Von Oelhoffen ready for change
LATROBE- It's hard to imagine a guy that didn't play high school football being handed the starting defensive end job by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With all the talk surrounding the team's inability to rush the quarterback from the line position, you would think they would be able to find somebody with a little more expertise in the area.
But look on the Steelers practice field at St. Vincent College and sure enough right there in the middle of things, at right defensive end with the number one group is Kimo von Oelhoffen.
Fooled ya huh?
It's hard to believe the guy who attended Division I-AA Boise State, the guy who before last year started all 16 games just once in his eight-year career, the guy that started at nose tackle for the squad last season would be given such an essential task.
That's because von Oelhoffen is no regular guy.
'He's a very powerful guy that plays with a lot of strength and motion,' Steelers Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis said. 'He's quick, he's explosive and he has played (defensive end) before. He is very disruptive and the switch should not be a big deal for him.'
Von Oelhoffen, who was acquired from Cincinnati as a free agent last year, played all 16 games for the Bengals at defensive end back in the 98' campaign. With the loss of former Steeler Pro Bowl nose tackle Joel Steed to retirement, the squad was forced to move von Oelhoffen into the spot.
'The change (back to end) is going good,' von Oelhoffen said. 'Playing in the 3-4 defense is a little different, I'm not a true defensive end, but I guess I'm back to my natural position and I feel pretty good.'
Last year, his first with the Steelers, von Oelhoffen performed well above any expectations that could've been put on him.
Playing in the 3-4 defense for the first time in his NFL career, he finished the season with 52 total tackles, 38 solo, both of which were career highs, and one sack.
'I just want to play the position better than anybody else,' von Oelhoffen said. 'I expect more from myself this year. I should get to the quarterback more playing at the end. I feel good and hopefully everything continues to go well.'
Von Oelhoffen was also credited with three pass defenses and a forced fumble all the while holding down the fort for the linebacking core to do their work as well.
Along with former Steeler Kevin Henry and Aaron Smith, Von Oelhoffen helped anchor the line that allowed linebackers Joey Porter and Jason Gildon record 24 total sacks, the most by any pair of linebackers in the NFL. 'He does all of the things we ask of him,' Lewis said. 'I expect him to be a force for us this year. He's going back to his natural position and we expect him to have a big year.'
In 1998, his next-to-last campaign with Cincinnati, von Oelhoffen played in and started all 16 games for the first time in then his six seasons in the league. With the struggling Bengals he recorded 45 total tackles, 36 solo.
The following year before donning the black and gold, von Oelhoffen registered four sacks, while forcing and recovering a fumble.
'I've studied a lot during the off-season,' von Oelhoffen said. 'I'm back down to 305 (pounds) and I'm ready to play. It's expected of me to get to the passer more and it should be a little easier this year. I just want to continue to be productive and, I guess, be the best defensive end I can be in this scheme.'
Von Oelhoffen was the Steelers first free agent acquisition of 2000 and he turned out to be a beneficial one.
This season the expectations are even bigger for von Oelhoffen to not only secure the right defensive end position, but to also help mentor and assist first round pick Casey Hampton and second-year man Kendrick Clancy at the spot von Oelhoffen anchored last year.
'Every day I try to help them out and they're willing to learn, they want to get better,' von Oelhoffen said. 'Nose guard is not a position you can just come into and play. Hampton has the ability and the drive to play. He's strong and aggressive. He's going to be the Steelers nose guard for a long time. Clancy can play too, he's good. He's quick and both of them do a great job, they work together well. We have a great line coach that does a great job. I help them by letting them know other guys tendencies, guys that I played against.'
The eight-year veteran sat out the last two days of practice with a groin injury, but all indications point to the big man returning shortly. The injury is minor and von Oelhoffen is listed as day-to-day.
'It's just a little strain on the groin, very precautionary,' von Olehoffen said. 'If it was up to me I would be out there right now, but I should be back (today) or the next day.
