Arthur Moats was talking about the Steelers’ defense when the name of fellow linebacker Vince Williams arose.
A big smile came across Moats’ face.
“We’re the sixth-round crew,” he said Thursday on the sixth day of OTAs on the South Side. “We’ve got a lot of people around us, a lot of glamorous first-round picks. You see, we had to wait a little longer to hear our names called, so every big play we make is a little sweeter.”
Moats, an outside linebacker drafted by the Bills in the sixth round in 2010, was given a new contract during the off-season after arriving as a free agent the previous season. He then watched as the Steelers drafted Bud Dupree in the first round, two years after another first-rounder went into Jarvis Jones, both at the same position.
The situation for Williams, an inside linebacker is no less daunting. One inside linebacker is Lawrence Timmons, himself a former first-round pick, and perhaps the defense’s finest player. The other spot is being divided among Williams, former third-round pick Sean Spence and last year’s first-round pick, Ryan Shazier.
Moats seems inspired by the situation.
Williams is even more forceful on the topic.
A sixth-round pick in 2013, Williams has impressed during his first two seasons with the Steelers. Yet they still selected Shazier after his rookie season.
Does Williams see the potential in some of the young linebackers?
“Definitely,” he said, with a serious expression.
Is that chip on Williams’ shoulder going to remain?
“Absolutely.”
Maybe the chip is what makes Williams such an interesting player. He practically sounded like a coach during special teams drills on this day. Special teams coach Danny Smith barked at his players at one point, “If we do it this way, our opponent will get nothing!” While the rest of the special team players remained silent, a fired up Williams responded, like a member of a church congregation during a sermon, “They get nothing!”
That it’s June 4 didn’t seem to matter to Williams.
Nor does it seem to matter where he was drafted. He’s ready for some football.
“Even if I were drafted in the first round,” Williams said, “I’d be playing with that same chip on my shoulder. That’s the kind of man I am.”
Williams recorded 69 tackles in his first two seasons, seeing sporadic work while those around him have often fallen injured. The Steelers never seemed to lose a beat with him in the lineup.
“I’m just going to go out there and try to prove myself every single day,” he said. “I never forget where I came from.”
He thinks this defense has a chance to be much better.
“I’ve looked at the old Steelers defenses,” he said. “The thing about those teams, those guys were together for years. We’re young and have had a lot of different people come in and out of the lineup. We’re starting to get that continuity now and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
One can question the talent level of the current defense. But questioning the unit’s heart will be difficult with Moats or Williams on the field, as those around them will attest.
“I got a new contract, and it felt good,” Moats said. “But honestly, it just inspires me to be an even better player. Guys like me and Vince, you’re getting our best on every snap. We’re very hungry people.”
I know I'M inspired hearing Moats and Williams! With those two and Spence, who is a living, breathing inspiration all on his own, plus LT and Deebo, if those first-rounders from the past three years can step up and produce, this Steelers LB corps has the potential to be one of the best ever. This is one part of their D I have a real good feeling about.
one of the best EVER? Look, I like the ILBs as much as anyone, but have you really forgotten about the LB crews as recently as the 2010 SB winners? Come on now. Even the LBs back in the SB loss against Dallas - that was a special group. I hope they do well, but to say they could be one of the best ever may be getting ahead of yourself just a little bit.
1. Does anyone think Jarvis Jones is suddenly going to morph into the next James Harrison/Joey Porter/Greg Lloyd? Call me skeptical.
2. Does anyone think Bud Dupree is going to be better than Woodley in his prime?
3. Does anyone know if Ryan Shazier is anything but an undersized fast ILB?
Lotta ifs... I suppose if all 3 come true then the LBs could be great. Even still, to say one of the best EVER in a franchise that is steeped in LB lore is hyperbolic.
Good article. I think these gentlemen display the one thing this defense has lacked. Hunger. There's always been talent, but I'm not so sure about the hunger.
