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Will Lawrence Timmons make the grade?
Last season the Pittsburgh Steelers had allowed defensive leader Joey Porter to leave via free agency. The move left a rather large gap in the defense that the Pittsburgh Steelers needed to address. Enter first round pick Lawrence Timmons.
Timmons was a pass-rushing, outside linebacker from Florida St., and most had him as the #1 linebacker in a relatively weak crop of outside linebackers. There were several questions about Timmons, starting with the fact that he had only started one season, having backed up all-american Ernie Sims for two seasons. Still, the promise was there.
Timmons was injured during his first mini-camp, and wasn’t healthy again until pre-season had already begun. He missed months of playing, and by the time he was able, he had fallen behind second rounder LaMarr Woodley. It became a lost season, as he didn’t become a factor at all until…well…he was never really a factor, although he did receive playing time at the end of the year.
So is Timmons a bust, or is their potential for Timmons to explode onto the scene this year, and give the Steelers in essence, a second first rounder?
This season, the Steelers will be moving Timmons to the inside to compete with starter Larry Foote, and there is a large contingent that thinks Timmons may beat him out. He’s got the natural ability to play the position, and has been working hard all off-season.
Timmons is loaded with speed, and has potential for more size. At 6′1″, and 235, he’s a rocket who can add at least 10 more pounds without losing any of his speed. He has great burst, and is extremely agile and mobile, especially when moving towards the ball. When he hits you, you know it. He is an explosive attacker, with a nose for the ball, and has an incredible motor. It’s hard to knock him down, and his instincts for making plays make him dangerous as an attacker. He wasn’t a technically sound football player, but his instincts have long compensated for this. After a year of watching, and with his desire, it’s believed that he’s coming into this season with much more technical ability.
His biggest knocks were biting on play-action from the outside. He was the kid who knew he was faster than anyone trying to block him, so he would wait a bit to make sure there wasn’t a run, before dropping back. If he does that in the NFL, he’ll get mauled. Just ask Anthony Smith. He also relied a bit too much on his body to make tackles, sometimes failing to wrap up his would-be tackler. Again, this is something that will hamper him in the pros, where players bigger than him will be carrying the ball.
Timmons, who turns 22 on May 14th, is ultimately being groomed to be much more in the Steelers’ scheme. The Steelers have Timmons pegged to take over for inside linebacking anchor James Farrior next year, when Farrior becomes an unrestricted free-agent. So the question remains, can Timmons be a force this year, a full year after the Steelers drafted him in the first round?
I believe he will. I don’t think that Larry Foote is good enough to hold off the much more talented Timmons. This isn’t a kid with questionable character, and his talent and motivation are there. Foote may start the season in the starting lineup, but Timmons will eventually supercede him, either because of injury or simply getting outplayed. Timmons should bring an interesting package to defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. He’ll obviously have the ability to play inside, but also be able to roam a bit on the outside during the blitz schemes. He could be the piece to the puzzle that the Steelers were lacking greatly last year. If he learns coverage, and can start taking on bigger linemen, Timmons could become a game-breaker in the Steelers’ 3-4, blitzing packages.
With the media focus on this year’s first rounder, Rashard Mendenhall, look for Lawrence Timmons to be the first, first-rounder to make an impact this year.
This entry was posted
on Friday, May 9th, 2008 at 6:02 pm and is filed under Larry Foote, Dick LeBeau, LaMarr Woodley, Steel Tradition, Ernie Sims, Anthony Smith, James Pete, Rashard Mendenhall, Lawrence Timmons, Joey Porter, James Farrior, Pittsburgh Steelers.
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28 Responses to “Will Lawrence Timmons make the grade?”
May 10th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Steelers drafted Timmons as a future. I don’t think they ever expected him to step in as a raw 20 year old with just 1 season of college starting experience. The same holds true of this year’s top pick, Rashard Mendenhall. Lawrence is still younger than half of the players taken in the first round of the 2008 draft. He is younger than both of the top drafted linebackers, Jerod Mayo and Keith Rivers, I believe.
