Worthington Released

by CLK47 on Sep 8, 2010 11:08 AM EDT

The PPG is reporting that Worthington was released. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10251/1085829-66.stm

More after the jump.

Umm, I thought the coaches loved Worthington. I'm really confused by this one. Did Worthington get in trouble? Anyone have any insight on this? If not , I assume they just thought this new kid, Al Woods, is better than both Harris and Worthington. In light of the fact that Woods was released and not claimed off waivers, I'm worried this roster move may be based more upon the coaches ego than what is good for the team. By that, I mean that coaches will often go for physical talent (size, speed, etc) rather than desire, effort, and attitude because they believe they can motivate the kid and make him reach his physical potential better than the last set of coaches. It seems to me what usually happens is the new set of coaches fail just like the old set failed. I don't know why we drop Worthington, who, from all reports, is a good kid that worked very hard throughtout spring training and at camp, and take a kid that has never lived up to his potential.

In any event, here is a draft report on Woods that I found on the web:

Al Woods, 6'4, 309,

Strengths: Good overall size and strength. Impressive upper body strength. Came on strong at the end of his senior year. Showed off his work ethic by losing weight prior to his senior year and his played improved as a result.

Weaknesses: Never lived up to expectations at LSU. Athleticism is marginal. Lack of production prior to his senior year raises concerns that he was motivated only by getting a NFL contract.

Comments: Woods has the talent to succeed, and some believe he may finally figuring out how to reach his full potential. However, he was buried on LSU's depth chart of most of his career and only saw playing time as part of their rotation. He's a boom-or-bust prospect and shouldn't be taken any earlier than the 5th round.

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Here's what I wrote in the other thread about this:

Woods has a lot of potential for a practice squadder, but he doesn’t seem to have the drive to get better or play hard every down. He’s good against the run and when he keeps his weight at a reasonable level, as he did for the combine, he can show tremendous athleticism. He also has great size for a 3-4 DE: 6-4, 300 (when he’s fit), and really long arms. I don’t know what this means, but prior to last season, Mike Mayock thought he’d break out at LSU with Dorsey and Jackson gone and get drafted in the top of the first round.

There’s a very good chance that he doesn’t last long, even as a practice squadder, but a PS spot is a very minimal investment, and he gets to work with John Mitchell and a very hard working group of DL’s, which could be good for him. I think this makes more sense than keeping a limited upside backup like Worthington. We could always sign him or Harris back to the team in the event of an injury or two.

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by BadMaafala on Sep 8, 2010 11:13 AM EDT reply actions

Sorry I missed the thread.

I’ve been off the internet for a couple of days. These things move fast!

I'm your huckleberry

by CLK47 on Sep 8, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

To answer your questions,

There’s nothing wrong with Worthington other than he’s just not a great talent. There are lots of good kids that aren’t good enough to play in the NFL. Worthington is pretty strong, but even to be a good run stuffer from the DE position, you need to be able to move around and make plays.

A player like Woods is unlikely to suddenly develop a better work ethic, but that’s more likely to happen than a player like Worthington to suddenly become a better athlete. We have a lot of players like Worthington on our PS: guys who could maybe provide some low upside depth in a pinch, but are never going to be significant contributors. I don’t mind having one or two guys like Woods that could actually be something if they got their heads on straight. It’s telling that the Steelers elected to keep former UDFA Steve McLendon on the PS instead of Worthington.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Sep 8, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Rewatch the Panthers game last week

Worthington was all over the Carolina backfield, and even chased down a RB from behind. He’s really quite athletic for a DE, from what I saw.

"SteelFever gets #93. Just like Ron Artest. Great game just keep an eye on him that he doesn't go into the stands after a fan."
- 5020 on my making the BTSC active (riot) squad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC0NCHq4v3I

by Steel Spike on Sep 8, 2010 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

can he convert

to RG?

"I wore my purple camo to the practice, but they wouldn’t let me into the autograph zone. No clue why."- Mr MaLoR

by kick him in the head on Sep 8, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

nice

I'm your huckleberry

by CLK47 on Sep 8, 2010 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

Worthington was always a guy with limited upside.

" Just go and lay your hand on a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, and then I think you'll finally understand"

" In America" Charlie Daniels Band

by idiscgolftexas on Sep 8, 2010 11:20 AM EDT reply actions

Let's give these guys some time ...

Woods, Sunny & Worthington could eventually all see time on the practice squad this year and maybe even some games if injuries strike. Very rarely do you see a rookie 3-4 DE come to this team and make an immediate impact. Woods and Worthington at least deserve a redshirt year. I am most disappointed with Sunny, who had a roster spot there for the taking, a year in the system and the team’s offseason program and couldn’t do it.

To me, it’s almost a little comical how teams do crazy stuff to try and accumulate draft picks then cut’em all before the season starts. Thanks goodness our scouts are the best in the business. Let’s not be so quick to say Worthington will be so limited as an NFL player. If he has anything and makes it back to the Steelers, then Coach Mitchell should be able to get it out of him.

by datruth4life2.0 on Sep 8, 2010 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

I'm wondering if they

don’t see Woods as a potential NT – at 6’4", he could add some (hard) weight and still move. The important point is his lower body – at NT, you gotta have a low center of gravity, and it better be solid.

And if there’s a better system than the Steelers’ for motivating the leaners, I want to see it (cough Casey Hampton cough).

My heros have always been Steelers...

by wozzle on Sep 8, 2010 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

Did you mean "tweeners"?

If so, Indy ain’t too shabby either.

