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Lady Steel
05-12-2015, 11:54 PM
In assessing the Steelers' shortcomings on defense prior to the NFL Draft, general manager Kevin Colbert emphasized the lack of a pass rush.

The Steelers selected Kentucky outside linebacker Bud Dupree in the first round, hoping he will apply pressure off the edge. Then they used the 212th overall pick to add depth at the position.

The Steelers gambled by selecting Anthony Chickillo, who spent all four years at Miami (Fla) playing defensive end. He distinguished himself as run defender instead of a pass-rushing specialist.

On Monday, the Steelers signed the 6-foot-3, 267-pound Chickillo, who is confident he will effectively transition to outside linebacker, where the Steelers were inconsistent last year.

“I'm just going to work hard every day and do whatever they asked me to do,” said Chickillo, who had 47 starts with the Hurricanes.

Chickillo is flexible, but he was clear during his workouts for NFL scouts that he aspires to play outside linebacker. The Steelers were accommodating, opting to overlook his lack of experience at the position.

Colbert said he has no reason to believe Chickillo can't adjust to the new position and the change of pace in the NFL. But several scouts were not as impressed with Chickillo's technique or skills off the line of scrimmage.

At best, Chickillo might be a capable run defender, but he “may never be a great pass rusher,” NFL Draft analyst Mike Detillier said.

Steelers linebackers coach Joey Porter thinks differently.

“I think he can fit the system with what we're going to do with him,” Porter said. “We'll find out his strengths and his weaknesses.”





http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/8342783-74/chickillo-steelers-linebacker#axzz3ZzVmexQx

86WARD
05-13-2015, 06:24 AM
There's so much potential in this draft class...if this class were to pan out, the Steelers have filled almost all of there starting and depth needs here...so much potential.

hawaiiansteeler
05-24-2015, 02:55 PM
Anthony Chickillo seems happy to leave Miami Hurricanes defensive system

January 20, 2015

Anthony Chickillo opened eyes with a stellar performance last Saturday in the East-West Shrine Game. One NFL.com writer called him “disruptive” and “unblockable at times.”

It wasn’t the player Hurricanes fans were used to seeing.

Chickillo, a former five-star prospect whose sack totals declined in each of his four years at UM, made comments during an in-game sideline interview that alluded to his talents being wasted in college.

“I’ve always had it,” Chickillo said, when asked about his ability to get off the line and into the backfield. “I’m happy I get to use it out here today.”

https://cmgpbpcaneswatch.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/chickillo-shrine-game.jpg?w=640&h=405

Anthony Chickillo (right) upped his NFL draft stock at the East-West Shrine Game. (Miami Herald)

After registering five sacks as a true freshman in 2011, Chickillo’s totals declined to four, three and ½ and three. He finished his career with 17 ½. He played in 50 games (tied for third all-time at UM) and according to UM started his final 47 (third-most consecutive starts; tied for fourth in total number).

Chickillo entered college as a 6-foot-4, 240-pound pass-rusher. Instead of a 4-3 setup that calls for defensive linemen to rush upfield, UM coach Al Golden and defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio run a 3-4 style that called for Chickillo to bulk up – he’s now 6-4, 280 – and control blockers, often leaving others to finish plays.

Chickillo didn’t publicly gripe about this. D’Onofrio and Golden repeatedly praised him for his leadership. D’Onofrio said on multiple occasions he was not concerned about Chickillo’s lack of production.

Led by Chickillo and a disruptive defensive line, the East team won the Shrine Game 19-3. The game was played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, next to Chickillo’s hometown of Tampa.

Here’s the relevant part of the interview with NFL Network’s Alex Flanagan (which can be viewed here):

Flanagan: “Yeah, Anthony Chickillo just lighting it up here. Now, let’s talk a little bit about what’s allowing you to play so fast today. You’re playing in a 4-3 defense. Used to a 3-4 defense at Miami, right?”

Chickillo: “Yeah, I’m used to playing in a 3-4, more two-gap. I appreciate [East] coach [Mike] Singletary giving us a 4-3, so show a little of what I can do with my athletic ability.”

to read rest of article:

http://caneswatch.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/01/20/anthony-chickillo-seems-happy-to-leave-miami-hurricanes-defensive-system/

st33lersguy
05-24-2015, 04:01 PM
Not sure a 6th round pick equates to much of a gamble

steelreserve
05-24-2015, 05:03 PM
Yeah, the guy seems more like a straight-up 4-3 DE than an LB, but we'll see. The 6th-round picks this year were the ones that left me head-scratching a little - but then again, it is the 6th round. Man, how I wish one of those two picks was on La'el Collins, though.