I don’t think he will lock up a starting spot this year, but I do think he will see a lot more action. There is no need to cast him into a specific role as yet. A lot will depend on how other players perform, and/or the injury situation. Timmons is a good athlete, although I don’t think he has the drop dead speed you seem to want to attribute to him. As I recall, he had a relatively pedestrian time in the 40 yard dash at the Combine. But he certainly comes with the reputation of being football fast. Still he has to master the mental part of the job, and he isn’t nearly as quick at that aspect.
The other thing is, players are VERY SELDOM absolute boom or bust propositions. Some come on quickly and establish themselves, others take a little longer, others amble around the league looking for the right situation for a few years. But the difference between a starter with impressive stats, and the player just behind him who wastes away on the bench is often very slight. Woodley is a couple years older than Timmons, and acheived a high level of success over more than one season as a collegian. It would be more surprising if Timmons was the one who secured a starting role first, in my eyes.
May 11th, 2008 at 5:58 am
One season of college experience and a #1 pick do not go together. Steelers took a risk with this kid, you never even heard his name on special teams and all he had to do was tackle. Steelers would not be looking for linebackers in the off season or the draft if they didn’t know it . BUST!!!!!
May 11th, 2008 at 6:35 am
It’s pretty hard to call him a bust already. Joey Porter only had 25 tackles as a rookie. Larry Foote had 20 as a rookie. Timmons had 13 with 2 fumble recoveries. One season of college experience? Do you mean 1 year of starting? Who cares? Willie Parker never started at NC. L.T. is athletic and talented and I have a feeling this year will be his coming out party. He was injured and thrown into one of the most complex defenses in the league. Dick LeBeau will have this kid ready to roll. So take it easy on him. It is only his second year and Tomlin likes what he sees.
May 11th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Three things:
`1. Timmons was moved to inside linebacker last season and 95 percent of the beat reporters didn’t even notice.
2. Timmons never fell behind LaMarr Woodley. The Steelers knew he couldn’t hold the point outside the day they drafted him.
3. Timmons is not being “pegged” to replace James Farrior. If it happens, it’s coincidence. Farrior has plenty left even at 33. Timmons is being “pegged” just to get on the field.
May 11th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Good post, but it’s supersede, not supercede. My Princeton-grad ex-partner made the same mistake.
May 11th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Its crazy to think he is a bust at this point. Give the guy a chance. A lot of people thought Troy P was a bust after his first season in which he did not start.
We should have a good idea after this year whether he is any good or not.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:48 am
A few reasons why Timmons may be a bust–Davis 3r, Humpel 6r, Fox FA, Woods, Bailey, Trucks, Woodley, Harrison J, Harrison A, Frazier, Foot, Farrior and of course Timmons hinself. How many do the steelers keep?
Farrior is leaving at end of season so Woodley moves up. Maybe he (Timmons) should shed a pound or two and try out for Safety to back up Taz! Remember he missed 5 games last year too!
May 11th, 2008 at 11:20 am
I think he should take footes plce and not farrior,farrior is the leader of the defense,foote is just a piece.Timmons is much faster and more athletic.I also think the left guard situation will go unnoticed,cuase faneca played like shit last season,yeah he’s a great run blocker,but he sucks pass protecting,keomatu will do just fine mark my word.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:33 am
its crazy to think Timmons is a bust. He only started 1 year in college & got drafted by a team who may have the most difficult defense to learn. Lebeau & Tomlin are going to use Timmons like the Ravens used Adailus Thomas, he’ll line up all over the field & even drop back & play safety. He is an excellent chess piece much like 43 is & to have 2 interchangeable pieces like that will make our defense fast and scary.
