Steelers ILB Vince Williams "upset" About Team Drafting Ryan Shazier
By Kipper
@pghsportsforum
Steelers ILB Vince Williams "upset" about team drafting Ryan Shazier
By Jeff.Hartman
http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com...g-ryan-shazier
The second year linebacker from Florida State started in 10 of the final 11 games in 2013, but his job was lost in the offseason when the Steelers selected Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier in the first round.
Vince Williams is upset. 'Upset' might be putting it mildly. After all, after starting in 10 of the final 11 games in 2013, Williams owned the ILB position that was left vacant by injured Larry Foote.
What exactly is he upset about? Well, how was he rewarded for his play in 2013? The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted not only an inside linebacker with the 15th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, but they selected Ryan Shazier who ran a blazing time at the NFL combine and has been the starter since he first put on a Steelers helmet.
So much for loyalty, but in today's NFL loyalty is for the dogs. It is a what have you done for me lately league, and in this case Williams had his flaws. That doesn't lessen the sting of what he is experiencing.
"I was upset. I felt like I did enough to show them what I was capable of, and obviously, I was going to show some progression because I got the reps throughout the entire season." Williams told Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Williams is getting the chance to show the team he has progressed, but his job is far from secure heading into his sophomore season. In Monday's practice, with Shazier nursing a sore knee, it was Sean Spence that got the nod at inside linebacker, not Williams.
Williams has made plenty of headlines in training camp, sometimes for the wrong reasons. For instance, when he and Le'Veon Bell got into a full fledged fight under the lights at Latrobe Memorial field last Friday night. The other headlines have all been news worthy. Big hits, stellar play and a downright drive and determination that comes with someone that feels slighted.
Williams' ticket to the 53 man roster is most likely going to be on special teams, but for a player with his intelligence and work ethic, you never know what might happen. No one thought he'd be the starting linebacker as a rookie, but there he was getting the majority of the reps.
Stranger things have happened, but it looks as if Williams will be more than ready if his number is called upon again in 2014, and he will be carrying a large chip on his shoulder throughout the process.