CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Tuzar Skipper is nothing if not confident.
The linebacker oozes it. And it's served him well thus far on his journey to make the Steelers roster as an undrafted rookie out of Toledo.
Confidence alone won't win Skipper a spot on an NFL roster. No, that will only come if Skipper shows he can be a valuable member of the Steelers or on some other team's roster.
But Skipper has continued to rise through the ranks throughout the Steelers' training camp and preseason. He opened training camp working with the third- and fourth-team units. Then he worked with the second-team defense, in part because of injuries, in part because of his preseason play. Last week, he even worked a little in practice with the first-team defense.
"It's a confidence booster," Skipper told me. "When you’re going against the 3s, you kick the 3s' butt. Can I get a little better competition? You go against the 2s and you’re kicking 2s' butts. That really shows this is where I belong. It’s just a confidence booster. I just go out and do what I’ve got to do to the best of my ability. My confidence is definitely up there right now."
It's showing.
Skipper has recorded a sack in each of the Steelers' first three preseason games. He'll get a chance to make it four in a row when the Steelers close out their preseason Thursday night against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium.
Mike Tomlin won't play any of his starters in this game with the regular season opener now just over a week away. That will provide Skipper and a number of other young players plenty of opportunities to make a final impression.
Skipper, who had 11.5 sacks in his final season at Toledo, has shown he can rush the passer. He's also shown he can be solid against the run. What he hasn't quite shown yet is if he can drop into coverage well or play much on special teams.
"I do drop back," the 246-pound former college defensive end said. "I’m not going to question it. I love rushing. I love covering. Anything I’ve got to do to get on that field.
"I had once chance to do it in college. We had one defensive call where if the running back ran a wheel route, I was supposed to go with him. And I blew my chance at doing that."
He can't make that same mistake here if he hopes to earn a roster spot.
After working at it for the past few months, Skipper feels ready to be more responsible in coverage.
"It’s just understanding the defense. Of course you’ve got the natural talent to go out and do things or else you wouldn’t be out there," he told me. "But once you understand things, you can actually go out and execute. You could put anyone out there and just say, ‘See ball, get ball.’ You’re not going to make as many plays as you will once you understand the playbook. Playmaking will come. It’s catching up to me now. Now, I’m able to go and make those plays."
Unfortunately, that has not applied to special teams play. Skipper did not see a single special teams snap against the Titans and has played just three snaps in the preseason.
"I don't know why I am not playing special teams. I want to play special teams," he emphasized. "I am not saying, 'I don't wanna play special teams.'"
Maybe he'll get his chance in this game.
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