Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, Robert Spillane has always felt like he's had to work for his spot in the NFL. The fifth-year linebacker went undrafted after his four-year run with the University of Michigan and played just two games for the Tennessee Titans before being released and then picked up by Pittsburgh.
The 27-year-old joined The Arthur Moats Experience with Deke podcast on Thursday to preview the team's crucial final game of the 2022 regular season against the Cleveland Browns. They chatted about his increased role at the inside linebacker position this season.
Steelers linebacker, Robert Spillane calls in. (Credit: The Arthur Moats Experience with Deke / YouTube)
"One of those things is my continual want to get better at the game. I've never felt like I'm a guy that has arrived," Spillane said when asked about his elevated role on the team this year. "I've always been scrapping and fighting. Putting in the extra work in the off-season, because it's going to pay off later in the year. I want to continue to put myself in one of those seats and when my number is called, I want make plays."
Spillane got his first chance to show off what he could do with extra playing time in the black and gold when Devin Bush missed most of the 2020 season on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL. With a mix of injuries and poor play at the position, the team has given Spillane and rookie Mark Robinson more of a role in recent weeks.
"I've looked at myself as a starter ever since the moment Devin went down three years ago," he said. "I've proved to myself that I belong in this league and I've gone out there and earned it every day."
Spillane has played on every defensive play since Week 14 after a mix of special teams and defense snaps earlier in the season.
Influence of Steelers' "Second Head Coach"
Pittsburgh Steelers senior defensive assistant Brian Flores works with the defense as they go through drills during practice at NFL football training camp in Latrobe, Pa., on Aug. 8, 2022. Flores will make his return to South Florida Sunday night, Oct. 23, 2022, when the Steelers face the Miami Dolphins. Flores was fired by the Dolphins in January and later filed a lawsuit against the NFL, the Dolphins, and two other teams. (Keith Srakocic / Associated Press)
There's been lots of talk about the influence of former Miami Dolphins head coach, Brian Flores, on the defense. Both former Pittsburgh linebacker, and podcast co-host, Arthur Moats, and Spillane detailed how big of a difference it is to have a guy who has been a head coach to be on staff as a position coach:
"Working with coach Flo' has been an honor and a privilege, him being an [former] NFL head coach," Spillane said in regards to a question about working with Flores. "He has so much knowledge of the game and such a clear and precise way to communicate it. Throughout this year, we've been able to bounce ideas off each other and really come up with how we want to get stuff done. He's not afraid to ever have those conversations."
The work Spillane continues to put in whether it's with the help of Flores, or on his own is clearly paying dividends already setting career highs in combined and solo tackles with a chance to set new benchmarks in quarterback hits and passes defended.
So, Steeler Nation, how do you feel about Spillane's increased role? Do you think he's deserved the bump-up in playtime? As always, let us know in the comments below or on social media.
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