Worilds: 'My time will come'

Thursday, August 04, 2011
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Jason Worilds has this problem. It is trying to find playing time at a position in the Steelers defense that is harder to crack than the DaVinci Code.

The reason?

He is an outside linebacker, one with enough promise and upside that the Steelers drafted him in the second round in 2010. But he plays behind four-time Pro Bowler James Harrison on the right side of the defense.

If he gets moved to the other side, he is behind left outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley, who has had three consecutive seasons of double-digit sacks and is ready to get a big multi-year contract as the team's franchise player.

Worse, Harrison and Woodley, who have combined for 71 1/2 sacks since 2008, most by a linebacker tandem in the NFL, almost never come off the field.

"They are two great ones," Worilds said. "They were here before me, they were here first, they made names for themselves. They are great players and they're great mentors. Just to be a part of this Steelers linebacker lineage is an honor. My time will come."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11216/1165047-66-0.stm?cmpid=steelers.xml#ixzz1U29B8uQx
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Where the hell do we find these guys??? It's one thing to have great talent, but to have great character ... is it any wonder the Steelers win consistently year after year?

Sounds like an intelligent guy, that's what I like to see. I love it when players view being a blocked as a learning situation, rather than losing out on playing time. It will only make Worilds a better player when his time does come. I mean really, does anyone think the kid won't be a great player? The Steelers cannot miss on linebackers.

mcg24 wrote:

Sounds like an intelligent guy, that's what I like to see. I love it when players view being a blocked as a learning situation, rather than losing out on playing time. It will only make Worilds a better player when his time does come. I mean really, does anyone think the kid won't be a great player? The Steelers cannot miss on linebackers.

When I was younger, I remember hearing a quote (although I can't remember what team it was in reference to) ... "They don't rebuild, they just reload."

I've heard that same quote a million times since ... but it definitely applies to our linebackers.

Wallace108 wrote:

mcg24 wrote:

Sounds like an intelligent guy, that's what I like to see. I love it when players view being a blocked as a learning situation, rather than losing out on playing time. It will only make Worilds a better player when his time does come. I mean really, does anyone think the kid won't be a great player? The Steelers cannot miss on linebackers.

When I was younger, I remember hearing a quote (although I can't remember what team it was in reference to) ... "They don't rebuild, they just reload."

I've heard that same quote a million times since ... but it definitely applies to our linebackers.

Yeah, that definitely applies tot he Lb's.

Farrior_roirraW wrote:

Wallace108 wrote:

mcg24 wrote:

Sounds like an intelligent guy, that's what I like to see. I love it when players view being a blocked as a learning situation, rather than losing out on playing time. It will only make Worilds a better player when his time does come. I mean really, does anyone think the kid won't be a great player? The Steelers cannot miss on linebackers.

When I was younger, I remember hearing a quote (although I can't remember what team it was in reference to) ... "They don't rebuild, they just reload."

I've heard that same quote a million times since ... but it definitely applies to our linebackers.

Yeah, that definitely applies tot he Lb's.

More than anything, I think that's what makes the Steelers successful. They have a philosophy that enables them to reload rather than rebuild. I've seen teams go through 3 or 4 coaches in a decade. But in my lifetime, we've had 3 ... Noll, Cowher, and Tomlin. We've done the same thing with our players. Whether we're talking about our linebackers, centers, or running backs ... we don't rebuild, we just reload. We seem to always have the guy waiting in the wings. When a player gets too old or wants too much money, we have a player ready to replace him. We always have a Plan B. Some teams, like the Browns, don't even have a Plan A. That's why I chuckle every year when Steelers fans bitch and moan because we don't sign a big-name free agent. We groom our own ... and they're ready to step in when it's their time.

With Harrison coming off double back surgery this off-season, this may be the year the Worilds gets his playing time. I remember hearing about Jack Lambert, that the only reason he got playing time was because the first string guy went down. Lambert came in and took over - FOR GOOD!


Well Mr. Worilds, I would suggest you pay very close attention in practice and meetings...then when your time comes - KICK THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF EVERYONE ON THE OTHER TEAM. Including the coach!