will be asked to be the “Head Honcho” at Outside Linebacker sooner rather than later.

With these things in mind, Woodley must answer the proverbial “bell” and answer it now.  Woodley has at least a three to four year window to be the #1 guy on his depth chart at the position, and be the most feared option on the Steelers’ Defense when the opposition breaks down game tape for the week.  Will he take what Butler said to heart and be “great?”  Or will Woodley just be content to be “good?”

I am sure that I can speak for all of Steeler Nation when I hope that it is the former.

Stats Courtesy of: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/

For all your Steelers news and discussions follow us on Twitter @nicepickcowherC, follow me on Twitter @DominicDiTolla, and like us on Facebook.

Carter had a successful career with the Bulldogs. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

Carter’s College Career and Rookie Season

Like almost all of the Outside Linebackers which have starred for the franchise over the last two decades, Carter lined up as a Defensive End in at Fresno State.  A pass-rush specialist, Carter tore up the WAC off the edge, and really showcased his skills at getting to the Quarterback over his collegiate career.  And as three year starter for the Bulldogs, Carter really emerged during his last two seasons with the team.

The 6’1” 248 lb. Carter earned All-WAC honors in 2009 and 2010, and was named Conference Defensive Player of the Year his Senior campaign where he racked up 11.0 Sacks, 16.5 Tackles For Losses, and 4 Forced Fumbles. Considered a smaller pass-rushing tweener (DE/OLB hybrid) coming out of college, Carter was thought to be a solid mid-Round selection for a 3-4 team looking to develop an Outside Linebacker.  Always on the lookout to bolster their pass-rush, the Steelers were one of those teams looking for a player with a skill-set like Carter’s to develop, and selected him up in the 5th Round last season.

After starring in college, Carter had a somewhat difficult Rookie season in Pittsburgh.  Like almost all first year players on the Defensive side of the ball, Carter saw almost zero time during his Rookie season (3 Tackles, 1 Tackle For Loss Total in 2011).  It is hard enough for many Rookies to transition to Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau’s Defensive schemes, but Carter was faced with a hamstring injury and limited to only 8 games, he had to learn a new position (3-4 OLB), and he did not have the luxury of OTA’s and minicamps during his first offseason to boot.  Due to the lockout, Linebackers Coach Keith Butler described how difficult it was for Carter, as well as the team’s other young Linebackers (specifically Worilds and Stevenson Sylvester) to continue/begin their development and transition to their new positions the Steelers 3-4 scheme.  Thus, to say that Carter’s first season was a tad rocky is somewhat of an understatement.

Carter’s Chances of Seizing Roster Spot

Over the next few months though, the 23 year-old Carter will have his best chance to put his skills on display and outplay the competition which will be after his backup job.  Lucky for Carter, his top competition is a bit thin at the moment as he will likely have to fend off former Bengals newcomer Brandon Johnson (who will likely be used in Pass Coverage and Special Teams), UDFA tweener from Temple Adrian Robinson, 2011 UDFA Brandon Hicks from Florida, and possibly even newly acquired UDFA Ryan Baker and recently injury-waived UDFA tweener Brandon Lindsey of Pitt if he comes back healthy or clears waivers.

Despite the numbers of players competing for his job, Carter should have the best chance to win the 2nd string job opposite Worilds for two important reasons.  First, he has the most experience in the LeBeau Defense, and second, he has extended experience on the Special Teams units.  Plus, as Butler alluded to in the video I linked above, Carter has been given somewhat of a benefit of the doubt because he has yet to have a full offseason of OTA’s and minicamps to impress the coaching staff and show off his skills and the knowledge he has picked up so far of the Defensive system.  While he may have some important advantages, Carter will still need to put his skills on display and impress the Coaching Staff over the next few months, and put his stamp on the backup job as quickly as possible.  With an impressive training camp and preseason, there should be no reason Carter is left off of the roster.

Why Carter’s Emergence/Development Is Specifically Important

Overall Pass-Rushing Depth

As a whole, depth and help as a pass-rusher would be the two biggest things Carter could bring to the table if he realizes his potential and continues to develop.  Sure, the Steelers currently have some of the best pass-rushers in the game, and Carter will likely be relegated to Special Teams duty this season.  Yet the injury-bug has not been kind to the Steelers and their Outside Linebackers over the last couple of seasons, and other issues also could be causes for alarm for the team in the not too distant future.

As it stands now, James Harrison is 34, has had back issues, and is not what you would call “BFF” with The Commissioner of the sport.  Deebo might have another couple of seasons left in the tank, but back injuries are never the easiest to sustain and continue a high level of play with in one’s mid 30’s.  Plus, after he was benched for one game last season after a perfectly legal hit on Colt McCoy, there is no telling what his punishment will be the next time he lights some poor guy up that decides to put his body in harm’s way.  Granted, Jason Worilds has played well when given his chances over his three seasons with the team.  Still, Worilds has missed multiple games over his short career with various injuries, and will reach Restricted Free Agent status after this season ends.  Finally, despite the fact that he came on strong after a quiet and unimpressive start, LaMarr Woodley still missed significant time with a hamstring injury last season, and looked less than 100% towards the end of the season after he came back to the starting lineup.

