| Larry Foote RFA Steelers – After coming off the bench and being mostly a special teams player in his first two seasons, Foote wound up starting all 16 games inside for starter Kendrell Bell who was injured all season in 2004. Foote has decent run and coverage skills but still isn’t a top-notch talent. He’s best used coming off of the bench and on special teams.
2003: Larry Foote was active for the entire season. He recorded 12 special teams tackles, 6 of them solo. Although a good special teams player, the Steelers will be expecting some improvement in Foote’s technique in 2004.
2002: 18 Total Tackles - 12 Solo, 6 ASSTs, 0 Sacks, 0 Stuffs. 0 FFs, 0 INTs, 0 PDs.
Larry gained valuable starting experience subbing for injured Kendrell Bell for 5 games over the season, plus a vote of confidence from the Steelers with their selection of him over veteran John Fiala to fill in at the spot. He showed good tackling ability. His speed could be a concern but his experience this season could help that issue with some improved decision-making. He made a crucial fumble recovery against Baltimore in December that led to a game-winning field goal. In place of Bell in the January playoff game at Tennessee, he had a great performance with 11 tackles, seven of them solo.
Foote is the 2002 fourth round draft pick and has evidently impressed the Steelers with his play and ability to learn the nuances of the 3-4 defense. When RILB Kendrell Bell was injured in the season opener, the Steelers chose to replace him with Foote rather than the veteran John Fiala. At Michigan, he had the reputation of being a tough, aggressive tackler as well as being fluid in his pass coverage. Larry was a first team All American (Football News), All Big Ten Conference first-teamer and Defensive Player of the Year, a Roger Zatkoff Awardee, and a semi-finalist for the Dick Butkus and Football News Defensive Player of the Year Awards. |
