DICK LEBEAU
Q: Do you even know who your outside linebackers are?
A: Oh, yeah. I know who’s there.
Q: Is it an emergency situation?
A: I think it’s one of those situations that will really be beneficial in the end. Joey’s in Miami and Clark’s at home dealing with the situation with his family right now, so these young guys are getting a lot of snaps outside and that’s good. We know James Harrison has had the snaps and a lot of these guys are not. It’s really a beneficial situation. It’s a great opportunity for us and for them.
Q: In terms of assessing the situation, isn’t this a good opportunity for you a week before the draft?
A: I don’t think anything that happens out here is going to affect the draft. The draft is definitely a longer range situation than what you’re talking about in even a year.
Q: Brett Keisel hasn’t played any linebacker yet, has he?
A: He’s always been a guy who can play outside backer for us in case we get in an injury situation during a Sunday afternoon, a particular game. We’ve had him take a lot of snaps on Fridays at that outside backer, but he’s never had to do it in a game. And I kind of like the way he plays defensive end, so we’re going to keep him right there. He still has that capability in a pinch. If we needed him to go in there and play outside backer he can do it and that’s a real plus for us.
Q: It sounds like you only have him in mind for an emergency instead of in a new package like an Adalius Thomas type.
A: Well, we might see a little bit of that too but that wouldn’t be on first or second down.
LARRY FOOTE
Q: Do you know the new linebackers working out there with you?
A: It’s definitely different with 55 gone and Clark not here. It’s definitely different.
Q: You’re the veteran leader. Are you feeling old?
A: Me? I’m still young. I’m not more veteran than Farrior, but, yeah, I guess I’m into the second half of my career.
Q: Are you worried about depth?
A: I’m not worried. We’ve got two bona fide. We know they can do it. But we definitely need depth with Arnold being injured.
Q: Do you see that position in the draft plans?
A: That’s what I see on TV. I’m watching just like everybody else.
RIAN WALLACE
Q: Is it strange playing outside?
A: Not so much. I played a little bit of it in an emergency situation. Getting this many reps in the whole full concept of the defense and the sub packages is a lot but not too much.
Q: Are you suited for the position?
A: I’m athletically suited for the position. It’s just different from inside. There’s different techniques, and when you’re that close you can’t really shuffle. You’ve got to hold the point of attack on run instead of trying to shed so quickly. You’ve got to hold the point longer.
Q: What was your primary position?
A: I had to do all of them, but primarily the mack; a little buck and also outside.
Q: Isn’t it funny how quickly things can change?
A: I’ve been playing football a long time and I didn’t come this far to be a back-up. When you get a chance to step in at a position you’ve got to take advantage of the opportunity.
Q: Other players tell me the light goes on in the third year. Has yours?
A: Yes, pretty much so. The light’s trying to go off, but now that I’m playing a different position it’s almost being back to like your first year and a half, but the light’s off on the whole concept of the defense. Now I’m just learning a new position.
Q: Dick LeBeau said in the long run this will be good for everyone.
A: Yes, in the long run it’s good because in case when I go back inside I can also be a guy who can go outside or inside for however long I’m in the league.
Q: Could this be your year?
A: Yeah. Coming out, I knew I had a growing process coming to the No. 1 defense. I wanted to get on the field early but I saw in this defense that it takes growth. Coach Butler told me in the third year, that’s when this defense all comes together for certain players. So I sense I have to take advantage of this year being that I’m in the third year of a three-year contract. It’s time to start playing.
Q: Are you impatient?
A: Yes. Like I said, when you come this far in your life, you don’t come this far just to be a back-up, so I’m ready to take advantage and become a starter.
ARNOLD HARRISON
Q: How do you feel weighing 252?
A: Carry what you can carry. If you can carry it, hold onto it. Down in the trenches, you need to have a couple of bags of nickels in your back pocket to hold up. I’m carrying the weight good, I look good with it, I feel good with it and my body fat level ain’t went up; it’s good clean muscle so I’m going to hold onto it. I was due. I’ve been lifting a lot, so it was just a matter of time before I started getting a little bigger. You get a little older, you get a little stronger. I’m 24 years old.
Q: Is it killing you not to be getting these reps?
A: Oh, most definitely. A competitor like myself, I’m sitting here, been in this system going on three years now. I know it. I’ve had a chance to get my feet wet and play some games, start some games. I played behind some great players all this time, and when you get the opportunity to come out for a new coaching staff and you’re running the same defense and you’ve got guys out there who aren’t nowhere near as experienced as I am, of course I would love, relish, the chance to get out there and get it mixing up and started up and talk trash to my teammates. But you know what? That’s all a learning experience. Perseverance is also a lesson learned. So I get to sit back and watch and learn and get a feel for the coaches. When I hit the ground running, my first impression’s going to be a big one.
Q: Are you the forgotten man when everyone’s talking about draft needs?
A: My job here is to be the best player I can possibly be and to learn as much as I can learn and play as hard as I can play. The people that know this team, the organization, they know I’m a good player, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. Even if they do decide to go out and draft an outside linebacker, that’s their decision. The only thing you can control is what you can control. The way I see it, when they call my number and it’s time to strap on the helmets and put the shoulder pads on, I’ll be ready. No matter what happens, I’m going to make sure they don’t forget about me.
Q: How much did you play before you got hurt?
A: I played in eight games, five at outside linebacker and started and played two full games at outside linebacker and in the third game I got hurt in the first quarter
by
Jim Wexell
SteelCityInsider.com
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Originally Posted by TOP GUN
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