09-26-2018, 01:11 PM
LATROBE Womens Joey Bosa Jersey , Pa. (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Olasunkanmi Adeniyi is all too familiar with the comparisons to James Harrison.
Both undrafted free agents from the Mid-American Conference feature a similar, small, stocky-type build considered by some as undersized for the position. But like Harrison, the 6-foot-1, 248-pound Adeniyi also wears No. 92 and has displayed an early nose for reaching the quarterback.
“It’s a legendary number, and he definitely wore it with pride,” Adeniyi said. “But I’m a new rookie and I don’t want to be compared to anybody else right now.”
Harrison is the franchise’s career leader in sacks, piling up 80 1/2 during his 14 seasons with the Steelers. The five-time Pro Bowler helped lead the Steelers to two Super Bowl championships and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.
“Obviously, it’s a great feeling to be compared to one of the greatest of all-time, but I don’t think I’ve reached that level,” Adeniyi said. “I’m just trying to make a name for myself right now.”
He’s off to a good start.
Adeniyi, a former Toledo standout, did his best impersonation of Harrison three plays into the second half of the Steelers’ preseason opener against Philadelphia. Adeniyi sacked Joe Callahan and stripped him of the ball, forcing a fumble.
He did it all with a hard cast on his injured right wrist, too.
“I wanted to bring down the quarterback Youth Ben Roethlisberger Jersey , but with the cast, trying to grab him is a lot harder,” Adeniyi said. “It was pretty clutch, and I was definitely excited, though.”
Adeniyi’s high motor also caught the attention of veteran defensive end Cam Heyward.
“I think Ola took some steps,” Heyward said. “I think he plays with good leverage and I think he wants to learn. I just appreciate his hustle. He plays a lot of plays out there.”
Adeniyi has been forced to see a lot of action for the Steelers during preseason practices. T.J. Watt injured his hamstring during the fourth practice of training camp and Bud Dupree sustained a concussion the following week, creating additional opportunity for Adeniyi and others. At times during training camp, the Steelers have been down to three healthy outside linebackers, including Adeniyi.
“It’s a struggle, but it also helps with conditioning,” Adeniyi said. “I embrace (the extra snaps) to the best of my abilities because when (Watt and Dupree) get back, chances are, I’m not going to see the field as much anymore.”
Still, Adeniyi realizes there could be a position available with the Steelers.
The Steelers released Harrison late last season after the two-time All-Pro was active in just five of Pittsburgh’s 14 games despite being injury-free. They also parted ways with veteran Arthur Moats in the offseason, making Anthony Chickillo the only outside linebacker on the roster with at least three years of experience.
Adeniyi is trying to earn a spot through his special teams work Youth Terrell Suggs Jersey , just like Harrison.
“Especially as an undrafted free agent, you have to show that you have more value to the team than just defense,” Adeniyi said. “Chances are, during the season, you’re not going to see the field as much when you have (Watt) and (Dupree) back, so you have to show that you can do something extra.”
Proving that he can reach the quarterback like Harrison doesn’t hurt, either. But Adeniyi is trying to carve his own path with the Steelers.
“I’m not trying to be in anybody’s shadow,” Adeniyi said. “I want to make a name for myself.”
