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LaMarr Woodley May Have a New OLB Partner, Adrian Robinson Continues to Fight for Roster Spot

July 28, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley (56) reacts on the field during training camp at Saint Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE
July 28, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley (56) reacts on the field during training camp at Saint Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

WIth disparaging news regarding OLB James Harrison, and the continued absence of OLB Jason Worilds, it's a possibility a younger outside linebacker could sneak onto the roster as an injury fill-in for a few weeks.

Second-year Chris Carter would be the front-runner for that spot, and deservedly so, but don't count out undrafted rookie Adrian Robinson just yet.

The Temple product is built (6-foot-1, 251 pounds) more like Harrison than LaMarr Woodley, but like many great Steelers outside linebackers he was a playmaking defensive end in college.

He didn't record a tackle in Pittsburgh's preseason-opening loss at Philadelphia, but he showed enough explosion off the line to make observers take notice. He didn't look necessarily comfortable standing up and rushing, and I say that largely because he was in a four-point stance fairly often. But he looked good getting up field, and he's worth an extended look Sunday vs. Indianapolis.

Depending on Harrison's post-surgery recovery, and Worilds' lingering wrist problem, the Steelers may be looking at a starting OLB pair of Woodley and Carter. After seeing Brandon Johnson in space against Philadelphia, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin can't feel great about Brandon Johnson as the main back-up.

Not to say Robinson will make the team, but he certainly has an opportunity to make his release a very difficult decision on Tomlin, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and linebackers coach Keith Butler.