When Bill Cowher and Dom Capers built the 3-4 defense the Steelers continue to use 20 years later, the strength of the alignment was predicated on the production of one unit in particular — the outside linebackers and their ability to rush the passer.
And, of the two outside positions, the right outside linebacker tended to be the trigger-man for the defense. He was the player most responsible for bringing pressure on the quarterback. He was Greg Lloyd, Chad Brown, Joey Porter and, most recently, five-time Pro Bowler James Harrison.
But, with two preseason games in the next six days and the regular season approaching fast, Harrison has not been seen on the practice field since the off-season training activities in the early days of spring. What’s more, neither has his backup, Jason Worilds.
Both players remain on the physically unable to perform list, with no timetable for their return in immediate sight.
That has left the right outside spot to Chris Carter, a converted collegiate defensive end who was a fifth-round draft choice in 2011. He has taken every snap with the first-team defense since the start of training camp, and will be there again tonight when the Steelers (1-1) play their third preseason game against the Buffalo Bills (0-2) in Orchard Park, N.Y.
“He’s always had a nice motor,” Coach Mike Tomlin said. “He’s getting better from an assignment standpoint. But the most important thing he has done is take advantage of the opportunity [that] someone else’s misfortune has given him. They haven’t been empty snaps. He’s improving and that’s important.”
Very important.
Despite proclamations he thinks it’s “realistic” he could play in the season opener in Denver, Harrison is not expected to return until at least the second or third game after having arthroscopic surgery last week on his knee. Since the spring, Harrison has tried twice to test his knee in agility drills, and each time the knee swelled after cutting on it. That’s what prompted the latest surgery.
Worilds, a second-round pick in 2010, is another matter. He had surgery on his left wrist in the spring and is unable to hinge his wrist to take on blockers. He will have to wear a wrist brace when he returns, but he has yet to be cleared to even practice.
On top of that, inside linebacker Stevenson Sylvester, who has been used outside in training camp because of the injuries to Harrison and Worilds, sprained the medial collateral ligament in his knee during the final practice at Saint Vincent College. He is expected to be out another two to three weeks.
That has left the Steelers without three of their top six linebackers on the depth chart.
“I’m concerned more for Sly and Worilds because they’re young players and they need all the reps they can get,” said inside linebacker Larry Foote. “James? No, because he’s been around, he knows what to do, he knows how to get right mentally. He’s more advanced than them. I’m not concerned about him, but, for the younger guys, I’m a little concerned.”
Carter is probably the fastest of the Steelers linebackers off the edge and has come to camp heavier and stronger. By all accounts, he has played well in both preseason games against the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis and seems to be flourishing playing with other members of the first-team defense.
“He doesn’t want to be the guy who makes a mistake,” said linebacker coach Keith Butler.
But, no matter how much he has developed since his rookie season, nobody expects Carter to be a suitable replacement for Harrison, a former NFL defensive player of the year. At least, not now.
“He does have a great takeoff,” said inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons. “He’s been rushing the passer well and he holds up in the run. I think he has learned it now. I think he’s in a position where he can make a lot of plays for us from that position.”
The Steelers have been successful finding their outside linebackers on the middle rounds of the draft — or even later. Porter and Jason Gildon were selected on the third round. Clark Haggans was a fifth-round pick. Harrison wasn’t drafted at all and was cut three times by the Steelers before finally replacing Porter.
Is Carter in line to be another?
If nothing else, he is line to be the starter on the right side for several more weeks, at least. The Steelers want Harrison to have at least a week of practice before they intend to use him in a game.
“I’ve been around here where I’ve seen Hines Ward never practice all week, maybe a little on Friday, and go out and have a 100-yard game,” Foote said.
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