Follett Ready for Opportunity

No matter what it takes, linebacker Zack Follett is determined to make it in the National Football League.

After being on the Lions practice squad for the first four games of the season, Follett was signed to the active roster on Monday in hopes of improving the special teams.

Follett: “They got me everywhere. My goal is not only to make plays, but to bring a fire to the special teams.”

Follett is excited, or as he put it “stoked,” for the opportunity. Though as a rookie he knows he better not let up. He also understands there are plenty of guys out there ready to take his spot. 

Follett: “The coaches know that I’m not taking a step off just because I got promoted. In this league, when people are as competitive as they are, you don’t have room to back off.”

While Follett will be the first to admit that he doesn’t have the ideal physique of an NFL player, it’s not his size that got him here.

Follett: “I wasn’t blessed with great size, but I played with all heart and fire. That’s what I’m going to try and bring while I’m out there.”

After being drafted 235th overall in the seventh round of this year’s draft, Follett knew he would have a tough road ahead. Almost right out of the gate he faced adversity.

During training camp, he was making strides towards grasping the defensive concepts and coaches were taking notice until a shoulder injury limited his preseason.

Follett: “It was a terrible experience to tell you the truth. I probably went through one of the hardest times in my life as far as mentally dealing with everything. I’m blessed that they kept me around so I could show myself again.”

Delmas looks forward to a physical match-up

Louis Delmas has always tried to model himself after the top safeties in the NFL. This week, he could have the opportunity to watch one play up close.

Steelers’ Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu may make his return to action this week against the Lions after suffering a knee injury Week 1.

Delmas: “Having a chance to play against a guy like Polamalu is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I’m going to cherish. All through my years I’ve been compared to Ed Reed, Polamalu, and I’ve always watched them and try to pick out how they play – how they react to the ball. Just to be in his presence, actually going against him, is a great challenge for me and a great opportunity for me to prove to everybody else that I am one of the best.”

Obviously Delmas isn’t hoping to see Polamalu succeed against the Lions, but he does hope the way he plays and impacts the Steelers’ defense can be foreshadowing to the way he will ultimately impact the Detroit defense.

Delmas: “Honestly, I don’t think he has a defense. The Steelers defense might be one defense, but he doesn’t have a defense. He’s the one dude that I know that his motto is to run to the ball and when he gets there, he’s going to do something nasty with it.”

The Steelers Delmas will be lining up against on the playing field aren’t any easier to contend with. It all starts with the quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.

Delmas: “Roethlisberger might be big and tall, but he can move for a big dude. He looks like he played fullback back in his day or tight end back in his day. But we’ve got to do a good job of containing him; get him on the ground and not give him second chances to throw the ball.”

Pittsburgh’s other offensive components will be challenging as well. Rashard Mendenhall had a breakout game last week against San Diego and the receiving corps has two top players in Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.

Delmas: “(Ward is) basically a receiver with a linebacker mentality. He’ll knock DBs over, he’ll knock linebackers out. We’ve just got to try and match up as well as we can with their athletes against our athletes and just execute. At the end of the day it’s all about tackling.”