Shazier hitting his stride for Steelers
PITTSBURGH – There was quite a bit of teeth gnashing by fans in Pittsburgh three years ago when the Steelers selected inside linebacker Ryan Shazier with the 15th pick of the first round and, two selections later, the Baltimore Ravens took C.J. Mosley, who happens to play the same position.
When Mosley finished second in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting and went to the Pro Bowl while Shazier battled through injuries for large portions of his first two seasons, the grousing over the pick continued.
But as the Steelers (9-5) prepare to host the Ravens (8-6) Sunday with the AFC North title on the line at Heinz Field, Shazier is playing perhaps the best football of his young career and has been a big reason for the Steelers’ climb in the NFL’s defensive rankings from 28th following a loss at Miami in Week 6 to its current ranking of eighth.
Shazier has 69 tackles, 3 ½ sacks, an interception and three forced fumbles in 11 games, which compares well to Mosley’s 72 tackles, three interceptions and no sacks or forced fumbles in 12 contests.
When the Pro Bowl rosters were announced Tuesday night, however, it was Mosley who got the nod at one of the inside linebacker spots, not Shazier.
Shazier, who missed three games with a knee injury, believes that might be the reason he was overlooked. He believes he deserved the nod.
“Yeah, I think everybody is disappointed, but at the end of the day I’m going to show everyone that they made a mistake when they didn’t choose me,” said Shazier, who missed 11 games in his first two NFL seasons because eof injuries. “I’ve just got to keep going.
“The game has definitely slowed down a lot for me. I feel like I’m in the zone. I’m feeling really comfortable and making a lot of plays. I’m hungry every week with the success that we’re having.”
While Shazier and Mosley play the same position, they do so in a different style.
Shazier has sideline-to-sideline speed and the ability to both cahse down running backs or line up and cover tight ends or even wide receivers. That ability to run was one of the reasons why the Steelers selected him over Mosley.
Mosley, on the other hand, is more of a thumper in the mold of Steelers inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons, a fast linebacker with ability to cover but not in Shazier’s class as a runner.
“Mosley is a guy for all situations at the inside linebacker spot,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “He makes plays in the running game and passing game. He is in all personnel packages. He can cover people. He can be a free, underneath defender. They utilize him in all areas. He is a top-quality player.”
And, until missing two games this season with a hamstring injury, Mosley had been healthy.
Shazier, who has played in the Steelers’ past eight games – the longest such streak in his career – knows there’s nothing he can do about those injuries. He’s focused solely on beating the Ravens to earn a playoff spot. Pro Bowl votes will take care of themselves the more he plays.
“I only can do what I’m asked. I’ll continue to show (voters) this season, next season and in years to come,” Shazier said. “My (ultimate) goal is to make the Hall of Fame. I’m just going to have to show everybody.”
And maybe the teeth gnashing over being picked ahead of Mosley will finally subside.
“It’s really big just to be able to stay on the field and get consistent,” Shazier said. “When you’re not out there … you’re not getting those reps.”
Linebacker Anthony Chickillo (ankle), tight end Ladarius Green (concussion), safety Shamarko Thomas (concussion) and defensive end Stephon Tuitt (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and defensive end Ricardo Mathews (ankle) were limited. … Jimmy Smith, Baltimore’s top cornerback, missed Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury that kept him out of last week’s game against Philadelphia.