Two preseason games in the books and in both contests Lawrence Timmons has looked very shaky vs the run. We all thought it was odd last year when Timmons appeared ready to start yet remained on the bench on 1st and 2nd down. Larry Foote was clearly playing his last season with the Steelers yet still held down the starting job over Timmons. We may be slowly starting to understand why Timmons was being “hidden” and only came onto the field on 3rd down and passing situations. He’s great at getting to the QB, he can drop into a zone, and is athletic enough to cover a RB, TE, or even a WR in coverage.
Two meaningless preseason games aren’t enough visual evidence to send us into a panic but the Steelers need Timmons to plug holes, track the ball, shed blocks, and tackle guys in the run game.
While Timmons has struggled a bit through two games, Keyaron Fox has looked fantastic. He is playing so well, in fact, that some people out there wouldn’t mind seeing Fox step into Foote’s old role as the ILB on 1st and 2nd down and then giving way to Timmons on 3rd and passing situations. It’s a bit early to suggest a move as drastic as this, but it really wouldn’t be a bad idea if Keyaron Fox is able to keep up this level of play. I’m not ready to go this far just yet, but it’s nice to know that if for some reason Timmons struggles, Fox is a guy that is capable of stepping in and playing the role of Larry Foote. It’s also important to note that Fox is being given the chance to see some action with the starters in short-yardage and goal line situations. Obviously the coaches like the way he is playing right now.
Take a look at the 2 minute video we posted below. Timmons flashes his speed and skill a few times but he also has some incredibly ugly snaps. Fox is also featured and looks great. I think you will find that Timmons struggles when the ball is run right at him. When the ball goes the other direction, he is great at tracking down the ballcarrier with his speed. Fox on the other hand looks like a natural ILB and doesn’t care if the play is run at him or away from him. He sheds blocks, tracks the ball, and makes a play.
Great analysis! Timmons got destroyed on one of those plays. Fox is a beast!
He is playing a new position. I think he will get better every game
He needs to get better fast.
Wow…this video is very incriminating. Fox is that dude!
This is why I love this site!!! Keep up the great analysis.
Timmons is a great athlete, but he needs to develop that instinct to get after the ball on the run. Watching the clip, it's almost as if he was avoiding any direct hits.
We'll see how he does next game, but at this point I'm open-minded to him sitting out the first couple of plays
Im already the second biggest fan of Keyaron Fox, just after Dagger! He will be a starter one day, in this or in another team!
I am going to flip it around another way. This is LeBeau's fault. He had Timmons rotting on the bench for 2 freaking years. Now, while I am not going to say too many bad things about the way LeBeau brings players up, I will say that if Timmons had more on the job training, they(we) would KNOW if he will always struggle versus the run, compared to he will learn how to read and stuff a running play with time. I have this feeling that as much as it lessens the blow to the team to have these guys take 3-4 years to make it to starters, it hurts the players development. And since we dont get everyone to a second or third contract, the useful years of these players are limited.
I am glad PGH is focusing on the ST studs that eventually make impacts on the D. Its fun watching and rooting for guys that go from the Practice squad to big minute eaters and sometimes to starters.
Mohawk — Timmons was injured for most of his rookie season. The fact that he played sparingly last year is possibly an indication (as the article states) that the coaches knew about Timmons' struggles against the run.
Would you really have jeopardized one of the best defenses of all time and the Lombardi Trophy just to make sure that Timmons was developing? There are times and places for second guessing, but I can't look back at LeBeau last season and say that this was a mistake. (And again, the article points out that he was likely held off of the field because of this weakness. The coaches get to see plenty of reps for each of these players, so they know better than anyone what they are dealing with.)
He looks like hes scared to get hit by the linemen also whats the name of the song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRoH3Z8pTUo
The actual song is The Ecstacy of Gold….with some hip hop stuff added over it.
I don't think he played as bad in these clips as one might think. Lets look at it play by play.
Play 1- He did his job and met the lead blocker in the hole allowing his boys to make the tackle.
Play 2- He controlled the back side of the play and was ready for any cut back. He stayed home, good play.
Play 3- He got blown the F up! now doubting that, however next time he needs to recognize who he's up against and take the lead blocker out by cutting his legs. Give him credit for tying to deliver a blow.
Play 4- He should have stayed home on this play, he was out of position. Should be corrected at this point by watching the tape.
Play 5- Made a great goaline play by shedding his block and tracking down the ball carrier.
Play 6- He did his job and took out the lead blocker forcing the back to run inside which allowed Fox to make that play. If he doesn't do that the back runs to the pylon.
Play 7- He makes a great play.
I think you need to know what your watching before you go making comments and articles about it. Is Fox playing great? sure, good for us to have depth. Foote and Timmons combined last year to make one heck of a linebacker, but Timmons is the better all around player. He may not be as sturdy against the run as Foote was, but his athleticism more than makes up for it. Timmons will allow Dick to create some pretty amazing blitz packages which won't be seen in preseason. Timmons will also create more turnovers and loss of yardage plays with his sacks. I think we gain more with Timmons in the game then we lose with Foote out. Timmons is only going to get better and is continuing to be coached at the position.
Nice try, but no cigar on this story.
some of those great plays you describe were made by Fox, not Timmons.
Fox was the guy who made the goal line tackle and was the guy who made the tackle on the last play of the clip.
Good breakdown…like we said….some good plays some not so good plays.
Ya I Wouldnt Be Too Worried About Timmons. The Positive Still Outways The Negative If Youre Gonna Worry About Someone Worry About Sweed
Timmons is what can happen when you reach for a need. The Steelers needed an olb cause Porter was gone so they took Timmons 15th overall even though he was not the 15th best player to come out of college football.