NOTES: Practice on Monday was delayed an hour and moved to a turf field on campus because of heavy rains and thunderstorms that rolled through the area. … WR Antonio Brown left Monday’s practice early. Also sitting out were: Watt, Dupree and Chickillo, QB Ben Roethlisberger, RBs James Conner and Stevan Ridley, TEs Vance McDonald and Xavier Grimble, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, safeties Sean Davis and Marcus Allen and DE Stephon Tuitt.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (13-4)
OPEN CAMP: July 26, Latrobe Womens C.J. Mosley Jersey , Pennsylvania
LAST YEAR: Steelers won second straight AFC North title and third in four years as "Killer Bs" trio of QB Ben Roethlisberger, WR Antonio Brown and RB Le'Veon Bell received plenty of help from rookie WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and defense that gave up big plays but also led NFL with 57 sacks. Still, Steelers had trouble when pushed by quality teams. They let second-half lead get away at home against New England, loss that cost them home-field advantage in playoffs. And they couldn't find way to beat Jacksonville, which won at Heinz Field not once but twice, including divisional playoff upset in which seemingly offensively challenged Jaguars put up 45 points.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: S Morgan Burnett, LB Jon Bostic, rookie S Terrell Edmunds, rookie WR James Washington, rookie QB Mason Rudolph.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: Offensive coordinator Todd Haley, defensive backs coach Carnell Lake, WR Martavis Bryant, S Mike Mitchell, CB William Gay, S Youth Alejandro Villanueva Jersey , Robert Golden, LB Arthur Moats.
CAMP NEEDS: Steelers promoted longtime QB coach Randy Fichtner to take over play-calling duties after Haley's successful if occasionally turbulent six-year stint ended in January. Fichtner doesn't expect to give offense massive overhaul, though he will be forced to experiment during camp at running back with Bell unlikely to show while he waits to sign one-year franchise tender. One year after finding potential star in Smith-Schuster, Steelers hope they've done it again with Washington after record-setting career at Oklahoma State. Race to fill injured inside linebacker Ryan Shazier's spot is wide open, with Bostic and Tyler Matakevich getting first crack at lining up next to Vince Williams. Secondary is also being overhauled with Mitchell, Golden and Gay gone.
EXPECTATIONS: Steelers once again expected to be class of AFC North. While Roethlisberger thinks he can play another handful of seasons, Pittsburgh's window could be closing faster than he anticipated. Front office failed to reach long-term agreement with Bell, meaning this will likely be his final season in Pittsburgh. Steelers have proven they can be productive without him, but elite? That's tough sell, putting onus on them to get it done this season. Better play in secondary would help. So would some consistency at outside linebacker, where Bud Dupree remains enigma as he enters fourth season.
Womens Denzel Ward Jersey
Both undrafted free agents from the Mid-American Conference feature a similar, small, stocky-type build considered by some as undersized for the position. But like Harrison, the 6-foot-1, 248-pound Adeniyi also wears No. 92 and has displayed an early nose for reaching the quarterback.
“It’s a legendary number, and he definitely wore it with pride,” Adeniyi said. “But I’m a new rookie and I don’t want to be compared to anybody else right now.”
Harrison is the franchise’s career leader in sacks, piling up 80 1/2 during his 14 seasons with the Steelers. The five-time Pro Bowler helped lead the Steelers to two Super Bowl championships and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.
“Obviously, it’s a great feeling to be compared to one of the greatest of all-time, but I don’t think I’ve reached that level,” Adeniyi said. “I’m just trying to make a name for myself right now.”
He’s off to a good start.
Adeniyi, a former Toledo standout, did his best impersonation of Harrison three plays into the second half of the Steelers’ preseason opener against Philadelphia. Adeniyi sacked Joe Callahan and stripped him of the ball, forcing a fumble.
He did it all with a hard cast on his injured right wrist, too.
“I wanted to bring down the quarterback Youth Ben Roethlisberger Jersey , but with the cast, trying to grab him is a lot harder,” Adeniyi said. “It was pretty clutch, and I was definitely excited, though.”
Adeniyi’s high motor also caught the attention of veteran defensive end Cam Heyward.
“I think Ola took some steps,” Heyward said. “I think he plays with good leverage and I think he wants to learn. I just appreciate his hustle. He plays a lot of plays out there.”
Adeniyi has been forced to see a lot of action for the Steelers during preseason practices. T.J. Watt injured his hamstring during the fourth practice of training camp and Bud Dupree sustained a concussion the following week, creating additional opportunity for Adeniyi and others. At times during training camp, the Steelers have been down to three healthy outside linebackers, including Adeniyi.
