hawaiiansteeler
05-27-2016, 12:43 AM
according to Jim Wexell, Hargrave has been running ahead of McCullers so far as the 1st string NT...
Natural gifts of Javon Hargrave evident early at OTAs
By: Curt Popejoy
Normally when a rookie is a third-round pick, there is some time for you to get up to speed with the NFL game. This has typically been the case of the Pittsburgh Steelers as well. Last season, the Steelers drafted wide receiver Sammie Coates in the third round and took their time bringing him along until the playoffs.
In 2013, the Steelers drafted wide receiver Markus Wheaton and he only had six receptions his rookie year. The Steelers 2012 third-round pick was Sean Spence and the Steelers waited two years to get him on the field.
But this year’s third-round pick probably isn’t going to have that luxury. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave was drafted out of South Carolina State because he has a very particular set of skills missing from this defensive line right now.
That means his development could be accelerated so that he can become part of the Steelers defensive line rotation sooner rather than later. But it sounds like veteran defensive end Cameron Heyward seems to be impressed with what he has seen so far.
Heyward has to be hoping that Hargrave can get on the field early, even if it is just as a respite for him. Heyward played 976 snaps in 2015 which accounted for 88 percent of the total defensive snaps. Many of those snaps came when Heyward lined up as a defensive tackle in sub packages.
The addition of Hargrave should give Pittsburgh a steady interior pass-rushing threat and allow Heyward, along with fellow defensive end Stephon Tuitt to play more snaps on the outside. Hargraves’ college film was feast or famine. He had 13.5 sacks in 2015, all of which came in six of 11 games. The other five he was shut out from getting to the quarterback.
to read rest of article:
http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2016/05/26/natural-gifts-of-javon-hargrave-evident-early-at-otas/
Natural gifts of Javon Hargrave evident early at OTAs
By: Curt Popejoy
Normally when a rookie is a third-round pick, there is some time for you to get up to speed with the NFL game. This has typically been the case of the Pittsburgh Steelers as well. Last season, the Steelers drafted wide receiver Sammie Coates in the third round and took their time bringing him along until the playoffs.
In 2013, the Steelers drafted wide receiver Markus Wheaton and he only had six receptions his rookie year. The Steelers 2012 third-round pick was Sean Spence and the Steelers waited two years to get him on the field.
But this year’s third-round pick probably isn’t going to have that luxury. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave was drafted out of South Carolina State because he has a very particular set of skills missing from this defensive line right now.
That means his development could be accelerated so that he can become part of the Steelers defensive line rotation sooner rather than later. But it sounds like veteran defensive end Cameron Heyward seems to be impressed with what he has seen so far.
Heyward has to be hoping that Hargrave can get on the field early, even if it is just as a respite for him. Heyward played 976 snaps in 2015 which accounted for 88 percent of the total defensive snaps. Many of those snaps came when Heyward lined up as a defensive tackle in sub packages.
The addition of Hargrave should give Pittsburgh a steady interior pass-rushing threat and allow Heyward, along with fellow defensive end Stephon Tuitt to play more snaps on the outside. Hargraves’ college film was feast or famine. He had 13.5 sacks in 2015, all of which came in six of 11 games. The other five he was shut out from getting to the quarterback.
to read rest of article:
http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2016/05/26/natural-gifts-of-javon-hargrave-evident-early-at-otas/