Undrafted rookies ready to make their mark
By Rick Starr
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Steelers rookie free agent linebacker Mike Kudla knows he has the speed and attitude to sack quarterbacks.
He arrived at Steelers training camp Friday at St. Vincent College seeking the chance to demonstrate those abilities.
"I wasn't drafted, but now, I have the same opportunity as anyone else," Kudla said while unloading his gear in front of Rooney Hall.
While the odds are stacked against any rookie free agent making an NFL roster, Kudla said he doesn't need to look any further than the current Steelers backfield to find examples of undrafted players who have found success.
Steelers running back Willie Parker went from being an undrafted rookie free agent to a starter last season. Parker used his 4.3 speed to rush for 1,202 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown run in Super Bowl XL.
Often blocking for Parker was seven-year veteran fullback Dan Kreider, another former free agent who has risen from the practice squad to become one of the top blocking fullbacks in the league.
"Once you step on the field, drafted or undrafted doesn't matter," Kreider said. "All that matters is performance."
Kudla finished second in the Big Ten with 9 1/2 sacks last season. He tied for the team lead with Ohio State teammate and All-American A.J. Hawk.
"I'm used to a high level of competition," Kudla said. "This training camp is something I'm looking forward to."
He stacked up seven tackles against Illinois and registered three sacks for 25 yards in losses against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
"You have to go hard and know the downs where you can really let loose," Kudla said. "First, you need the speed to get to the edge. Then, it's pretty much desire, who has the angle and who works harder. Once you get to the edge, you have to take advantage of your speed and hands and feet.
"There are times they're going to get you, and there are times you're going to get a good shot."
Kudla received an introduction to the Steelers' style of pressure defense from Ohio State alum Mike Vrabel, who rushed from the outside linebacker and defensive end positions for the Steelers from 1997-2000.
"Mike is one of my good friends, and he's helped me out a great deal because he knows the Steelers' system," Kudla said. "He's already given me a lot of pointers on what to look for."
The Steelers' defense sacked the quarterback 47 times for 312 yards in losses last season and added eight sacks during the team's 4-0 playoff run.
Kudla said he would take any role available, including special teams, where undrafted second-year linebacker Andre Frazier made his mark last season. Frazier earned a spot on the active 53-man roster coming out of camp and made eight special teams tackles in 10 games.
"I'm just going to go out and give my best effort every day, and that's all you can hope for," Kudla said. "I'm going to learn the linebacker schemes and try to be in the right place at the right time."
Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said Kudla needed to catch up with the other rookies after missing some coaching sessions to finish school work.
However, Steelers All-Pro guard Alan Faneca said Kudla faced the same initiation as all rookies.
"Nobody knows what they're doing when they first get here, and that's true, whether you're drafted or not," Faneca said.
Rick Starr can be reached at
[email protected] or (724) 226-4691.
