Archives

January, 2009

Jan 28

2009

Player Highlights: Willie Colon #74

In The News
01.28.09
news.steelers.com

Player Highlights: Willie Colon #74
2007 (16-16/1-1): Started all 16 games at RT in first season as a starter…started the AFC Wild Card Game against Jacksonville at RT…part of a unit that paved the way for RB Willie Parker to finish fourth in NFL with 1,316 yards…9/9 at Cleveland: Had his third career start at RT and helped the offense pick up 365 yards, with 206 coming on the ground…9/16 vs. Buffalo: Made his second consecutive start of the season and the fourth start of his career…helped pave the way for Willie Parker to have his 15th career 100-yard rushing game…9/23 vs. San Francisco: Had his third consecutive start of the season and the fifth of his career…was a key factor in Willie Parker having his 16th career 100-yard rushing game…helped the offense gain a total of 350 yards, with 205 coming on the ground and another 145 passing…9/30 at Arizona: Made his fourth consecutive start of the season at RT and helped to allow Ben Roethlisberger to throw for 242 yards and two TDs…10/7 vs. Seattle: Made his fifth consecutive start at RT and helped the offense pick up 342 total yards, with 163 rushing and 179 passing…allowed Willie Parker to have his 17th career and fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season
(102 yards)…also made way for Najeh Davenport to rush for 58 yards and two rushing TDs…10/21 at Denver: Started at RT for the sixth time this season…part of a line that allowed the offense to gain 379 total yards and allowed Ben Roethlisberger to pass for 290 yards and four TDs…10/28 at Cincinnati: Made his ninth consecutive start at RT…part of an offensive line that allowed the Steelers to gain 390 yards, 230 passing and 160 rushing…helped make way for Willie Parker to have his fifth 100-yard rushing game (126) of the season and rush for one TD…gave Ben Roethlisberger time to finish 19-of-26 passing for 109.5 passer rating and two passing TDs…11/5 vs. Baltimore: Started in his 10th consecutive game at RT…was a key factor in Ben Roethlisberger going 13-of-16 passing for 209 yards with a career-high five TDs, while registering a perfect passer rating of 158.3…also a major part in Roethlisberger being able to pass for a TD in 13 consecutive games, which broke Terry Bradshaw’s previous record of 12 consecutive games...11/11 vs. Cleveland: Made his 11th consecutive start at RT…helped the offense pick up 401 total yards, while helping Willie Parker to rush for 105 yards on 25 attempts (4.2 avg.), giving him his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season…also made it possible for Ben Roethlisberger to complete 23-of-35 passes for 278 yards and two TDs while finishing with a passer rating of 99.9…11/18 at N.Y. Jets: Made his 12th consecutive start at RT…11/26 vs. Miami:Made his 13th consecutive start at RT…12/2 vs. Cincinnati: Registered his 14th consecutive start at RT…part of an offensive line that allowed Ben Roethlisberger to pass for two TDs, while also helping Willie Parker gain 87 rushing yards, passing Barry Foster and Dick Hoak on the all-time rushing list for fifth place with 3,975 rushing yards…12/9 at New England: Made his 15th consecutive start at RT…helped Willie Parker have his seventh 100-yard rushing performance of the season…12/16 vs. Jacksonville: Registered his 16th consecutive start at RT…part of an offensive line that helped Willie Parker rush for 100 yards on 14 carries (7.1 avg.), which gave him his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season…12/20 at St. Louis: Made his 17th consecutive start at RT…helped Najeh Davenport run for 123 yards on 24 carries (5.1 avg.) and one TD, while also allowing Ben Roethlisberger to finish 16-of-20 passing for 261 yards and three TDs, which gave him his third perfect (158.3) passer rating of his career, tying Peyton Manning’s NFL record…12/30 at Baltimore: Made his 18th consecutive start of the season at RT…AFC WILD CARD 1/5/08 vs. Jacksonville:Made his first career postseason start and appearance at RT…gave Ben Roethlisberger time to finish 29-of-42 for 337 yards passing with two TDs…also helped Najeh Davenport finish the game with two rushing TDs.
2006 (2/2): Was inactive for the first 14 games and then made his first two career starts in the final two games after Max Starks went down with an injury…9/7 vs. Miami: Was inactive…9/18 at Jacksonville: Was inactive…9/24 vs. Cincinnati: Was inactive…10/8 at San Diego: Was inactive…10/15 vs. Kansas City: Was inactive…10/22 at Atlanta: Was inactive…10/29 at Oakland: Was inactive…11/5 vs. Denver: Was inactive…11/12 vs. New Orleans: Was inactive…11/19 at Cleveland: Was inactive…11/26 at Baltimore: Was inactive…12/3 vs. Tampa Bay: Was inactive…12/7 vs. Cleveland: Was inactive…12/17 at Carolina: Was inactive…12/24 vs. Baltimore: Started and played in his first career NFL game at RT…12/31 at Cincinnati: Started for the second straight game at RT…helped offense gain 482 total yards, including 207 yards rushing, and possess the ball for 40:41.COLLEGE: 2005:Anchored a line for an offense that ranked second in the Atlantic 10 and 15th in I-AA with 429.8 ypg…was named third-team All-American by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette and also was an All-Atlantic 10 first-team selection, a first-team I-AA All-American as selected by both the Walter Camp Foundation and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), and a third-team Sports Network I-AA All-America pick…was also named to the Don Hansen’s Football Gazette Northeast Regional First Team as well. 2004: Started all 11 games at right tackle…voted to the All-Atlantic 10 second team…received the Hofstra Hard Hat Award as the Offensive Lineman of the Year…recorded one tackle on an interception return against Rhode Island…received game balls in victories over Rhode Island and Richmond. 2003: Started all 12 games at offensive tackle. 2002: Played in one game (versus Rhode Island) at defensive tackle…Recorded one solo tackle. 2001: Redshirted…majored in interdisciplinary studies.