Josh - Williams was terrible his rookie year... Got thrown into a tough situation with Foote going down but still...Definitely got better last year but was a back up and was not an improvement ... To say the defense didn't "lose a beat" when he was playing is misinformed... He seems like a nice guy and he's young and I hope he succeeds but he's made their defense worse the last two years
I'm not sure it's Vince who made them worse. Rather a front office that mis-evaluated top picks and left the team in a position of having to rely on a guy with his limited skill set...
Williams would look a lot better if the line in front of him would stop getting gashed and pushed back into his space. An inside LB is only as good as the DL in front of him is at occupying their gaps. Even a guy as great as Lambert would have looked like an ordinary linebacker if he had to play behind Cam Thomas.
I think both of you are correct. (Almost) any time you lose your starter, you're going to do worse. That said, it's huge for the Steelers to find guys like Williams in the 6th and Moats in FA. In any cap league, and we see the other side of this on the ice, having quality, low cost depth is huge.
Vince Williams made 43 tackles and a fumble recovery in 2014 for the Steelers. -- GETTY
June 4, 2015
Coverage: Moats, Williams ‘sixth-round crew’
by Josh Yohe • Coverage • Steelers
BY JOSH YOHE
Arthur Moats was talking about the Steelers’ defense when the name of fellow linebacker Vince Williams arose.
A big smile came across Moats’ face.
“We’re the sixth-round crew,” he said Thursday on the sixth day of OTAs on the South Side. “We’ve got a lot of people around us, a lot of glamorous first-round picks. You see, we had to wait a little longer to hear our names called, so every big play we make is a little sweeter.”
Moats, an outside linebacker drafted by the Bills in the sixth round in 2010, was given a new contract during the off-season after arriving as a free agent the previous season. He then watched as the Steelers drafted Bud Dupree in the first round, two years after another first-rounder went into Jarvis Jones, both at the same position.
The situation for Williams, an inside linebacker is no less daunting. One inside linebacker is Lawrence Timmons, himself a former first-round pick, and perhaps the defense’s finest player. The other spot is being divided among Williams, former third-round pick Sean Spence and last year’s first-round pick, Ryan Shazier.
Moats seems inspired by the situation.
Williams is even more forceful on the topic.
A sixth-round pick in 2013, Williams has impressed during his first two seasons with the Steelers. Yet they still selected Shazier after his rookie season.
Does Williams see the potential in some of the young linebackers?
“Definitely,” he said, with a serious expression.
Is that chip on Williams’ shoulder going to remain?
“Absolutely.”
Maybe the chip is what makes Williams such an interesting player. He practically sounded like a coach during special teams drills on this day. Special teams coach Danny Smith barked at his players at one point, “If we do it this way, our opponent will get nothing!” While the rest of the special team players remained silent, a fired up Williams responded, like a member of a church congregation during a sermon, “They get nothing!”
That it’s June 4 didn’t seem to matter to Williams.
Nor does it seem to matter where he was drafted. He’s ready for some football.
“Even if I were drafted in the first round,” Williams said, “I’d be playing with that same chip on my shoulder. That’s the kind of man I am.”
Williams recorded 69 tackles in his first two seasons, seeing sporadic work while those around him have often fallen injured. The Steelers never seemed to lose a beat with him in the lineup.
“I’m just going to go out there and try to prove myself every single day,” he said. “I never forget where I came from.”
He thinks this defense has a chance to be much better.
“I’ve looked at the old Steelers defenses,” he said. “The thing about those teams, those guys were together for years. We’re young and have had a lot of different people come in and out of the lineup. We’re starting to get that continuity now and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
One can question the talent level of the current defense. But questioning the unit’s heart will be difficult with Moats or Williams on the field, as those around them will attest.
“I got a new contract, and it felt good,” Moats said. “But honestly, it just inspires me to be an even better player. Guys like me and Vince, you’re getting our best on every snap. We’re very hungry people.”