Chickillo’s status rises at OLB
College lineman thriving where others have failed
Every other year since 2013, the Steelers have selected an outside linebacker in the first round of the draft. Jarvis Jones was the No. 17 overall choice in the 2013 draft, Bud Dupree was the 24th pick in 2015 and T.J. Watt was No. 30 this year.
Dupree and Watt are starters for the Steelers, but Jones is a free agent after getting cut by the Arizona Cardinals earlier this month. Jones played four seasons with the Steelers and did not receive a contract offer from them when he became a free agent after last season.
A first-round draft pick busting out of the league after four years is not uncommon. It happens to a lot of high picks. Jones failing, however, was a surprise. He played in a defense similar to the Steelers at the University of Georgia and was a highly productive player in college, which made him a safe pick in the Steelers eyes.
Then there are players such as Anthony Chickillo, who was the Steelers’ second sixth-round pick in 2015, the No. 212 player overall. He played defensive line in a 4-3 defense at the University of Miami and never played outside linebacker before arriving for his rookie minicamp.
Chickillo has ascended to the top reserve outside linebacker for the Steelers and could start again Sunday in Chicago if Watt, who did not practice Thursday, cannot play because of a groin injury.
The Steelers are trying to find playing time for Chickillo because he has been productive. He recorded two sacks against Cleveland when he started in place of Dupree and has 4½ sacks in the past 13 games. Jones, meanwhile, had just six sacks in 50 career games. He never had more than two in any season.
“That’s how the NFL is,” Chickillo said. “It’s a different game than college. Some guys make it; some guys don’t.”
Jones wasn’t the only outside linebacker the Steelers drafted high who failed. Bruce Davis was drafted in the third round in 2008 and had zero sacks in 10 career games. Alonzo Jackson was drafted in the second round in the 2003 and had no sacks in nine career games.
It goes to show how much of a crapshoot the draft is.
“Playing outside linebacker requires some athletic ability and rush ability,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. “Chick has got that. Chick realized he had to lose some weight when he got here. He did, so he got the mobility needed to play the position. He’s done what he needed to do. He’s learned our coverages. He’s learned the position well, and he doesn’t make a whole lot of mental mistakes. That’s helped him out along the way.”
Chickillo weighed 285 pounds as a senior at Miami. He’s dropped close to 40 pounds in his first three NFL seasons while transitioning to outside linebacker. He played in just seven games as a rookie. Last season, he started seven times when Dupree was on injured reserve, but he has emerged this season as the top backup over veteran James Harrison at right outside linebacker.
While many Steelers fans are having a hard time understanding how Chickillo supplanted a legend, his teammates aren’t. They watched Chickillo emerge in training camp.
“We’re not surprised,” inside linebacker Ryan Shazier said. “I knew Chickillo was going to come in and give us everything he had. When he came to camp, everyone saw he was in better shape. His body looked better. He looks a lot faster. His get-off is really good and his understanding of our defense is a lot better than it was two years ago.
“He has more experience. He’s started. He understands what he needs to do for this team, and he’s doing a good job of it.
The Steelers used to have a lot of success converting college defensive linemen into outside linebackers. Jason Gildon was converted when he was drafted in 1994. But since Butler arrived in 2003 the Steelers haven’t had as much success, mostly because the defense now requires more athleticism.
“There haven’t been too many since I’ve been here,” Butler said. “We use them a lot more in coverage than most people do. It makes our defense a little more versatile in terms of who is rushing and who’s not. That augments our defense to have guys who can drop into coverage and still rush the passer.
“Chick has been able to do that for us.”
• NOTE — In addition to Watt, right tackle Marcus Gilbert (hamstring) also did not practice Thursday. Tight end Jesse James (ankle) was limited. Defensive end Stephon Tuitt (biceps) was a full practice participant.