For some reason, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, Robert Spillane has become a common scapegoat for fans over the past few years. If the defense struggles and Spillane was on the field, he's often times the first guy to get criticized. That seems quite unfair for an undrafted free agent who is now in his fifth season in the NFL.
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To be fair, some of the criticism has been warranted. Former defensive coordinator, Keith Butler, was infatuated with Spillane and his old-school style of play. That's likely why Butler favored him so much, as he continued to stick the linebacker into coverage situations. Spillane's coverage skills aren't his strength, as the opponent often times has a mismatch when being guarded by him. This season, opponents have a 73.9% completion rate when their target is being guarded by Spillane.
This season, his playing time has seen a dip. Butler left in the off-season, which has certainly hurt Spillane. Additionally, the team signed Myles Jack, who has been solid, and Devin Bush has began to come around after his ACL injury a few years ago. Those two have been the primary guys in the middle of the defense, as current DC Teryl Austin has given Spillane less snaps than the linebacker is accustomed to.
Coming off the bye in Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints, head coach Mike Tomlin and his guys were in must-win territory. With Jack not fully healthy, Spillane was asked to step in. En route to the 20-10 victory, he was arguably the most impressive player on the field in that game. Edge rusher Alex Highsmith discussed Spillane's performance, which he attributed to his professionalism and relentless preparation.
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"Spillane had a great game. He prepares. I noticed that in 2020 whenever Devin got injured and he came in for the rest of the year. He was prepared for that opportunity," Highsmith said about Spillane via the team's YouTube page. "He's someone who is always prepared for it. I just love seeing the way that he works, and it truly translates to the game."
Spillane has made it obvious that he plans on getting into coaching after his playing days are over. Based off these comments by Highsmith, it seems like the middle linebacker will make for a good coach one day. Head coach Mike Tomlin was even asked about this topic in his weekly press conference on Tuesday, saying he sees those habits translating quite well.
It's easy to cheer for a guy like Spillane. While he may not have the most talent in the world, he's one of those guys that makes up for it through his hard work and dedication. In that Week 10 victory, he played all 47 of the Steelers' defensive snaps. With Jack's recent injury, Spillane has been seeing the field a bit more. He's taken advantage of it in the running game, as he's missed just two tackles this season, a career-best.
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How impressed were you with Robert Spillane's performance in Week 10? Moving forward, should he get more snaps? If so, how would you split the snaps amongst the three primary ILB's once everyone is healthy? Yinz, share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below, and be sure to interact with our social media sites as well!
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