“It’s a struggle, but it also helps with conditioning,” Adeniyi said. “I embrace (the extra snaps) to the best of my abilities because when (Watt and Dupree) get back, chances are, I’m not going to see the field as much anymore.”
Still, Adeniyi realizes there could be a position available with the Steelers.
The Steelers released Harrison late last season after the two-time All-Pro was active in just five of Pittsburgh’s 14 games despite being injury-free. They also parted ways with veteran Arthur Moats in the offseason, making Anthony Chickillo the only outside linebacker on the roster with at least three years of experience.
Adeniyi is trying to earn a spot through his special teams work Youth Terrell Suggs Jersey , just like Harrison.
“Especially as an undrafted free agent, you have to show that you have more value to the team than just defense,” Adeniyi said. “Chances are, during the season, you’re not going to see the field as much when you have (Watt) and (Dupree) back, so you have to show that you can do something extra.”
Proving that he can reach the quarterback like Harrison doesn’t hurt, either. But Adeniyi is trying to carve his own path with the Steelers.
“I’m not trying to be in anybody’s shadow,” Adeniyi said. “I want to make a name for myself.”
NOTES: Practice on Monday was delayed an hour and moved to a turf field on campus because of heavy rains and thunderstorms that rolled through the area. … WR Antonio Brown left Monday’s practice early. Also sitting out were: Watt, Dupree and Chickillo, QB Ben Roethlisberger, RBs James Conner and Stevan Ridley, TEs Vance McDonald and Xavier Grimble, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, safeties Sean Davis and Marcus Allen and DE Stephon Tuitt.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (13-4)
OPEN CAMP: July 26, Latrobe Womens C.J. Mosley Jersey , Pennsylvania
LAST YEAR: Steelers won second straight AFC North title and third in four years as "Killer Bs" trio of QB Ben Roethlisberger, WR Antonio Brown and RB Le'Veon Bell received plenty of help from rookie WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and defense that gave up big plays but also led NFL with 57 sacks. Still, Steelers had trouble when pushed by quality teams. They let second-half lead get away at home against New England, loss that cost them home-field advantage in playoffs. And they couldn't find way to beat Jacksonville, which won at Heinz Field not once but twice, including divisional playoff upset in which seemingly offensively challenged Jaguars put up 45 points.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: S Morgan Burnett, LB Jon Bostic, rookie S Terrell Edmunds, rookie WR James Washington, rookie QB Mason Rudolph.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: Offensive coordinator Todd Haley, defensive backs coach Carnell Lake, WR Martavis Bryant, S Mike Mitchell, CB William Gay, S Youth Alejandro Villanueva Jersey , Robert Golden, LB Arthur Moats.
CAMP NEEDS: Steelers promoted longtime QB coach Randy Fichtner to take over play-calling duties after Haley's successful if occasionally turbulent six-year stint ended in January. Fichtner doesn't expect to give offense massive overhaul, though he will be forced to experiment during camp at running back with Bell unlikely to show while he waits to sign one-year franchise tender. One year after finding potential star in Smith-Schuster, Steelers hope they've done it again with Washington after record-setting career at Oklahoma State. Race to fill injured inside linebacker Ryan Shazier's spot is wide open, with Bostic and Tyler Matakevich getting first crack at lining up next to Vince Williams. Secondary is also being overhauled with Mitchell, Golden and Gay gone.
EXPECTATIONS: Steelers once again expected to be class of AFC North. While Roethlisberger thinks he can play another handful of seasons, Pittsburgh's window could be closing faster than he anticipated. Front office failed to reach long-term agreement with Bell, meaning this will likely be his final season in Pittsburgh. Steelers have proven they can be productive without him, but elite? That's tough sell, putting onus on them to get it done this season. Better play in secondary would help. So would some consistency at outside linebacker, where Bud Dupree remains enigma as he enters fourth season.
Womens Denzel Ward Jersey