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Early thoughts on the open OLB spot.

Coach said:
Well, Harrison is a year older and slower, and Chick still might be an ascending player with a higher ceiling than he exhibited last year.

I think it would be best for the Steelers for Watt to start.

The questions:

How much does Harrison at age 39 have left?

How quickly can Watt learn and is he ready?

How much better will Chickillo get?
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These are good questions, but I think you may be looking for a reason for Chick to play more.

Objectively, there is no indication that Deebo's efficacy as an edge rusher has declined. In the playoffs, no one had more TFL than Deebo and no on had more than half a sack more than Deebo. Only 3 people had more tackles than Deebo in the playoffs. While I do expect him to be worse in coverage due to age, his workout regime seems to keep him going as an edge rusher.

I think Watt is better than JJ (even though I think JJ was better than other folks here). This may be less objective than subjective, but it is hard to think otherwise. As a first round pick, he will get the opportunity to fail, I think.

So, what remains is the wild card of "how much better Chick will get?". I think he showed some good stuff when he played. He also showed some ineffectiveness, some of which you would expect from a young player. How much of either was due to the scheme of that particular play versus his actual skills might be worth a look, too. I think some of his plays were from the left side, too. I hope he becomes the best edge rusher in the league from either the right, left or either. Realistically, though, what is his ceiling?

He has some stability of his position and another year under his belt. I don't think there is anything to suggest that he has a projected ceiling higher than Watt, but, seemingly better than JJ. You can't, as I have shown with Martavis, just take his snaps and increase all results across the board. It doesn't work that way, usually.
 
I don't think there's any chance that Chickillo will start. It was only one practice, but Chickillo looked like what he's been and that is a backup outside linebacker. He will make a few plays here and there against the fourth-string tackle, everyone gets excited and then he'll be invisible against the starters. Watt has already flashed against starting-caliber NFL talent, probably a huge reason why he was already running with the first-team defense.
 
If Chickillo continues to improve but likely at ceiling now I think he is the top reserve OLB behind Dupree and considering Watt/Harrison as one player.
 
I was gonna quote Ark but it's pretty elementary to me.


LOLB .. is in stone for now.......48 Dupree, Bud 15/1 55 Moats, Arthur U/Buf 56 Chickillo, Anthony 15/6

Moats could be fodder if Chickillo continues to improve, look for OLB numbers available.


ROLB 92 HARRISON, JAMES SF14 90 Watt, TJ 17/1 57 Anderson, Kevin SF16 99 Adams, Keion 17/7

While Adams is the dark horse, he may be the odd job that puts silverback into retirement. Just not this year.

Anderson is out IMO, now do we keep 4 or 5 ? Moats..Chicillo...Adams at least one is gone...maybe two !
 
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Coach said:
Harrison is in sweat pants, and not in pads. He's one injury away from retirement. At his age, he needs to prove he still has it. Until that point in the pre-season games, we just don't know what he has left.

When I mean starter, I mean majority of the snaps, not who's out there first on defense to start a game.
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Steelerfan81 said:
He isn't ******* practicing because he doesn't need to. He's lifting like a maniac and does his own thing. He proved he still had it when he was beating the **** out of everyone on the Miami Dolphins in January. Did you even watch that game? Doubtful. Just shut the **** up sometimes.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Steeler Nation mobile app
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it's difficult to piss off SF81, congratulations Coach.

On to topic, if you don't get why Harrison is being justifiably held out then there's no help for you. The guy Doesn't Need training camp to be fit or learn anything more.

Moats can be useful as a ILB so maybe that helps him stay as the 5th OLB. I think Chickillo is the perfect backup for Dupree, a guy that is strong enough to hold the edge and has some rushing ability, I think he makes the team if Adams doesn't set the world on fire
 
Again, Chic is NOT going to start unless injury or suspension occurs. Am I glad chic is ON the team,......HELL yes as he is settling in quite well for a back up. A quality back up and not costing to much $$$$$$coin. HARRISON is older but then again there are NO work out monsters such as him. His longevity is credited to work out and also a small part to NOT being used early in his career thus lengthening his career backside. He is no young deer so he needs NOT training camp as much as newer talent. I for one totally support how DEBO is being handled and feel his is ONE of the best all time STEELERS ever, young or old.






Salute the nation
 
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Steelerfan81 said:
I haven't heard one single ounce of news about Chickillo. I was there on Sunday and hardly noticed him.
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If this keeps up, it’s going to be quite difficult to keep T.J. Watt off the field, even if Harrison is the one in front of him. Through a handful of practices, Watt has shown he has multiple pass-rush moves and that he can be flexible enough to flip from the right outside linebacker spot to the left then to the ‘rover’ linebacker spot in the nickel. During a drill where linebackers have to cover tight ends one-on-one, Watt was plastered on David Johnson so thoroughly that Roethlisberger just held the ball and refused to throw it. But the best play from the rookie came during the live team scrimmage period. Watt was able to get from his right outside linebacker spot all across the field to lay a monster hit on Knile Davis. Watt came from so far across the field, it first appeared that it was a safety who came up and made the hit.