Unlike Harrison though, I am sure Woodley will be fine and in tip-top shape in 2012 and beyond, and his health and long-term productivity are not causes for concern.  But in the event that Harrison retires after the next couple of seasons and Worilds continues to get injured or leaves as a Free Agent, the Steelers still will need another pass-rusher or two to step-up and pick up some of the slack.  Thus, Carter could be called upon to eventually fill that role come late 2013 or 2014 and give the Steelers another viable pass-rushing threat to pair with Woodley, and possibly even Worilds too if he decides to stay.

What to Look for This Season

As I alluded to before, Carter will likely not be thrust into the starting lineup unless a rash of injuries strike the Outside Linebacker position at such a high rate like they did last season.  Nevertheless, the continued development of Carter as a stand-up pass-rusher might be important for this team over the coming seasons, and Training Camp and the preseason will be the places for us fans to keep a close eye on the former Fresno State Bulldog.

Like James Harrison, Lawrence Timmons, and it seems like all other Linebackers (especially tweeners) before him, Carter will likely be slated for another season on the Special Teams units as he learns the tricks of the trade from the Coaching Staff and the veterans at his position.  There are few in the League which have the luxury of learning from some of the best at their craft (Harrison and Woodley), can be pushed by other young talent like Worilds, and getting some of the best coaching (Butler and LeBeau), all at the same time during their second year like Carter can.  So if everything works out well, Carter, along with the other young LB’s, Worilds and Sylvester, should be able to take advantage of a full offseason of work and continue to improve each and every day at their respective positions.

Final Thoughts

I cannot wait for Training Camp, and I cannot wait to see what ends up happening with the Outside Linebacker situation over the next few seasons.  As I stated before, Woodley is and will be a lock to start at one of the spots, but as far as Harrison and Worilds go, their futures’ with the franchise post 2013 could be a bit of a mystery.

At least to me, the backup roster spot and chance to develop into the next in line of the Steelers’ OLB’s should be Carter’s to lose over the next few months.  My hope is that Carter can develop in a way similar to another former WAC tweener drafted in the 5th Round by the franchise who had a number of nice seasons for the Steelers: Clark Haggans.  Like Haggans, hopefully Carter can emerge after a few seasons on Special Teams and become a solid Outside Linebacker if and when he is finally called upon to contribute.

All we can do though now is wait, and see what unfolds over the next few months.

Are you ready for the season to start “Steeler Nation?”

Stats Courtesy of: NFL Draft Scout, Fresno State Player Page, and ESPN Player Page

For all your Steelers news and discussions follow us on Twitter @nicepickcowherC, follow me on Twitter @DominicDiTolla, and like us on Facebook.

Foote will be the leading candidate to assume the starting "Buck" role. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

The Recent Outside Search for “Buck” Turns Up Nothing

The Steelers have never been a team that has “made it rain” in Free Agency, and likely never will be one.  With that in mind, experienced, 3-4 “Buck” Linebackers simply are not available on the Free Agent market very often.  And even when they are, they usually will go to teams with the necessary means to acquire them, because they demand such a high price.  So without deep pockets but with savvy and intelligent scouts, Pittsburgh looked towards the Draft to find a replacement Inside Linebacker.

From the very beginning, it certainly appeared that help at the “Buck” spot could be had for the Steelers in the form of Alabama’s Dont’a Hightower, an All-American, and a potential 1st Round Selection.  Hightower, a player the Steelers were interested in, appeared to be a perfect fit as he fit the mold of a Steelers “Buck” Linebacker:  Big guy, Strong-side potential, intelligent, athletic, and experienced in a 3-4 Defense.

I for one thought selecting Hightower was a sensible direction for the Steelers to go in to go in, and I am sure to many the pick made sense as well because of how the Draft was supposed to unfold.  It appeared that all the Top-Tier Offensive Linemen (which Pittsburgh needed) would not fall to the Steelers in Round 1, and that Hightower would be a terrific consolation prize because the team appeared to need a replacement for Farrior, and appeared to need said replacement sooner rather than later.

Yet in a stroke of good fortune for Ben Roethlisberger, Guard David DeCastro fell to Pittsburgh in Round 1, and talented yet troubled Tackle Mike Adams fell to them in Round 2.  Yet by Round 3, all top “Buck” prospects (Luke Kuechly, Hightower, and Mychal Kendricks who could have been a “Mack” or a “Buck” in my opinion) had already been drafted.  (In an interview, Linebackers Coach Keith Butler described humorously how he still wanted Hightower at #24.)