Good thing is his short comings in run support right now are all correctable with coaching because they are more mental errors and bad lanes of pursuit. Even getting blown up by that FB, he just needs to learn how to take on a blocker. He will get better as the year goes on.
Ya But Come Playoff Time Our Defense Will Still Be Number 1 And Thats All That Matters
I agree with Andy, although not as harshly. I think he takes some false steps, but he will be fine. As he plays more, he will develop a nice nose for the football.
YOu know I love you Dagger
haha. I know. This wasn't meant to be anti-Timmons it was just supposed to open the debate. Reports out of Steeler camp following game 1 were that he had a "below average game" vs the Cards. Thats why we took an extra look at him this time around.
He's one of my favorite Steelers and we have dedicated many posts to how much of a beast he is….but his play against the run will be scrutinized and when he has a few ups and downs during a preseason game it's worth noting. Doesn't mean too much one way or the other but it's something to watch for next game.
Timmons has all the physical tools you could ask for, now he needs the reps to improve his instincts in diagnosing plays.
IMO his issues are all correctable with simply more playing time and some more coaching. He has a tendency to over commit on plays instead of allowing the play to come to him, and he also needs to keep his pad level down, although Mike Sellers would have frankly blasted any of our linebackers.
Dagger, one other thing I would like to point out that no one is talking about, is a team doesn't give up 60 yards rushing in the 1st Q if there weren't other issues on D. Just take a look at Casey Hampton during the game and tell me he hasn't slipped as a player. There were numerous times he's driven off the LOS, and while yes he does get combo blocked, he's no longer routinely beating his man off the snap. While Casey remains a very good player in short yardage situations his effort in the base 34 leaves something to be desired.
Yeah, great point Frank. I chalked up the 60 yards rushing and the loooong 1st drive to "it's only preseason", the Steelers D is playing vanilla defense, and the guys probably don't care too much. We had thought about putting up some screenshots of the Steelers DL and LB vs the run in that first QTR. That might be telling. Check back in a few days and we might have something posted on that.
I'd certainly like our OL to open up holes like the Skins did on Saturday night.
And back to Timmons again, he is without a doubt a great "run and hit" guy. He will track the ball as well as any LB in the NFL no doubt. My concern is what happens when teams gameplan and start running the ball directly at #94 as much as possible. Neutralize some of his speed, make him meet blockers head-on, etc…
People…CHILL!!! The Defense doesn't even 'scheme' for these games. They barely watch film on their preseason opponents. I thought Timmons looked solid. On a number of the clips he was blitzing. This is evidenced by the fact that just prior to some snaps he was moving towards a given gap. And, yes, LB's are taught to blitz under control, and not run by draw plays etc. RELAX. Freak out if Timmons is running by Chris Johnson or Fat-dale White on the tenth
Put this together last week…____PITTSBURGH STEELERS: 3rd & Short, 2005 v. 2009 __ __ __ 3rd & 1 Running Passing 3rd & 2/3 Running Passing Total 3/sht __ __2005 25/33 75.70% 25/31 0/2 23/48 47.90% 13/26 10 for 22 48/81 59.30% __Special notes: Jerome Bettis was 11/14 (78.6%) on yard to go, 4/6 (66.7) ______
2009 __
3rd & 1 Rushing Passing 3rd & 2/3 Rush Pass Total:3/Sht__
21/37 56.80% 20/33 1 for 4 20/41 48.80% 4 for 5 16 for 36 41/78 52.60% __Special notes: Out of 36 passing plays on 3rd & 2 or 3, Steelers endured 8 sacks, 1 additional sack on 3rd & 1 __
Sounds like everyone is paying real close attention to what Timmons is doing on every play. I thought I would take the time and look closely at what Farrior was doing during these plays. I am in no way questioning Farriors skills, just pointing out the fact that there are more people on this defense the Timmons.
First Play: Farrior was a non factor as he was pushed out of the play
Second Play: Farrior blitzed as the back ran past him, Farrior lost site of the running back and looked lost in the backfield. I guess you would say, he was so fast he over pursued
Third Play: Farrior makes a nice play waiting on the carrier in the middle.
Fourth Play: RB blows right past Farrior as he is late to respond to the cut back and didn't track the carrier very well. If he was a little faster he might have gotten there
Fifth Play: Got blocked out of the middle rather easily on the goaline.
Sixth Play: Helped on the tackle, nice play!
Seventh Play: He was very passive and didn't attack the play, allowing himself to be pushed backwards giving the back a couple more yards.
From what I can see in these clips above Timmons looked more aggressive and attacked the play. I'm not knocking Farrior by any means, just pointing out the fact that you can't be in on every play. These are NFL offensive players and sometimes they are going to win there one on one match up. I thought Timmons looked great!
Go ahead and watch again, pay attention to someone else but Timmons and see how well they played. I would be interested in hearing what you have to say after watching.
I can give a pass to guys like Farrior who have proven themselves in the NFL. Timmons is a new starter and is under the microscope a bit more because of that.
Against the run, charging the line and running into a hole isn't always the best strategy. Letting things develop, staying home, shedding your block, and making a play can sometimes be the best move. Farrior has patience because he is more experienced. Timmons' first instinct is to attack with speed. Works great in the pass game and tracking guys down but not always the best method when offenses are running the ball right at you.
What’s Timmons weighing in at now? Adding 10 pounds would certainly help him at stopping the run.