Pittsburgh Steelers new signee LB Sean Spence’s speed, instincts impress LBs coach Keith Butler
Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie linebacker, Sean Spence, has impressed his immediate boss, linebackers coach, Keith Butler.
Spence is participating in organised team activities (OTAs), which started last week and according to Butler, the player has good speed and instincts.
In spite of the encouraging remarks on the player’s performance, the coach said it is ‘impossible’ for the rookie to take place of Steelers former linebacker, James Farrior, who was released by the management this year.
Steelers had to adjust their players’ salary expense, which was well above the cap level, and the austerity measures cost Farrior his job along with some other veterans.
As reflected in the coach’s comments, the team is rueing the absence of those players and seeking to find their alternatives in the rookies.
Spence was signed to the team roster on Tuesday, May 29. The player, who is the third-round pick of the 2012 National Football League (NFL) draft, held from April 26 to 28, has been given a four-year contract.
Other details of the deal, including its value, have not been made public by any of the stakeholders.
Anyway, it sets out for the player to assume an effective role at the linebackers’ position and his speed, which the coach has noted to be significant point of his form, will certainly matter to his future chances in the overall scheme of the team.
While the coach is true to his words that the new linebacker cannot replace the 15-year veteran, Farrior, Steelers do not have other options than to look up at the rookie as a solution.
Given they are already through tight players’ budget issue, hiring an experienced player is not a favourable option for them.
There is no information if Farrior had shown willingness to play for Steelers under a restructured deal. Wide receiver, Hines Ward, had expressed the desire to do so, but was still released.
It is also unknown if Farrior was given such a choice by the team, as Steelers had restructured the deal of some veterans including quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.
With all those options too late to work out, Steelers are willing to bet their future on the young guns.
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