Like any good pass rusher, linebacker Jason Worilds wants the opportunity to rush the quarterback. He just does not think he’s getting the chance as often this season because he said the Steelers have him covering receivers instead.
He acknowledges his forte is rushing the quarterback.
“I would think they understand that,” Worilds said Wednesday after practice. “I would hope that they know that I rush the passer, so if they put me out of position, they do it knowing that they’re taking me out of position to make plays.”
Worilds was not particularly complaining about it, just stating facts as he sees them.
“Some of the things that we’re doing, some of the positions that they’re playing [us] is kind of to help the defense, more so than from, I guess, a schematic standpoint with me individually rushing.
“If it helps the defense … I’m going to do that for my team.”
The Steelers are paying Worilds $9,754,000 this season after making him their transition player so he could not leave as a free agent after the 2013 season. He blossomed in the second half the season when he settled in as their starting left outside linebacker and had seven of his team-leading eight sacks over the final nine games.
They released LaMarr Woodley to make room for Worilds at outside linebacker and under their salary cap. But through six games, he has just two sacks, one behind defensive end Cam Heyward and tied with Jarvis Jones, who is injured and has played only three games. The Steelers have nine sacks as a team, on pace for 24 for the season. That would be their fewest by far since they had 19 in the 5-11 season of 1988.
Coach Mike Tomlin offered a mixed review Tuesday when asked how Worilds has played this season.
“He’s had some good games and performance in pockets of games, and he’s had some games where he’s been less impactful. We’re compensating him to be consistently impactful, and that’s what we’re searching for.”
Worilds said he was unaware of Tomlin’s comments.
“I didn’t hear that but I guess it’s more so just me trying to execute in those coverages, I guess making more plays in those coverages,” he said. “If you’re not getting the opportunity to rush, then you got to make some plays somewhere else. So I need to get with the DBs I guess.”
He said he believes Tomlin knows what Worilds is being asked to do in the schemes defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau runs.
“He’s the head coach, he knows,” Worilds said. “I think it’s more or less I guess a form of motivation” why he said what he did.
Pro Football Focus, which charts every play of every team, rates Worilds as the Steelers best pass rusher this season. They have him playing more than any other defender with 385 play counts, including penalties. Of those, they count him rushing the passer 128 times and covering receivers 96 times, along with playing the run 156 times.
LeBeau’s 3-4 defensive scheme is heavy on the zone blitz or “fire zones,” which are used to confuse offenses by rushing players who might not be expected to rush the quarterback at times and dropping those expected to rush into pass coverage.
The two outside linebackers are still considered their main pass rushers, but Worilds is not the first to mention that he drops into pass coverage a lot more than he wishes he would. Woodley said it as well.
“As a rusher, absolutely, you want to get after the quarterback every play,” Worilds said. “We’re already in a defense in which we don’t do that compared to other defenses. But, if you get 10 rushes, you have to take advantage of those 10 rushes you get.”
Worilds believes he’s doing a good job in coverage but is surprised they don’t let him rush the quarterback more.
“I mean, yeah, as a rusher, but the coaches think I’m versatile enough to take away some of the offensive threats man-to-man, so …”
Bryant, McCullers in wings
Wide receiver Martavis Bryant and nose tackle Daniel McCullers said they are excited they might get to play their first NFL games Monday night against the Houston Texans. Starting nose tackle Steve McLendon was ruled out with a shoulder sprain.
“Steve went down, so I guess I’m going to fill in for him,:” McCullers said. “I’m excited, ready to go. I have a big opportunity ahead of me.”
Bryant said he excelled at catching fade passes in the end zone at Clemson and would like to help the Steelers improve their performance in that area.
The 6-foot-4 rookie, drafted in the fourth round, has not dressed for a game and reasoned it was, “Just me being young, being a rookie; everybody else has more experience. I felt like I needed to get better at my craft.”
Another rookie, linebacker Ryan Shazier, said he felt good after his first practice since he sprained his MCL in the third game.
Quick hits
Tomlin cleaned house — on his practice squad. He released receiver Derek Moye, placed rookie cornerback Shaq Richardson on the practice squad injured reserve list and signed three players: defensive end Ethan Hemer, defensive back Jordan Sullen and offensive lineman Adam Gettis. … Tomlin and Bill Cowher have identical records six games into their eighth seasons — 74-44, tied for the best coaching starts in franchise history.
First Published: October 16, 2014, 4:00 a.m.
