Ironically, the only way for Fox to receive playing time on defense was to make plays ? plenty of them ? on special teams.

Fox finished second on the team behind Anthony Madison with 21 special teams tackles despite missing three games with a hamstring injury.

He received his most significant playing time at inside linebacker in the final regular-season game against Cleveland, replacing starter James Farrior in the second half and recording two tackles to go along with two special teams tackles.

Cleveland's Joshua Cribbs ? who burned the Steelers for a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last season along with a 90-yard return earlier in the game ? averaged 17.7 yards on three kickoff returns against Fox's unit.

The Steelers ranked first in the NFL in kickoff coverage this season, allowing 19.1 yards per return. They ranked fourth in the league and led the AFC by allowing 6.2 yards per punt return.

"I was real pleased with how the special teams unit turned out this season. That was my major role," said Fox, who signed a free-agent contract with the Steelers after spending four seasons with Kansas City. "As far as playing on defense, I've been waiting all season for that moment. I finally got my opportunity."

Fox said he believed coach Mike Tomlin's offseason sales pitch that the team needed him to excel on special teams. However, Fox also believed his talent warranted that he should be allowed to compete for playing time at inside linebacker.

Stuck on the depth chart behind Farrior, who recorded a team-high 146 tackles, afforded Fox with few opportuities to play defense. Therefore, he understood the best way to make an impression at linebacker was to be a standout on special teams.

"That was definitely my plan," Fox said. "My role here is on special teams. At first, I really wasn't too accepting of it. But then you see how well the defense is doing and how hard everybody plays. You won't stand out if you just go through the motions. If I wanted to even have a shot at playing linebacker, I was going to have to go through special teams."

Following a similar strategy employed by 2007 first-round draft pick Lawrence Timmons, Fox tackled his role on special teams vigorously. Timmons is now an integral part of the defense in his second season with the Steelers, backing up Larry Foote at the other inside linebacker position.

Fox said he has learned to be patient while watching and learning under Farrior, who was voted to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career.

"As a young player, I didn't want to wait. I was very impatient," Fox said. "I was at Kansas City four years waiting my turn. The guys in front of me I really didn't feel like they were worthy of me having to sit back and wait my turn. But, here, the guys in front of me produce, and they've been doing it for a long time.

"I feel like (linebacker) is one of my best assets that's been kept under wraps since I've been in the NFL. But this is not an easy defense to learn. It's complicated. I feel like I'm right where I need to be. You've just got to wait your turn and continue to grind."