The Steelers opened their draft by taking outside linebacker Bud Dupree and they added another one in Miami’s Anthony Chickillo in the sixth round, which fits with their plans for James Harrison for the coming season.
Harrison returned to the Steelers after last season began and was playing a full-time role in the defense by the time the year came to an end. Harrison is back with the team again this year, but linebackers coach Joey Porter said he’s already told Harrison not to expect the same kind of playing time in 2015.
“He knows where he is,” Porter said, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I told him already, the James Harrison [of before] is over. … Harrison is going to be a better player for us if I keep his snap count down to 25. I’ll get the best James Harrison I can out of him instead of trying to make him play like he was -- 25-60 snaps a game.”
Plans can change, though, and the Steelers know that well. When they drafted Jarvis Jones two years ago, they planned on playing him across from Jason Worilds and not having Harrison on the roster at all. Should Dupree take a while to transition to the pro game, the Steelers may find themselves with a different plan for Harrison come the regular season.