On the Steelers: Lloyd, Olsavsky return as coaches
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Former Steelers linebacker Jerry Olsavsky currently serves as a coach with the team.
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Jerry Olsavsky and Greg Lloyd were teammates for nine seasons with the Steelers in the late 1980s and '90s. Olsavsky was the hard-nosed inside linebacker and Lloyd the intense sackmaster at outside linebacker for those Steelers defenses nicknamed 'Blitzburgh.'
After more than a decade out of the NFL, both have returned to the league as assistant coaches. On Sunday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., the two old buddies will be competing against each other.
Olsavsky is in his first season as a defensive assistant with the Steelers and Lloyd holds the same position with the Buccaneers. The Steelers and Buccaneers are two of the league's eight remaining undefeated teams.
Olsavsky has spoken with Lloyd by phone on a few occasions since their playing careers ended, but this will be the first opportunity to see each other in person in years.
"The one good thing about being a former player is when you see the guy it's just like when you were in the locker room the last time," Olsavsky said.
Olsavsky played with the Steelers from 1989-97; Lloyd from '88-97.
After his playing career ended after one season with the Ravens in '98, Olsavsky started his coaching career. He was a volunteer assistant at Thomas Jefferson High School, at Youngstown Chaney High School and at Duquesne University. For the past seven years he was the linebackers coach at Youngstown State.
Lloyd spent training camp with the Buccaneers, as part of the NFL's minority coaching fellowship program. Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris was impressed so much by Lloyd that he hired him to a full-time position when camp ended.
"It's hard for us because the game is part of us," said Olsavsky, in explaining the lure to return to the NFL after so many years on the outside. "It's good to see him back. He's probably some of the reason they're playing as good as they are."
The Steelers and Buccaneers are shaping up as two of the better defenses in the NFL. Through the first two weeks of the season, both clubs are among the top three in the league in scoring defense. The Steelers are tied for first place with the Miami Dolphins, giving up 10 points per game. Tampa is close behind, allowing 10.5 points per game.
First Published September 25, 2010 12:00 am