86WARD
05-24-2015, 07:56 PM
Yeah, the guy seems more like a straight-up 4-3 DE than an LB, but we'll see. The 6th-round picks this year were the ones that left me head-scratching a little - but then again, it is the 6th round. Man, how I wish one of those two picks was on La'el Collins, though.

This...especially the compensatory pick...why not "waste" it on Collins?

hawaiiansteeler
05-24-2015, 08:08 PM
This...especially the compensatory pick...why not "waste" it on Collins?

there must have been a NFL directive telling all teams not to draft La'el Collins until he had been cleared of the murder charges otherwise at least one NFL team would have gambled at least a 7th round draft pick on him...

86WARD
05-24-2015, 08:13 PM
there must have been a NFL directive telling all teams not to draft La'el Collins until he had been cleared of the murder charges otherwise at least one NFL team would have gambled at least a 7th round draft pick on him...

IMO, worst case scenario is you lose a compensatory pick/7th round pick OR he wants to go to Dallas and you trade his rights to the Cowboys for a 5th or 6th round pick in 2016?

Craic
05-24-2015, 08:57 PM
Yeah, the guy seems more like a straight-up 4-3 DE than an LB, but we'll see.

True, but I do like that he's played in a 3-4 before. Even if he's being asked to move over and play standing up, at least he's familiar with the system and the responsibilities, so it's not all knew to him.

SteelerFanInStl
05-24-2015, 11:45 PM
there must have been a NFL directive telling all teams not to draft La'el Collins until he had been cleared of the murder charges otherwise at least one NFL team would have gambled at least a 7th round draft pick on him...

No, but his agent was telling them not to draft him. The Rams were ready to take him in the 7th round and his agent told them that they were going to "embarrass themselves" by wasting a draft pick and that he'd never sign.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000492905/article/were-the-st-louis-rams-set-to-draft-lael-collins

TeeTee
05-26-2015, 05:40 PM
I think this guy is a long shot. There is nothing to indicate that he would be able to drop back and cover at all. You can minimize how much of that he has to do, but OLBs must be able to drop back and cover at some point in our system.

Maybe he will be actually able to pull it off, but his history and measurables don't seem to indicate he will be able to make the conversion, and, at the very least, it's going to take a long time. He is said to be slow, not explosive and a tweener that fits not NFL position. It's not like many 7th rounders make it, and I doubt this guy will either. He runs a 4.8 40. He is not powerful, quick or fast.

From NFL.com

WEAKNESSES Production as a pass rusher stalled during his time at Miami. Failed to live up to five-star billing coming in. Tweener. Lacks explosive qualities. Plodding and slow-twitch as a pass rusher, failing to consistently stress the edge of a blocker either from defensive-tackle or defensive-end spot. Needs more bulk and thickness to his lower body. Gets overwhelmed by double teams. More of a stalemate player than snap winner.DRAFT PROJECTION Round 5 or 6SOURCES TELL US "He doesn't have a position as far as I can tell. I don't think he projects inside or outside. He's just caught between positions and there isn't anything that he does really well." -- NFC director of scouting

hawaiiansteeler
05-27-2015, 12:55 AM
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CF93foFVAAEyyLM.jpg:large

steelreserve
05-27-2015, 01:12 PM
No, but his agent was telling them not to draft him. The Rams were ready to take him in the 7th round and his agent told them that they were going to "embarrass themselves" by wasting a draft pick and that he'd never sign.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000492905/article/were-the-st-louis-rams-set-to-draft-lael-collins


So what? Even if he was drafted with the last pick of Round 7, he (and his agent) would've figured out REAL quick that the best option was to just sign the contract. Sitting out a year and re-entering the draft to become a first-round pick would be flat-out stupid. You'd lock yourself into five years of rookie salary plus the one year you sat out for no pay, and your career is halfway over by that point. Sign the low-round contract and it's done in three years and you can sign a fat free-agent deal. Much more lucrative for him that way, actually. In the slotted system, a UDFA contract gives you zero improvement over the 7th-round contract.

There is no way in hell he would've sat out a year; it was a ploy by his agent to get him his choice of team once he fell out of the first couple rounds. The Rams and every other team should be embarrassed that they fell for that line of bullshit. I would've drafted the guy in Round 7 and made the deal contingent on him firing his agent. He still would've signed.

hawaiiansteeler
07-17-2015, 07:04 PM
Steelers' Chickillo Drops 14 Pounds Since Draft

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2015/07/steelers-chickillo-drops-14-pounds-since-draft/

hawaiiansteeler
07-29-2015, 03:09 PM
Alex Kozora ‏@Alex_Kozora *

Would definitely call Chickillo a winner of OL/DL. Chris Hubbard did well for OL.

Anthony Chickillo shows quick hands, good bend around edge.

Chickillo has to be a little more disciplined but first step is really good. TFL in last 11 on 11.

https://twitter.com/Alex_Kozora