According to Teresa Varley of steelers.com, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr. had a big decision to make as to which team he should sign with on the final day of the 2013 NFL Draft being is it was looking like he would go undrafted in the last round. With several teams calling wanting to sign him as a free agent, the Notre Dame product reportedly leaned on his father, Mike Golic, who played eight seasons in the NFL as a defensive lineman, for advice, which was to sign with Pittsburgh.
“He was very proud,” Golic Jr. told Varley of his dad\’s reaction. “He knows what a great organization this is and what a great tradition they have here. He is proud to see me get one step closer to hopefully accomplishing a dream, making this team and becoming a Pittsburgh Steeler.”
In order for the younger Golic to make the Steelers 53 man roster this year, he will more than likely have to beat out both veteran tackle Guy Whimper and second-year tackle Joe Long in training camp being as he has mostly been used at right tackle himself during the Steelers offseason practices. His father, however, told him what he needs to do in order to give himself a chance to accomplish that.
“He told me to do all the little things,” said Golic Jr. per the Varley interview. “That starts with going in after practice and taking care of your body every day, getting ready for the next practice. He told me always have your nose in the playbook, not to be afraid to watch extra film and do all of the little things day-to-day that are going to build great habits and great play.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin always preaches position flexibility, and that is one thing that Golic Jr. might have going for him later this summer being as he played both guard and center while at Notre Dame. While the tackle position might be a little new to him, mastering it would increase his chances of making the Steelers practice squad should he fail to make the final 53 man roster.
Steelers second-year offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum is a perfect example of how an offensive lineman can make himself indispensable as the SMU product has been working on learning the center position during the offseason. If things go as planned, Beachum will more than likely be the first man off the bench should any of the Steelers starters go down with an injury during a game.
Golic\’s lack of games started in college (17), is likely what led to him going undrafted despite the fact the fifth-year senior was part of an offensive line that helped the Irish average over 200 yards per game in both rushing and receiving in the 2012 regular season. He figures to see plenty of playing time during the preseason at right tackle and perhaps even right guard, so he will certainly be an undrafted free agent to pay close attention to during those games. I know his father will certainly be watching.
