Steelers will face tough decisions with linebacker cuts

By Ralph N. Paulk

Marshall McFadden has one more audition to prove he deserves a full-time job with the Steelers.

The second-year linebacker looked good in training camp and has played relatively well during the preseason. But he'll need to make a lasting impression in the exhibition finale against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

McFadden, though, has a significant advantage over seven others vying for the remaining three or four linebacker spots on the active roster: The South Carolina State product has excelled on special teams to create separation from a crowded field.

“I feel like I've got a good chance of making the team, but I've had to come a long way,” McFadden said. “Obviously, special teams might determine my fate. I've got to go out this last game and prove I can make splash plays.”

If coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert hold true to form, the Steelers likely will begin the regular season against Tennessee with eight linebackers — including starters LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons, and Larry Foote.

Jarvis Jones, a first-round draft pick, and fourth-year veteran Jason Worilds are battling to replace James Harrison at right outside linebacker. Perhaps the biggest challenge for the Steelers is deciding which young linebackers to keep as backups.

The active roster for last year's regular-season finale included nine linebackers, but gone are four: Harrison, Brandon Johnson, Adrian Robinson and Stevenson Sylvester. McFadden spent 14 weeks on the practice squad last season but was activated for the final game when Chris Carter was placed on the reserve/injured list.

Now McFadden and Carter appear to be ahead of the pack with the final cuts slated for Saturday. But the others — rookies Vince Williams, Alan Baxter and Terence Garvin and veteran free agents Brian Rolle and Kion Wilson — played well in a 26-20 overtime loss to Kansas City to bolster their chances of making the opening-day roster.

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/4595383-74/linebackers-mcfadden-steelers#ixzz2d7SWgAIQ

Honestly (and this may just be my bias), I don't think Harrison is a huge gap to replace. I don't remember him being the force last year that he was in years past. I think his age and fines caught up to him and he just didn't have the killer instinct that he did before. I think he was more of a name than his attributes.

I think Jarvis Jones will have better stats than James Harrison this year and when compared to last year. Yes, I just threw the gauntlet out.

 

Whyant5 wrote:

Honestly (and this may just be my bias), I don't think Harrison is a huge gap to replace.  I don't remember him being the force last year that he was in years past.  I think his age and fines caught up to him and he just didn't have the killer instinct that he did before.  I think he was more of a name than his attributes.  

I think Jarvis Jones will have better stats than James Harrison this year and when compared to last year. Yes, I just threw the gauntlet out.  

 

I don't know if you're right, Weebs, but I don't completely disagree. Everyone attributes the drop off in Harrison's play the last two years to age and/or injuries, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility that the changes in the league affected his play. Just as quarterbacks always heard his footsteps, he had to be hearing Goodell's footsteps. Harrison put a target on his own back, and he knew that every play, he had this looking over his shoulder ...