Timmons has crazy speed even thou his combine speed didnt reflect that, if you watched any Steeler game & paid attention to the special teams, Timmons was generally the first guy down to the ball & he just flies around the field. We acquired alot of lb’s in the off season because we play a 3-4 & need the depth. The NFL is no longer a run 2 downs than throw on 3rd, it is pass pass pass & Timmons is the new age linebacker,
I think Tomlin & Colbert know what they’re doing. If we are a 3-4 team we needed to have our LB corp rebuilt, out with Haggans & Foote, in with Timmons & Woodley, if Bruce Davis pans out, watch out.
May 11th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I hope he does in fact pan out; this was a very risky pick by Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert.
May 11th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
“Timmons was a pass-rushing, outside linebacker from Florida St., and most had him as the #1 linebacker in a relatively weak crop of outside linebackers.”
Wasn’t Patrick Willis rated higher than Timmons, coming in to that draft?
May 11th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
The “gap” in the defense was Haggans. Dude could not get to the ball or the QB. Harrison filled in fine for J Peazy, and was hampered a bit by Haggan’s inability to get pressure.
I think Timmons flashed some a bit last year. Like when he drilled McAlister and forced the fumble against the Ravens on MNF…awesome hit. He also has some good plays against Miami.
Timmons will be fine.
May 11th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
It is still too early to tell what contributions Timmons will bring to the steelers. He has a lot of athletic ability and whether or not that will translate to the field is the question. I would not give up on him yet. He was young and there were plenty of veterans who had the defensive knowledge last year. If he does beat Foote out, that would be fantastic as they could use some explosiveness from the ILB position and he would be a nice touch next to Farrior, who probably had his best year last year.
Go Steelers!!
May 11th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
The ingredients for a very good long term linebacking corps are there. Timmons and the underrated Mike Humpal inside, with Woodley and Bruce Davis on the outside. I think that Humpal will be a very pleasant surprise. He is not that different an athlete from Chad Greenway, the player he took over for at Iowa. Greenway was a mid first round pick in 2006, and was a full time starter last season after missing his first year to injury. That will free up the personel guys to concentrate on the front line and the defensive backfield in future drafts.
May 11th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Timmons has all of the physical tools to be elite. The question is does he have the grey matter and will he have the requisite desire to be great. The jury is still out as it is on Kemo, Colon and most of the new pieces from this year, last year and probably the year before as well.
May 11th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I never heard anything negative about Timmon’s work ethic or desire. With injuries mixed in with being a one year college starter, then add to it a complex D to learn in the Steelers scheme. It was no surprise to me that he didn’t do much in year 1. Not sure if I buy into they moved him only because they wanted to get him onto the field somewhere …anywhere. Like a few others I think he will fit better as a ILB and the FO moved him with the same line of thinking. I thought he did well on special teams. and I think this year we are going to see the real Timmons. I would not look too far into the Davis drafting. Haggans left which meant we had little to no depth at OLB. Nothing less nothing more.
May 11th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
There were only a dozen or so players drafted this year who are younger than Timmons. Half of those were running backs, which is a less demanding position to master at the pro level, as well. He probably should have stayed in college another year considering his youth and lack of experience.
The Steelers picked him for his longer term potential, and I am pretty sure that a year ago he was rated a better prospect than Keith Rivers or Jerod Mayo who are the same age, and were both top 10 picks this year. I think that if he had stayed another year he would still be rated ahead of those two, and the team would have had to use a higher pick than #15 overall to acquire his rights.
May 11th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Hey Mark…
Show me where Patrick Willis was the #1 rated outside linebacker…
since he played the inside….
May 11th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I did want the Steelers to take Willis in the first, but knew he wouldn’t be there if they didn’t deal up.
That kid is a freakin’ monster….
May 11th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
It’s unreasonable to compare Timmons to Willis at this point. Willis is a year and a half older and came out of college as an inside linebacker. Most of the top drafted linebackers over the past few years were at least a year older than Timmons when they broke in - Willis, Hawk, Sims, Greenway, Carpenter, Ryans, Davis, Johnson, etc.. You pretty much have to compare what Timmons does this season to their rookie years, since he is younger and learning a new position at the same time.
