Teryl Austin provides an update on the Pittsburgh Steelers injured outside linebackers and middle linebacker rotation.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 >> Can I have your outside linebackers?
00:02 >> I'm hoping to.
00:02 We'll see right now, they're able to do some things in practice.
00:06 So we'll see.
00:07 I mean, not Saturday, but I'm hoping that.
00:11 >> If they're not available, we're gonna get unavailable.
00:14 Like how has Herbig evolved and
00:17 is he a guy that's maybe ready to take on a large role if necessary?
00:21 >> I believe so.
00:22 I think he had to take on a pretty large role last week in addition to his
00:26 specialty in the movies, and I thought he did a good job in that regard.
00:31 So we do, we have him, but we know we should have an MG again this week.
00:35 And I think that'll give us some depth there.
00:37 I think that's one area where we improved our depth from last year.
00:40 And I think that'll help us if we do end up with some injuries or
00:44 some lack of availability with Alex or TJ.
00:46 >> Tara, last couple games, Connor and Elliot have done really well against you
00:49 guys. Where do you think, when you look at that tape,
00:52 is the biggest deficiency when it comes to stopping the run?
00:54 And how much of that impact does have with those inside linebackers?
00:57 >> Well, I think, I wouldn't say that I thought Ezeke,
01:02 I'm not saying he had a great run in the game.
01:05 I thought he was more effective in the pass game and
01:07 doing some things like that.
01:09 I just think we, like anything, we just gotta play better, we gotta fit better,
01:12 we gotta do a lot of things and just continue to improve.
01:14 There's always areas to get better,
01:19 but I'm not fretting and
01:24 thinking it's a wholesale change.
01:31 And I think we'll be fine.
01:33 >> With Marcus, was that a numbers thing?
01:34 It just looked like special teams to me.
01:37 >> I think that's really where it came down.
01:38 This time of year, you have a lot of injuries.
01:40 You have some guys down.
01:42 And so sometimes at those couple of those last spots,
01:46 the guys are gonna get up because they help us in special teams.
01:50 And so that's really a lot of times what the considerations are.
01:54 But I don't see it as a long term thing.
01:56 I really like either way, I like them to be full going forward.
01:59 >> At inside linebackers,
02:00 you imagine a similar rotation or with some guys more time under their belt,
02:05 get up to speed, do things that evolve this way?
02:08 >> I think we'll continue to try to use guys and
02:11 do some things that they're better at than we are.
02:14 So that will probably involve some rotation and some different roles for guys.
02:19 But we'll just continue to evaluate and evolve and
02:22 try to get guys in the best position possible so we can play better.
02:27 >> Is there an area that Mark Robinson needs to continue to grow to,
02:30 I know he's part of that rotation right now, but to get a little bit more of a show.
02:32 So something you'd like to see him take another step forward at?
02:36 >> Mark knows what he has to do.
02:37 And I think he's been working in that regard.
02:40 And he's earning the trust here in terms of being out on the field.
02:46 So I think he's doing the things he has to do.
02:50 I don't think there's anything one specific thing he has to do.
02:52 But he's doing the things to earn the trust of his teammates and
02:56 us that we put him on the field and we feel good and confident about what he's doing.
03:01 And that's why he got some play last week.