Before the Draft: Outside Linebacker
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DRAFT POTENTIAL:
- Day 1: DEFINITELY
- Day 2: THEY MAY TAKE ANOTHER
If the nose tackle is the grunt in a 3-4 defense, then the outside linebackers are the glamor. Most of a team’s defensive production comes from this position. OLBs are the Swiss Army Knives of a defense: run stoppers, pass defenders and pass rushers. While nearly every defensive position on the field performs these same duties at one time or another, they don’t see such an even mix.
For several years, Joey Porter has been the Steelers’ go-to outside linebacker. He did it all on the field and had a reputation for being ferocious. On the Ladder of Nastiness, he stood just a single rung below Jack Lambert and Greg Lloyd, who personified Steeler defense. No one on the team talked a bigger game, and unlike a lot of players around the league, Porter backed it up — most of the time.
Now, Joey Porter is gone, having been cut in a salary cap move and subsequently signed with the Miami Dolphins. That leaves a big hole, but not as big as some people think.
Porter survived last season based largely on his reputation. His play slipped, primarily in pass coverage and run defense. While registering a team-leading seven sacks and two interceptions in 2006, the normal crispness in his play never seemed to be there. Missed assignments and blown coverage plagued his play all season, and a pulled hamstring sidelined him for the final two games of the season.
Opposite the defense from Porter is Clark Haggans, who is older than Porter but seems to just now be hitting the prime of his career. Haggans registered 21 more tackles than Porter, and only one fewer sack. Unfortunately, someone had to be a cap victim this season. Haggans’ smaller cap number, combined with his productivity and less wear and tear, made it a no-brainer. He is viewed by many as having more left in his tank, and is simply more affordable.
Behind these two are James Harrison and Arnold Harrison (no relation that I’m aware of). Both wound up on injured reserved in 2006, but the two played well in the little time they were on the field. Of them, James has the most experience by far, having played in every game in 2004 and 2005 and 11 in 2006 before being injured. Arnold has seen action in just seven games in his career.
In the immediate future, expect the 2007 starters to be Clark Haggans and James Harrison. They are prototypical Steelers linebackers and both have the speed to drop into coverage. Harrison is a better run stopper than Porter was, but lacks the instincts Porter has to penetrate the pocket when his number is called for a pass rush.
Down the road, though, we may see more of Arnold Harrison. He has excellent speed for a 3-4 OLB, and shows potential for a smooth transition to the 4-3 defense we’re all speculating Mike Tomlin would eventually like to use. The position would transfer more to containment on the outside, which was not Porter’s forte. Both Harrisons, as well as Haggans, have the speed and tackling abilities to excel in either defense, and Arnold Harrison may have the best run-stopping abilities of all three.
When draft day rolls around, the Steelers likely will take an outside linebacker on Day One. They have no depth at the position now that Porter is gone and desperately need backups. They’ve already brought in a free agent for discussions, and may well wind up signing him. Expect at least three OLBs to be added to the roster by training camp for a total of six, with four likely making it through the September cuts.
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