LATROBE, Pa. - Ryan Shazier was one of the stars of the first backs-on-backers drill of training camp, and the third-year linebacker said he simply is trying to do what is expected of him.
"I was just trying to do what I can. I was trying to be great out there," said Shazier. "I was trying to continue to build and be the best player I can be. The only way to do that is to get better every day. I am not trying to make a statement, just do whatever I can do to get better every day. Whatever I have to do to get better, I am going to try and do that. I am not trying to embarrass the guys in front of me, I am just trying to do my job."
Shazier said doing that job the right way has been aided by one major factor…confidence.
"Once you understand and have confidence and your teammates have confidence in you, you can just go out there and make plays," said Shazier. "That makes a huge difference. I feel like (the coaches) have more trust in me than they had the last few years. They trust in me and my ability and my teammates do too. I trust in the coaches. It takes time to build that kind of relationship. I feel like we have been building it and are going to show it this year.
"I just feel like I am a lot stronger, I understand the defense a lot more, it's a lot more playing instead of thinking. I am good and ready to do what I can to help this team win the Super Bowl."
Shazier won multiple battles in the drill on the first day in pads, and said it's the competitor in him that drives him.
"I am a major competitor," said Shazier. "I hate losing. I am going to do whatever I can to win. Like Bud (Dupree) said, we love to hit. Once you get the pads back on, it's fun to get back out there and just be ready to go."
