You certainly don’t have to tell Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert that the team needs to address the outside linebacker and cornerback positions this year during the offseason as he’s already on top of that situation with a week to go until the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine gets underway.
“We’re worried about it today,” Colbert said Tuesday about the current state of the outside linebacker position when he met with select members of the local media. “I feel comfortable we’ll be fine once we get to August.”
While the team would like to sign soon-to-be free unrestricted free agent outside linebacker Jason Worilds to a long-term contract before the start of the new league, Colbert did not give any indication Tuesday that such a deal is imminent. In addition, to Worilds, Colbert also said Tuesday that the fates of several defensive players as it pertains to the 2015 season have yet to be determined and that meetings with position coaches to begin Wednesday to discuss them. That list of players includes two more outside linebackers that are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents in James Harrison and Arthur Moats.
Currently, Jarvis Jones is the only outside linebacker that finished the 2014 season on the 53 man roster and while the former first-round draft pick missed most of the season due to a wrist injury, the Steelers general manager said Tuesday he liked what he saw out of the Georgia product early on in the season before he went down injured.
“Prior to Jarvis getting hurt he was doing some special things,” said Colbert,” according to Mike Prisuta of DVE Radio. “We anticipate that continuing.”
In regards to the depth of the 2015 draft class goes as it relates to the outside linebacker and cornerback positions, Colbert considers both to be deep this year, according to Bob Labriola of Steelers Digest. Colbert did, however, add that the combine will be critical for several college defensive ends to show if they can switch to the outside linebacker position at the NFL level.
Colbert also said that his pre-combine assessment of cornerbacks in this year’s class shows that there’s a nice group to choose from that could potentially help the team.
While the team could wind up addressing their cornerback needs during free agency, Colbert said Tuesday that they have yet to determine if any will be affordable and signable.
Colbert will more than likely be given several more radio interviews before he leaves for the combine, so i’m sure we’ll be passing on more quotes from him throughout the rest of this week.
Colbert on OLB position: “We’re worried about it today. I feel comfortable we’ll be fine once we get to August.”
— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) February 10, 2015
Colbert’s pre-combine assessment of CBs in the draft: “There’s certainly a nice group of corners that could help our team.”
— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) February 10, 2015
Colbert on Jarvis Jones: “Prior to Jarvis getting hurt he was doing some special things. We anticipate that continuing.”
— Mike Prisuta (@DVEMike) February 10, 2015
Colbert believes deep positions in the 2015 draft are OLBs and CBs. Said Combine is critical to see if college DEs can switch to OLB in NFL
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) February 10, 2015
Colbert on signing a UFA CB: CB is a position where we need help. Is 1 affordable and signable, don’t know that
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) February 10, 2015
