One of the biggest questions surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers is whether or not rookie linebacker Jarvis Jones will be a starter come the first week of the 2013 season. The team is looking for a replacement to the defensive throne of James Harrison and seems to be at odds at where Jones fits in with that picture. While the team is bringing Jones along slowly, head coach Mike Tomlin is not ruling his starting potential.
Just because Jones was a first-round draft pick for the Steelers, does not mean he will just be handed the starting job over players like Jason Worilds. If history has taught Pittsburgh fans anything, it's that Jones will be sitting Week 1. The team has not started a rookie at outside linebacker since Jack Ham in 1971, according to Yahoo! Sports. While Pittsburgh runs one of the more complicated schemes on defense in the league, linebackers coach Keith Butler likes what he sees in Jones.
"I've never had a situation like this where I can play three different guys and have confidence in all of them that they're going to be pretty good," Butler said.
Jones is considered one of the future building pieces of the Steelers defense, but Worilds might be the short-term option. His four seasons with the Steelers give him the natural upper hand in the race. His stats were good last season, but not overwhelming. Butler wants the Steelers to be better at the linebacker position and while Tomlin is remaining coy on Jones' chances at the job, he is thrilled with what the rookie has shown so far.
"I think it's a daunting task for rookies to start in any system and player and perform well. Obviously it is difficult when you have established veteran players like we have with a lot of continuity. We are not going to close the door on him or anyone else on earning an opportunity and that is what this is about. This is about people taking advantage of opportunities, so he'll be given that.
Butler stresses that right now, Worilds is the next guy up since Harrison departed and he expects a lot of improvement out of the veteran. He is entering into the final year of his contract in Pittsburgh and after three below average years with the team, it is not a long shot that Jones gets the start. If he can prove in training camp that he understands the system, he might be the first rookie to start in years.