Worilds a key figure on defense for Steelers

By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Outside linebacker Jason Worilds had an "a-ha" moment during a recent Steelers practice.

Or so he thought.

"I was going over something that I thought I knew and it ended up being a mental error," Worilds said. "It just goes to show you that no matter how far along I feel like I've come, there's always stuff to learn."

Worilds is in his second season of learning Dick LeBeau's complex defense, and he is still making the transition from defensive end in college to outside linebacker.

But it is safe to say that the training wheels have been gone for quite some time when it comes to the Steelers' 2010 second-round draft pick.

Worilds has quietly emerged as a key figure on the Steelers' defense, due in large part to LaMarr Woodley's cantankerous hamstring.

His continued development is crucial to the Steelers' Super Bowl aspirations since Woodley could be limited or hampered by the hamstring injury he sustained Oct. 30 the rest of the season.

The Steelers had set a snap count for Woodley last Sunday, his first game back from the injury. It didn't become an issue as Woodley all but took himself out of the Steelers' 35-7 win over the Bengals after experiencing fatigue in the tender hamstring.

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Worilds going to be another very very good Steeler outside linebacker and he's fast too.

He's coming along at the right time. Who knows how much longer Deebo has left with his age and back problems. We may need him sooner than we think.

There was another thread about how Tomlin talked about Worilds.

It's my opinion have another golden LB in our corp that people have mostly have forgotten about because of teh starters that we have already. I don't think Tomlin is ever going to let our players, let alone those on the bench, get so much praise they get a big head. Tomlin has a standard and that standard is that who ever is on the bench better be able to play like they're a starter when called upon.

Worilds has done a great job of filling in for Woodley and as we all know, hamstrings can be a lingering injury but the good news is that know we have double the threat with Worilds able to handle the load and Woodley back (albeit limited).