The Pittsburgh Steelers are again within the UPMC Rooney Sports activities Complicated sooner than they’d anticipated, having been ousted from the postseason within the opening spherical, which sadly marks the fifth consecutive season by which they didn’t win a postseason recreation—a brand new document for the franchise for the reason that merger. But once more, they discover themselves present process the exit assembly course of sooner than anticipated, which suggests so are we.
The Steelers did arguably carry out at or above expectations this yr by going 9-7-1 and making the postseason in any respect, a mirrored image of simply how a lot expertise they misplaced in the course of the offseason, from the vast majority of the offensive line to Mike Hilton, Bud Dupree, Steven Nelson, and Vince Williams—to not point out Stephon Tuitt, primarily.
Whereas we would not know all the main points about what goes on between head coach Mike Tomlin and his gamers throughout these exit conferences, we do understand how we’d conduct these conferences in the event that they have been let as much as us. So listed here are the Depot’s exit conferences for the Steelers’ roster following the 2021 season.
Participant: Robert Spillane
Place: ILB
Expertise: 3 Years
Whereas I felt that it could be a bit up within the air as as to whether or not they might resolve to do it, the Steelers did in the end place a restricted free agent tender on fourth-year inside linebacker Robert Spillane, which is able to price him over $2 million offered that he makes the 53-man roster.
Initially projected as a full-time starter on the outset of coaching camp final yr—particularly after Vince Williams retired—Spillane was thrown a curveball when the Steelers made a commerce for established starter and former Professional Bowler Joe Schobert.
Schobert instantly got here in and began, taking part in subsequent to Devin Bush, however Spillane continued to have a job, and that solely elevated because the season wore on. He was ultimately given their dime linebacker position, with each Bush and Schobert coming off the sector after they put six defensive backs on the market.
He nonetheless managed to play almost 350 defensive snaps, with one other 250 or so on particular groups, the place he initially carved out his worth. He completed the 2021 season with a career-high 56 tackles, however these could be the one stats he would register. Though he performed in dime, thus in apparent passing conditions, he’s not credited with contesting a single move. Professional Soccer Reference expenses him with 16 receptions allowed on 24 targets for 161 yards, although for no touchdowns.
The truth that they have been prepared to tender him—albeit on a right-of-first-refusal deal, which means that any workforce might try and signal him with out having to offer something up, however the Steelers might match any contract provide in the event that they select—clearly alerts that he stays of their plans for 2022, however now with the addition of Myles Jack, it’s definitely unlikely to be a job any extra strong than final season.