I like the pick despite the delayed gratification aspect. Drafting in the first half of the first round you want to use the pick on a player who is most likely to be directly involved in each play. On the offensive side of the ball, after the QB of course, that would be an all round running back like Mendenhall, while on the defensive side of the ball it would be an inside linebacker. Both Timmons and Mendenhall have the skill set to dominate games from their respective positions.
May 11th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Remember Polamalu in ‘03?He was lost most of the year,then in ‘04 the game slowed down as he got the reps and experience and now he’s a top player at his position.Timmons is young AND inexperienced,not to mention the hamstring injury that hurt his chances.If he stays healthy the game will slow down for him and his motor will enable him to be a playmaker.He’s got the tools,and don’t underestimate football speed.I’m excited,and early returns are the Steelers’ coaches are,too.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Nobody compared Timmons to Willis that I can see…
Just because his name was mentioned, certainly doesn’t mean that anyone was comparing the two.
Of course, you can’t compare them anyways, since they aren’t the same age.
May 12th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I thought you meant linebackers overall, not just OUTSIDE linebackers, so I made the point about Willis. And no, I wasn’t comparing Timmons to Willis.
Is Timmons a bust? Who knows? What I do know is that we picked this guy at #15, and he hasn’t really done anything yet. However, there were some nice O-Line guys later in that draft who are now starters for their respective teams (Grubbs, Blalock, Ugo, Kahlil, etc.).
People criticize Matt Millen for going crazy with taking WRs, but how about Colbert taking three LBs in the first three rounds for the past two years? Yes, I know, you can never have enough good LBs in a 3-4 D, but there’s always a trade-off to be made. Our line of scrimage guys could have used some high-round picks to beef ‘em up. Now we’re betting on late-round, injury-related, undrafted, and cast-off free agents for the OL, and I don’t remember what we’re doing for the DL to shore-up behind Keisel, Smith, Hampton, etc.
I hope the Timmons pick starts paying off, and like you guys said, Colbert drafted for the long term. But just remember, we missed out on linemen who are starting now.
May 12th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I know Mark…
I just wanted to make sure you knew that I had Willis on a pedestal above every other linebacker in the draft.
He was exceptional, while I don’t think there were any other inside or outside that were game-ready last season…
I agree with Rob that the potential that Timmons has could make him worth a top ten in the long run. I’m just not convinced it’s as an inside linebacker.
To those of you that felt I thought Timmons was set to take over for James Farrior this year…make sure you read it again…
His contract is up after the season, and Pittsburgh is known to play hardball. Farrior is going to be 34, and the Steelers NEVER invest in linebackers that old. Ask Greg Lloyd, Joey Porter, Kevin Greene and Levon Kirkland…
May 12th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I just don’t think there is a big rush to define Timmons at a certain position. The fact that he has the versatility to play any linebacker position, and probably fill in as a safety or rush end in a pinch, is a plus. The season is unpredictable, one of the incumbents at any of those positions could be injured or suffer a big dropoff in their level of play. Even without a specific starting role, Timmons could see a lot of action as a fill in and specialist in certain sets. He will still put up the numbers and earn his salary.
May 12th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Have trust in what the Steelers have been able to do. I think they’re making great moves. Of course we need more line help….mostly for the future, but you can’t have short term vision.
Hopefully there are a couple good prospects who don’t make other teams. We can take a good 4-3 D tackle and make him a great 3-4 D-End.
There’s a reason we’re in the hunt every year and it’s the approach we take to acquiring players….TRUST my fellow Steeler Fans!!
May 12th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I would really like to see some of you play. Some of your comments are just plain crazy. Some of you really need to get a life. Stop judging a man before you have walked in his shoes. Enjoy the coming season.
May 14th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
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