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Sep 8, 2010 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't see him at NT

He has model size for a Steelers DE. He’s tall with long arms. When he’s in shape he almost looks like Brett Keisel, when he’s not he’s a turd and not playing NT for us anyways.

I don’t know what they’re looking for in a NT because they haven’t drafted or signed one in a very long time. I know Tomlin has (rightly) put an emphasis on the passing game, so we might not go after a Hampton type NT. I’m really not sure.

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by BadMaafala on Sep 8, 2010 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

You think they will go after a faster type

Like Jay Ratliff in Dallas?

"I'm from Maryland, and no one can beat me!"

by John Stephens on Sep 9, 2010 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

I say

you get what the draft gives you.

Steelers football is supposed to be 60 mins, recently it's been 45. The additional 15 are currently under construction.

by tannofsteel84 on Sep 9, 2010 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

But you want to draft players that fit your scheme.

"I'm from Maryland, and no one can beat me!"

by John Stephens on Sep 10, 2010 7:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't know.

We’ve drafted a little differently under Tomlin than under Cowher, and NT is the one position we haven’t spent any picks on, or even had any serious UDFA’s at, so I really don’t know what they’re looking for. There have been very solid run stuffers available for us in the rounds 3-5 in the past couple drafts, some of which are starting NT’s for other teams now. That’s a pretty minimal investment for a position that’s supposedly anchoring our defense.

I don’t know what this means. Could they be happy with both Hampton and Hoke for another 3 or 4 years? Have they just really disliked all the NT’s they’ve scouted or really liked all picks they ended up with more than the NT’s? Will we have a NT after Hampton?

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Sep 10, 2010 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Opinion

I see that you understand the position. Very knowledgeable post.

by Allen F on Sep 9, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Post

GOOD knowledgeable post!!

by Allen F on Sep 9, 2010 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Observation

Great observation and football knowledge.

by Allen F on Sep 9, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Acknowledged

"Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience." - samliam

by alfresco on Sep 9, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Scouting video

Here’s a scouting video of most of Woods’ snaps in one game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGJJTkGHWeU

In short, it’s pretty unimpressive, although he does do well against double teams and level a couple blockers when they blocked him one on one. He looks a lot heavier than 300 lbs and pretty slow at times. Definitely doesn’t try all that hard on some plays, too. I saw in a couple scouting reports that he has poor awareness and that sometimes he focuses more on beating his guy than making a play, and you can clearly see that in this video.

He’s nothing if not a project…

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by BadMaafala on Sep 8, 2010 4:06 PM EDT reply actions

looks like he has a bit of a mean streak to him

"If I could start my life all over again, I would be a professional football player, and you damn well better believe I would be a Pittsburgh Steeler." Jack Lambert
"Going after the QB is like playing king of the mountain. When you get the QB, you're on top of the mountain." Joe Greene."I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert. "I'm a steeler fan, you damn well better believe I'm better than you". Yours truly

"I beat rival fans like Woodley beats QBs......With a club!!!!" yours truly

by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 8, 2010 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

he was hungry

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Sep 8, 2010 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

ok so hes like MT. Terrence Cheeseburger Cody

we will just call him MT. Wood?……..wait

"I beat rival fans like Woodley beats QBs......With a club!!!!" yours truly

by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 8, 2010 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

you mean it's hollow?

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Sep 8, 2010 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

nope more like a log,…… we’re still talking about Al Woods right? lol

"I beat rival fans like Woodley beats QBs......With a club!!!!" yours truly

by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 8, 2010 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Sep 8, 2010 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

X marks the spot...I am saddened by the release of "Doug"!

"In Hoc Signo Vinces!" (With this as your standard, you shall have victory!) -Constantine I

by Webslasher81 on Sep 9, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I have an X too

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Sep 9, 2010 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Woods

After watching the video, I see that he does not know how to shed his blocker and has “no awareness” where the ball is. He would definitely NOT be a Nose Guard. He plays “too high” and doesn’t seem to be able to locate the ball. A good Nose guard makes “hard contact” with the center and has “quick” awareness where the ball is since he is over the center. He must always be aware of double teams and control the area from Guard to Guard, so he cannot play high. He MUST get into the “mind” of the Center by pounding on him continuously. Must have strong forearms and powerful legs. Casey Hampton has the perfect build for a Nose Guard and has good skills but is a little too lazy for my liking. He could make a good mentor. I think that Woods would be better suited to DE. I don’t see that “mean streak” that someone else mentioned. I DO hope that we can get Worthington back on our PS. We have people like Keisel and Smith who he can learn a lot from. Would also like to see him add about 10 more pounds of weight and and 10 pounds of “meanness”.

by Allen F on Sep 9, 2010 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions

A guy who's a little lazy...

…can make a good mentor for another, younger, lazy player?

"I am a sinner who does not expect forgiveness, but [Thank God] I am not a government official" Francis Wolcott in "Deadwood", Season 2

by Flying Polamalus on Sep 9, 2010 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Lazy "Snack"

I was only speaking of his (Casey Hampton) “position skills” – NOT his work ethics. I am a “Steelers Fan” and native Pennsylvanian and I watch the Nose Guard position because it is one that I played and really liked. I am only giving constructive criticism AND praise when it is due. It is just MY opinion.

by Allen F on Sep 9, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Sorry...

No offense or disrespect was intended. Perhaps I should have put a little winkie at the end of my apparently curt comment. I was just looking for more specifics, and you’ve provided them amply.

"I am a sinner who does not expect forgiveness, but [Thank God] I am not a government official" Francis Wolcott in "Deadwood", Season 2

by Flying Polamalus on Sep 9, 2010 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions