PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He earned another year with the Steelers filling in for Devin Bush, now linebacker Robert Spillane will need to grow to work alongside him.
“We haven’t played many in-game snaps together but we’ve been working together for the past two years,” Spillane said of his relationship with Bush. “I understand his style of communication and his play. I think we feed in well with each other. We work well together. We have been able to do that off the field. Now it’s going to translate to taking our communication styles and meshing them together to give the best message to the teammates.”
Spillane brought back as a restricted rights free agent and will make $850,000 this season. That in itself is significant, but Steelers coaches felt strongly enough in him to release veteran Vince Williams.
That means as the two-deep sits right now, Spillane is a starter.
“I don’t pencil myself anywhere, nothing is guaranteed,” Spillane said. “Nothing is given to you. I know I’m going to have to go in, OTAs, Spring camp, and earn everything that I have. I don’t expect anything to be given to me. I don’t want anything to be given to me, I expect to go out and earn it. I want to show that I’ve gotten better.”
The 26-year-old said he talked to Williams after his release. He believes he learned how to play football the right way from him. Spillane said it’s now time for he and Bush to rally the team and bring the energy that will be missing from Williams. Spillane also asked to do things that Williams handled last year.
“Vince was our blitzer last year,” Spillane said. “I think I had two assigned blitzes throughout the whole season. Being able to show I can pass rush and pass rush at a high ability is something I look forward to bringing to my game. Show people it’s something I excel in.”
Williams isn’t the only key player who won’t return this season on the Steelers defense, their second best pass rusher (Bud Dupree), a starting corner (Stephen Nelson) and do-everything slot back (Mike Hilton).
“We are going to be missing guys that have done amazing things for this defense for years and now it’s time for guys like me to step up,” Spillane said. “Alex Highsmith, Cam Sutton, guys who are expected to make plays next year who maybe didn’t have a big role last year but are going to be expected to be thrust into the spotlight this year.”
Spillane knows the impact this season can have on him personally, but will bring the same approach.
“I have some starts under my belt, but at the end of the day,” Spillane said. “I’m the same person I was two years ago. I still have a deep hunger and passion for football. It’s only made me want to get better this offseason.”
“I’ve actually doubled down. I’m all in. I’m focused on being the best linebacker I can be for the Pittsburgh Steelers for years to come.”
“This offseason is the next, right step for that journey.”