Inside the Lines: Smith-Schuster gets some tough coaching love from Hines Ward - https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/...schuster-gets-tough-coaching-love-hines-ward/

I havent heard anything about Watt being up and down if anything there have been multiple reports that the kid is way ahead of schedule. Multiple reports from alot of different sources all saying the same thing. But Coach pulls it out his *** that he is up and down to prop up Chickillo with no evidence to support. Chickollo is what he is a good backup and special teams guy. And since you bought up Uncle Jarvis the only difference between them is draft status. They have both have done about the same(nothing) just that so much more was expected from Jones because of where he was picked.
 
Steelerfan81 said:
He isn't ******* practicing because he doesn't need to. He's lifting like a maniac and does his own thing. He proved he still had it when he was beating the **** out of everyone on the Miami Dolphins in January. Did you even watch that game? Doubtful. Just shut the **** up sometimes.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Steeler Nation mobile app
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Bingo! If they watched all of Harrison's workouts like I do this wouldn't even be mentioned. ******* guy trains like Rocky trained for Ivan Drago.Hell he may even lead this team in sacks. There's absolutely no reason for him to practice a bunch anyway. The young guys and rookies need all the reps they can get.
 
Steelr4evr said:
Bingo! If they watched all of Harrison's workouts like I do this wouldn't even be mentioned. ******* guy trains like Rocky trained for Ivan Drago.Hell he may even lead this team in sacks. There's absolutely no reason for him to practice a bunch anyway. The young guys and rookies need all the reps they can get.
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Yeah exactly. Coach isnt even a Steelers fan. He may be a robot.

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antdrewjosh said:
Try again Coach


Though it can be frustrating to see James Harrison drop into coverage as much as he has, there’s justification for it. He’s really good at it. I’m not sure if we’ve talked about this before but Pro Football Focus tweeted out this graphic of Harrison being the best coverage edge rusher last season.

On passing downs, James Harrison doesn't need to be rushing the passer to get the job done. https://t.co/entACb1YAt

http://www.Invalid Link - Check SN Home Page/2017/06/james-harrison-rated-best-cover-olb-2016/
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If only he had ever returned a INT almost 100 yds for a TD, maybe then he would be someone to talk about.
 
Every player is one injury from retirement if it is severe enough....Not just #92-----
 
I see Coach is back on the Chicky wagon again. All is right in the world again. I remember when Chicky was a rookie and he swore he would start. He is fighting for a job at the moment Coach. Let him make the team before you make these wild assumptions.
 
Adams will probably hit the PS squad this year. He might make the team next year.
 
Coach said:
I have not seen any practices, so all I can go on is camp reports.

If the season were to start right now, Chickillo might start. He keeps producing on the Steeler Depot reports. Watt is up and down. Showing flashes of why he was the first round pick but isn't consistent yet. No surprise, it's early in camp and he's a rookie.

James Harrison remains out of action. Given his age and inactivity in camp, it's hard to know what the old legend has left. I'd say due to his age, he's a spot duty player only at this point, but I wouldn't say that to his face!

I hope Watt take the job after the 3rd pre-season game, but as of right now I'm not sure who is in the lead. Maybe Chickillo.

While I felt Chickillo was better than Jarvis Jones, he didn't produce enough as the starter when given the chance. Then again, he was a converted DL to OLB player with limited experience too.
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Personally, I think it all depends on their head measurements
 
I think that depth chart will change final 53. I also see they didn't list players not playing due to injury. So besides preseason play that chart might change significantly. Although I think Watt will remain behind Deebo for now.
 
I have not seen any practices but I will go out on a limb and say Ben will keep his starting job and start the season. I have been hearing a lot of talk that he isn't taking many reps in practice. He is getting up there in age and slowing down. Dobbs and Jones will be 2nd and 3rd string this coming season. Now Bell. I heard he hasn't taken any reps.....
 
stillwright said:
I have not seen any practices but I will go out on a limb and say Ben will keep his starting job and start the season. I have been hearing a lot of talk that he isn't taking many reps in practice. He is getting up there in age and slowing down. Dobbs and Jones will be 2nd and 3rd string this coming season. Now Bell. I heard he hasn't taken any reps.....
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I assume that this is sarcasm.....Bell isn't even in camp while Dobbs and Houston are the only QB's healthy enough to practice.
 
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