The Steelers drafted Anthony Chickillo with their second 6th round compensatory pick. Chickillo played defensive end for the Miami Hurricanes, but the Steelers are projecting him as an outside linebacker, as evidenced by the fact that ourside linebackers coach Joey Porter, and not defensive line coach Johnny Mitchell addressed the press after the Steelers announced their pick.
#Steelers Draft Picks: Anthony Chickillo selected with team's 6th round compensatory pick http://t.co/3n7pwHAbbO pic.twitter.com/MlYncGnjZw
— BTSC Steelers (@btsteelcurtain) May 2, 2015
Anthony Chickillo stands at 6’3” and weighs 267 pounds and is a Tampa Bay native. Chickillo played for three seasons at Miami, and recorded 64 tackles and 12 sacks.
Colbert: we are listing Anthony Chickillo as a LB. Has the skill for LB once we get him to the right weight
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) May 2, 2015
Colbert’s comments would seem to indicate that the Steeler regard Chickillo as a work in progress.
Video Highlights of Anthony Chickillo
The University of Miami is one of the most prolific of the NCAA’s football programs, and in its heyday of the late 1980’s and 1990’s was often described as “almost like a pro team.” As such, all of their draft prospects (thankfully) have You Tube video highlight reels posted, which you can find enjoy here:
That’s some impressive film. But for all its legend and lore, doing it in college, even for a team like the Miami Hurricanes, isn’t the same as doing it in the NFL
How Anthony Chickillo Fits into the Steelers Plans
Anthony Chickillo will follow in the footsteps of so many other undersized college defensive ends drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers – he’ll be asked to learn a new position of outside 3-4 linebacker.
- In doing so he’ll have one of the Steelers finest 3-4 outside linebackers there to coach him.
But even with Joey Porter’s mentoring, Chickillo faces an uphill battle to make the team, simply because of his status as a late round pick. And if the Steelers need at outside linebacker going into the 2015 NFL Draft was acute, Pittsburgh’s depth at outside linebacker is not as perilously thin as it was because of the selection of Bud Dupree.
Still, if he can contribute on special teams, then he has a chance at making the team, and unless he totally fumbles his opportunity at St. Vincents, Chickillo will have an almost certain slot on the practice squad.
Welcom to Steelers Nation Anthony Chickillo.
Thanks for visiting. Click here for more on the Steelers and the 2015 NFL Draft.
