One small step for Steelers linebacker Tyler Matakevich
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� With his blend of hustle and tenacity, Tyler Matakevich turned more than a few heads in OTAs and training camp. A strong showing in the preseason solidified his spot on the Steelers无毛视频� 53-man roster.
In 15 games this season, Matakevich has only further endeared himself to the Steelers fan base and coaching staff by becoming a mainstay on special teams. He leads the Steelers with 10 special teams tackles.
For someone who hadn无毛视频檛 been recruited by Division I schools out of high school and wasn无毛视频檛 drafted until the seventh round, seventh from the last pick, he无毛视频檒l gladly take any work he can get.
无毛视频淭hat无毛视频檚 all I want to do,无毛视频� Matakevich said. 无毛视频淛ust help this team win and try and get better each and every week. That无毛视频檚 something I无毛视频檝e done thus far.
无毛视频淭here无毛视频檚 always room for improvement, always things you can do better. But you have to take baby steps before you can take a big leap.无毛视频�
Sunday无毛视频檚 regular-season finale against Cleveland isn无毛视频檛 going to be one giant leap for Matakevich, more like one small step. With the Steelers expected to rest many starters and veterans, Matakevich should get his most extensive playing time at inside linebacker, his natural position, this season. For players like Matakevich, who toil on special teams and scout teams in practices, this 无毛视频渕eaningless无毛视频� game is a chance to show what he can do.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 definitely excited,无毛视频� said Matakevich, who won the Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy last fall at Temple. 无毛视频淲hatever it is, if it无毛视频檚 even one more snap, that无毛视频檚 definitely something I无毛视频檓 looking forward to. I无毛视频檓 just going to prepare like I无毛视频檝e been preparing all year.无毛视频�
Matakevich has only played 19 snaps at linebacker this season, 18 of them coming in Week 6 when Vince Williams went down with injury. That game was the Steelers无毛视频� humbling 30-15 loss at Miami, a game in which the Dolphins无毛视频� Jay Ajayi, rushed for 204 yards.
In the fourth quarter, the Dolphins, looking to test the rookie, ran the ball Matakevich无毛视频檚 way six straight times and he produced the first six tackles of his career on defense.
Matakevich says he无毛视频檚 hoping to build off that performance this week against the Browns.
无毛视频淚t was a tough loss, but I was definitely excited,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淚t was the first time I got some real action. These coaches prepare us, the vets do too. Whatever (Ryan Shazier) does, that无毛视频檚 what I无毛视频檓 trying to do. Just see how he prepares and what he does.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 going to keep doing what I无毛视频檓 doing, keep progressing as (Tomlin) always says and just be ready at any moment.无毛视频