# Lack of veteran leadership at outside linebacker highlights the need for Arthur Moats

# Lack of veteran leadership at outside linebacker highlights the need for Arthur Moats

# Lack of veteran leadership at outside linebacker highlights the need for Arthur Moats

The Pittsburgh Steelers began OTAs on Tuesday with a very different look on defense compared to the unit that reported to Pittsburgh this time last year. Gone are Mike Mitchell, James Harrison, William Gay and Arthur Moats, players who had become veteran leaders at their positions.

A defense that was called “old and slow” in 2012 now features only one player on the roster over 30: 31-year-old defensive lineman Tyson Alualu. Free agent signing Morgan Burnett becomes the old man among the safeties while Joe Haden is now the oldest cornerback, both 29 years old. At 28 years old, Vince Williams is the most senior man in the linebackers room.

When the linebackers break their group into two, the oldest among the outside linebackers is now Farrington Huguenin – a 26-year-old undrafted free agent who spent 2017 on the practice squad and has yet to see a snap in a regular season game.

Opting to retain just three of the five outside linebackers from the opening day roster last year has left Pittsburgh looking rather light at the position with Bud Dupree (25), Anthony Chickillo (25), T.J. Watt (23) and Keion Adams (23) now the only veteran names. While the team might not miss Harrison given the way things ended, the loss of Moats might be more of an issue for a young group of outside linebackers. 

> “Man, (Arthur) Moats is gone, man. That hurts us in the locker room. It was a big loss; Moats is a great player– but more than that, he’s just a great person, just being around him everyday cheers you up. But it happens, comings & goings”

There’s little question that Moats’ contributions on the football field have diminished over the last few seasons, but his influence in the locker room should not be underestimated. Without a veteran presence among the group, the unit is missing a clear leader.

It would be unfair to rank players in terms of their positive personality traits, but if such a scale existed, Moats would undoubtedly be near the top of the list. A tireless worker when it comes to community projects, Moats has displayed a level of decency and generosity few can match.

Regardless of his exploits off the field, a team is not paying someone just because he is a decent human being. At 30 years old, Moats still has plenty to offer as a player, especially when you consider the other options under contract. As excited as the team might be about the potential of Adams, he is still an unproven seventh-round draft choice with no real game experience.

Should either starter suffer a long-term injury, it is hard to believe the team would be comfortable turning to Adams or Huguenin to fill the void. Moats might not be the most exciting replacement, but possibly a name that would make the coaching staff sleep easier at night.

Assuming Moats is looking to play another season, it would be a surprise if he expects to earn much above the veteran minimum, a salary that would consume no more than $165,000 in actual salary cap space after displacement. If this is a deal he is willing to accept, his return should be a no-brainer.