Sure, the Steelers took an Inside Linebacker in Round 3.  But according to Butler, Sean Spence figures to be more of a Weakside “Mack” player due to his svelte size at the moment (5’11″ 231 lbs.), his speed, and his nose for the football.  In addition, Spence will likely see most of his playing time on Special Teams while he tries to learn the Steelers’ complicated Defense, as most current starters did at the beginning of their careers.  And honestly, I see Spence’s addition as more of an upgrade to Pittsburgh’s Pass Defense, and a guy that early in his career can play in Nickel and Dime sub-packages and then eventually evolve into a 3-Down “Mack” player.

In spite of the fact that Pittsburgh passed on the three most viable “Buck” candidates which could have contributed in the present, the answer to their problems could in fact be on the roster at this very moment.  The competition for the starting role will ultimately come down to one veteran against one youngster, with the veteran looking to extend his career, while the youngster trying to have his “break-out season.”  Either way it works out, it will be a two man competition between Larry Foote and Stevenson Sylvester.

Candidates

Larry Foote

Larry Foote, as Butler discussed in the interview, will likely assume the starting role at the “Buck” position entering offseason workouts and Training Camp.  And honestly, why shouldn’t he?  Larry will be entering his 10th season with Pittsburgh, and of all the Linebackers currently on the roster, he probably knows the most about the Defense and its complexities as a whole.  This should factor in hugely because it will likely be Foote lining the Defense up and calling out formations if he indeed assumes Potise’s old role as the “Buck.”  While Foote spent his best seasons playing the “Mack” spot beside Farrior from 2004-2008, he should be able to do the best job of kicking over to the Strongside for the moment.  To me, and I’m sure to many others, there is no substitute for Foote’s extensive experience in LeBeau’s Defense.

I do however believe that Foote would be best served as a 2-Down player this season.  I could see him having the same troubles against Ends and Backs in the passing game on 3rd Downs as Farrior had last season.  And while Timmons can be inconsistent at times in pass coverage, he does remain the team’s best option as a cover Linebacker until we see how far along Spence eventually is and whether or not he is ready to contribute.  Still, Foote will be expected to be an effective and valuable contributor this upcoming season, and his value against the run and from a leadership standpoint is solid.  But in the event that Foote is not up to the task, another potential “Buck” candidate will be waiting in the wings, and could pounce on his newfound opportunity.

Stevenson Sylvester

Sylvester is the wild-card in this “figuring out the Buck” scenario, and I am intrigued to see how the one-time Special Teams demon progresses this season.  With nobody new brought in to compete at the “Buck” spot, especially a highly touted and experienced player like Dont’a Hightower, Sylvester has been given an enormous opportunity to take advantage of this season.  Sylvester also has an entire offseason to “learn the ropes” from a veteran like Foote, gain more experience with the 2nd and possibly even 1st team Defense, and learn under Keith Butler and Dick LeBeau.  Plus, with Foote becoming an Unrestricted Free Agent after the 2012 season, Sylvester might end up being the only “Buck” on the entire roster with any sort of experience if the Front Office deems Foote expendable at season’s end.

Sylvester will be working hard to assume a starting role . Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

If Sylvester performs well, or must take over in case of ineffective play or injury to Foote, he could do the organization and himself a huge favor by not only helping the team transition from a stand-out like Farrior with some solid play, but also eliminate a need on the roster as a relatively young and emerging player.  Sylvester will be a Restricted Free Agent after the 2012 season ends, and his performance in 2012 and 2013 will go a long way in determining whether he is valuable enough for the Steelers to keep around and assume the “Buck” role into the future.  If all goes according to plan, he could be lacing ‘em up alongside Timmons and Spence come 2013 or 2014.

Final Thoughts

The more I think about the Steelers upgrading their Offensive Line in Rounds 1 & 2 of the Draft with terrific prospects, the happier I become.  Big Ben is the team’s most important investment, and he needs to be protected at all costs as he enters his 30′s, no questions asked.  Sure, I would have liked if the Steelers had taken Hightower, and I’m sure most everybody would have been fine with the selection had DeCastro or any other Offensive Lineman not been on the board.  Count me in as intrigued though as I watch how this “Foote/Sylvester/Buck” situation unfolds over the coming months, and I know that I will be intrigued to have these questions answered as the season goes on:

Can either of these players or a combination of both do a serviceable enough job in Farrior’s absence to put off the need at the position for at least a season?  Or, can the young Sylvester step up and emerge as Farrior’s eventual successor and warrant the elimination of the need for help at the “Buck” spot in the future?

I am not technically rooting for one guy over the other, I am simply rooting for some-what of an effective solution at the position to be found.  Pittsburgh is primed to have another season where they contend and play hopefully into February.  Softening the blow of Farrior’s release will be key for this Defense if they wish to keep playing consistent football, and hopefully Foote and or Sylvester is up to the task.

Courtesy espn.com

Known for a tandem of linebackers that would scare even the fiercest of quarterbacks, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been terrorizing offenses since the early 1970s. Somehow the Steelers have found a way to duplicate this anomaly by always having the instincts to pick the best linebackers in the draft and develop them in to fearless warriors. James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley are two linebackers in the lineage of Jack Lambert, and deserve to be considered as the best linebacker tandem in football. (more…)