New Pittsburgh Steelers safety Mike Mitchell was originally drafted by the Oakland Raiders back in 2009 and since that time he’s already played four different defensive coordinators.
Dick LeBeau will Mitchell’s fifth different defensive coordinator in as many years and he likes what the Hall of Famer currently has planned for him in 2014.
“I love it,” said Mitchell. “I can already see (LeBeau) is using me the way I want to be used. I am getting to play in space a lot and I have also been coming in on some blitzes and timing them up pretty well. I am loving the scheme. I think it fits me great.”
The Steelers made Mitchell their top priority during free agency as they signed the unrestricted free agent to a five-year, $25 million contract to replace Ryan Clark. Mitchell, like his predecessor Clark, comes off as a very intelligent player that should be able to pick up LeBeau’s defense fairly easily.
“I haven’t made any mental errors yet,” Mitchell said in a recent interview. “I pride myself on being a prepared, smart football player so I think I’m just along with everyone else. We’re putting in a good amount of plays and to be able to play them and play them at a high speed I think I am doing a pretty good job.”
According to Mitchell, LeBeau is pleased with what the former third-round draft pick has shown so far during the six OTA practices.
“Coach LeBeau came up and told me I was doing a pretty good job. So I think I am doing a pretty good job,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell, LeBeau and the rest of the Steelers will be back on the field next week as the third set of OTA practices get underway.
