Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
I don’t remember a Pittsburgh Steelers rookie hyped up as much as Ryan Shazier entering the 2014 training camp. The first-round product from Ohio State had wowed during the Combine, running a sub 4.4 in his 40-yard dash, as well as being the perfect fit when paired with middle linebacker Lawrence Timmons. He became the first defensive player to start Week 1 since Dick LeBeau took over the defense in 2004. An impressive first three games were the followed by knee and ankle injuries that limited him to nine games during the rest of the season.
Despite his multiple injuries limiting his production, the Steelers felt his presence every time he was on the field. In the nine games he played during the regular season, the team was an impressive 8-1. Still, Shazier looks as last season as a personal failure.
“This is definitely a chance to wipe the slate clean and start off healthy and get back on point” Shazier told the Beaver County Times. “Last year was kind of a disappointment to me because I felt like I could have bought more to the team.”
This season represents a turning point for the Steelers’ defense. Longtime coordinator LeBeau is gone and was replaced by linebackers coach Keith Butler. Defensive staples Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor and Brett Keisel have either retired or been released. At this point, the Steelers are entering a youth movement to rebuild their defense. The franchise has done this before a decade earlier and succeeded. And like a decade earlier, the four linebackers on the field are expected to do a little of everything well: rush the quarterback, stop the run and pass defense.
Though injuries plagued Shazier’s rookie campaign, everyone in black and gold expects a bounce-back season in his second go around. The linebacker thought to be too skinny at 225 pounds is now entering training camp at the standard linebacker size of 237 pounds. His speed that dazzled at the Combine and was limited because of injuries during the season will return for the regular season. A healthy Shazier standing next to Timmons will create one of the most dangerous middle linebacker tandems in the league.
Daniel Johnson is a Beat Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter. “Like” him on Facebook. Add him to your network on Google.
