PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He’s seen the Steelers from the other side and admired how they played. He met Mike Tomlin at his Pro Day at LSU and kinda followed him. Now Kwon Alexander said it was just God’s timing that the two got together.
The 28-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Steelers Sunday after having an initial visit in May. Alexander is a former Pro Bowler, led the NFL in solo tackles with Tampa Bay in 2016 and last year played all 17 games with the Jets after more than a half decade of partial seasons due to injuries.
“I really came here because of the defense,” Alexander said Sunday. “It’s really big on defense, linebackers. I feel nice with the players and ready to rock out.”
Alexander got a more walk-through-like morning practice and then actually got into team drills after watching on the sidelines in the afternoon. He said he will do any role they need. He’s just here to make plays. Last year with the Jets he played in 17 games, started 12 and played 49% of the defensive snaps.
“Hard-nosed football, hit hard, run, get the ball,” Alexander said. “That’s what type of player I am.”
Now in his ninth year in the NFL, Alexander he’s happy to compete for a job. He called it part of the game and likes his new teammates. Both of the projected starting middle linebackers Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts said basically the same thing earlier in the day. Both saying they want to start and will fight to do so.
“I can do it all,” Alexander said. “Those guys, they can do it all too. We are working to be the best linebacker group there is.”
Make no mistake, Alexander is a confident man, in all aspects, including his playing ability. Even though he’s just a day into his Steelers career, he said he learns fast. Alexander believes once he gets more practice reps he will be fine.
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What works out for him is the team has not started full-padded practices. They are scheduled to do that on Tuesday and it will also be the first full-padded practices for Roberts and Holcomb as Steelers. So, in that regard, they will be level. Not that Alexander really puts much stock in football in shorts.
“That’s me, man,” Alexander said. “I don’t worry about no 7-on-7, none of that. I put the pads on and I hit. You can go watch tape.”
Alexander is part of a transformation of the middle linebacker position, the Steelers have added 33 years of experience. Whether that impacts on the field we’ll start to find out on Tuesday when real football starts as the hitting begins.