PERSONAL: Played four years of football, three years of basketball and was a member of the track team for one year at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, NY…played on the Cardinals CHSAA “A” championship team…received the Cardinal Hayes Outstanding Defensive Player Award as a senior…recorded 12 sacks as a senior and eight in each of his sophomore and junior seasons…was voted Most Valuable Player in the Catholic High School All-Star game…has one brother and one sister…is an active member of the Big Brothers Association…enjoys basketball and swimming in his spare time…aspires to have a career in television or radio.

Jan 27

2009

2001 Empire Challenge Alumni - Willie Colon QUOTES FROM PITTSBURGH STEELERS MEDIA DAY

In The News
01.27.09
Super Bowl XLIII

2001 Empire Challenge Alumni - Willie Colon
QUOTES FROM PITTSBURGH STEELERS MEDIA DAY

(On videotaping Media Day) “We were in the locker room fooling around with some of our teammates trying to put these tight jerseys that we have on. We are just having fun with it and are trying to capture all the memories. I am blessed to be here.”

(On if it has sunk in that he is at the Super Bowl) “No, it really hasn’t. There was so much talk about us not even being in the playoffs, but to be here standing tall is a blessing.”

(On what goes on behind the scenes that only the team gets to experience) “I don’t know. They document everything. For the first two days we are trying to soak it all in. But, once we get ready for practice that’s what we will be focused on.”

(On Mike Tomlin’s calmness) “I think he is calm. He has been there before being with Tampa and winning the Super Bowl. He’s seen the mountain top. For him to be a head coach and bring us to the mountain top he has a lot to be proud of. I am very proud of him as a coach. A lot of people didn’t want to be the coach, but he stepped in there and led us. I am happy he’s our coach.”

(On Guard Darnell Stapleton coming into play week four) “That was an extreme role for him. From a standpoint, he played all three positions and wasn’t considered to do anything but be a back up. There were a lot of high expectations for him. For him to come, in and him and I gel as well as we do and have the communication that we have, it talks volumes for the kid and I love him like a brother.”

(On spending more time with Guard Darnell Stapleton to work on their communication) “I think we do a great job of understanding where we need to be and where we have to get to. We understand that to be a strong right side we have to workout together and in the film room we have to study together. There was a lot we had to walk through this year together to be good and we’ve made it so far.”

(On the part of the game Guard Darnell Stapleton has improved on in the last year) I think his mental game. For him being the center I think he’s been able to see both perspectives and it’s helped him a lot. He’s a smart kid.”

(On if this Super Bowl is the making of a dynasty) “I don’t know if you can say that yet. You can say that with the Patriots, but we will have to get here a couple more times for us to say that.”

(On RB Willie Parker’s playing ability) “I think he’s a threat. I think you have to respect his speed. If he gets hot, he will cradle all day. When we block it up right then he gets to the hole. He gets the offense grooving in their rhythm. That’s what we try to do. We try to get a rhythm. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.”

(On RB Willie Parker making the team better when he is healthy) “I think it’s the guys we have up front. We like running the ball. We understand and have the ability to wear guys out. I will tell everybody, you put us in front of anybody in the league and we will fight for four quarters. Once we get that going, that’s when he opens up and get’s going.”

(On if there will be butterflies on Sunday) “There are probably going to be a few butterflies. I am just going to try and not hyperventilate too much, keep my composure and have fun. I’m excited.”

(On the many Pittsburgh fans that will be at the game) “Steeler Nation – that’s what it’s all about. They come out and support us. Why wouldn’t you want to be a fan of the black and gold?”

(On all the injuries Pittsburgh has overcome) It’s perseverance. It’s all about seeing the big picture and being able to get it done. I think for the most part we understand it isn’t what the outside world thinks about us, it’s about us believing in each other. Anything is possible.