Stlrs4Life
05-03-2007, 08:12 PM
From the Official Site:
Woodley ready to make the change
Thursday, May 3, 2007
By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com
Making the jump from college football to the NFL means plenty of transitions for the players, and for LaMarr Woodley, there will be a big one he is going to have to make.
But he is ready for it.
Woodley, the team's second-round pick from Michigan, will be making the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker when he joins the Steelers in mini-camp beginning on May 11.
"It's no big deal at all," said Woodley. "I have the linebacking blood in me. It's just something that I know I can do. Going from my freshman year into my sophomore year I changed positions, and I got into it right away. I don't think it's a big deal at all."
One thing that will help Woodley is the fact that he played in a defense at Michigan that was patterned after the Steelers defense in some ways.
"Some of the schemes that we used with our defense were similar to Pittsburgh," said Woodley. "I was mainly down at end, but I had the opportunity to learn some of the linebacking position. At our school, we ran those schemes."
Woodley should fit right in with the Steelers linebacking corp. He has the tough, aggressive attitude that the defense is known for and he is a player who will give his all to win, because losing is not an option for him.
"I bring attitude to the game. I bring attitude and I bring a lot of leadership to the game," said Woodley. "That's what you're going to get out of me. You're going to get a hard-working guy who's going to come out there and compete every play—a guy who hates to lose. When a guy hates to lose—like me—he definitely has an attitude."
Woodley, who had 25 sacks at Michigan including 12 his senior season, compared the way he plays to the Chargers Shawne Merriman, who lines up at defensive end and outside linebacker.
"I'm constantly getting after the quarterback, constantly making plays behind the line of scrimmage," said Woodley. "You have to know where I am at all times."
There is one transition that Woodley won't have to worry about by joining the Steelers. He won't have to change his loyalties.
"I was a Steelers fan growing up," said Woodley. "I have always rooted for the Steelers. The Steelers were my favorite team.
"When I was playing when I was younger, I decided to put on number 36, and I called myself "The Bus," and ever since then, I've been rolling."
Woodley ready to make the change
Thursday, May 3, 2007
By Teresa Varley
Steelers.com
Making the jump from college football to the NFL means plenty of transitions for the players, and for LaMarr Woodley, there will be a big one he is going to have to make.
But he is ready for it.
Woodley, the team's second-round pick from Michigan, will be making the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker when he joins the Steelers in mini-camp beginning on May 11.
"It's no big deal at all," said Woodley. "I have the linebacking blood in me. It's just something that I know I can do. Going from my freshman year into my sophomore year I changed positions, and I got into it right away. I don't think it's a big deal at all."
One thing that will help Woodley is the fact that he played in a defense at Michigan that was patterned after the Steelers defense in some ways.
"Some of the schemes that we used with our defense were similar to Pittsburgh," said Woodley. "I was mainly down at end, but I had the opportunity to learn some of the linebacking position. At our school, we ran those schemes."
Woodley should fit right in with the Steelers linebacking corp. He has the tough, aggressive attitude that the defense is known for and he is a player who will give his all to win, because losing is not an option for him.
"I bring attitude to the game. I bring attitude and I bring a lot of leadership to the game," said Woodley. "That's what you're going to get out of me. You're going to get a hard-working guy who's going to come out there and compete every play—a guy who hates to lose. When a guy hates to lose—like me—he definitely has an attitude."
Woodley, who had 25 sacks at Michigan including 12 his senior season, compared the way he plays to the Chargers Shawne Merriman, who lines up at defensive end and outside linebacker.
"I'm constantly getting after the quarterback, constantly making plays behind the line of scrimmage," said Woodley. "You have to know where I am at all times."
There is one transition that Woodley won't have to worry about by joining the Steelers. He won't have to change his loyalties.
"I was a Steelers fan growing up," said Woodley. "I have always rooted for the Steelers. The Steelers were my favorite team.
"When I was playing when I was younger, I decided to put on number 36, and I called myself "The Bus," and ever since then, I've been rolling."