Steelers Linebackers Coach Hire Surprising
That title really should read “Steelers Linebackers Coach HirINGS Interesting.”
That’s because the Steelers did something that isn’t quite normal procedure in the NFL – hire two assistant coaches to fill what is usually a singular role.
With the promotion of Keith Butler to defensive coordinator, his former role as the linebackers coach needed filled. The Steelers have a pair of ex-Steelers who assist on defense and used to play linebacker. So why not use them both?
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Olsavsky has been with the Steelers as a defensive assistant for the last five seasons. He played ten seasons in the NFL, nine of which were with the Steelers. Jerry O was a part of the Steelers when they faced off against the Dallas Cowboys in that tough Super Bowl 30 loss. He collected 194 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 37 starts and 107 games with the Steelers.
Porter joined the Steelers as another defensive assistant just last season. Porter played in the NFL for 13 seasons – eight with the Steelers, three with the Dolphins, and two for the Cardinals. While with the Black & Gold, Porter won a Super Bowl during the team’s epic run in 2005. Porter collected 323 tackles, 60 sacks in 97 starts and 121 games with the Steelers.
Both of these guys wore #55 on the field, but both had different styles while on defense. Porter is certainly the more known commodity. His years in Pittsburgh he was loud, tough, and garnered a reputation for taking no crap from players on the opposite sideline – most notably following a game against the Ravens in 2003 when Porter climbed the stairs of the Ravens bus and challenged Ray Lewis to a fight.
This is a very interesting sequence of hirings by the Steelers. One would have to assume that Butler made the choice to promote both of these assistants from within. Each will coach their respective specialty – Jerry O with the inside linebackers, J. Peezy with the outside linebackers.
I think this is a great pair of hirings. Everyone thought that Olsavsky would get the nod over Porter simply because of his years already within the assistant coaching circle, but I think Porter was promoted in large part due to his intensity on the sideline – it’s just as large as it would be were he wearing a helmet and making tackles.
The move shows great confidence in both men and their capabilities that both can coach/groom the younger players currently on the roster (and those yet to come). I think it says most to Porter and the potential gains Jarvis Jones made prior to and after his wrist injury. Allowing Porter a larger role in JJ’s development, might be just what the young OLB needs to finally play at the high level this defense needs him at.
I’m excited to see how these two work together but also how they develop the younger players like Jones and Ryan Shazier. We’ll begin to witness this duality once mini-camps open up in the late spring.