Steelers Training Camp Primer, Vol. 4: "Mack" Line Backer

by cgolden on Jul 21, 2008 1:40 PM EDT

As camp nears, we look at another position that could be up for grabs once camp starts. We've already taken a look at the battles that will ensue at cornerback and 3rd WR but the competition at linebacker could be the most entertaining. Not only is this a battle to play linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers but it includes a first round pick that contributed very little his rookie season and a seasoned veteran whose started over 70 consecutive games, including a Super Bowl. In the end the coaching staff could be faced with another question of experience or potential.

The Incumbent Starter: Larry Foote has to be considered a major success story as far as Steelers second day draft picks are concerned. A fourth round pick in 2002, he became a starter his third season in the league and has started over 70 consecutive games since then. The Steelers thought enough of Foote to let Kendrell Bell walk after several injury plagued seasons (quite a wise move on their part) and he's rewarded them with a handful of productive years. During those four seasons he's averaged just over 85 tackles and over 3 sacks a season while playing beside James Farrior. Foote's entering his seventh season in the league but he's still only 28 years old. He's also a team leader and a solid presence in the locker room. While he's not an overly athletic guy or a guy who will ever get Pro Bowl consideration but he simply gets the job done. He's an outstanding tackler and has great instincts thanks to endless film study. His instincts and study though don't always make up for his lack of athleticism. He's basically a two down linebacker who excels at stopping the run but can be exploited in passing situations. He's extremely durable though and hasn't missed a game since his rookie season (2002). If Foote does lose the starting job, he'll likely star on special teams in 2008 but the real question will come in 2009 when he' s in the final year of his deal.

The Challenger: Most Steelers fans weren't thrilled with the selection of Lawrence Timmons in the first round last year but there is hope now that he'll become of the most athletic inside backers that Pittsburgh has ever seen. He was incredibly raw coming out of Florida State (only started one season as a junior) so it shouldn't have been a big surprise that his rookie season a slow one. He had to deal with injuries during the summer and training camp and he was having to learn a new position. He's still one of the youngest players on the team (only Gary Russell and Mendenhall are younger) considering that he just turned 22 two months ago. What he lacks in experience though he certainly makes up for with athleticism. He's by far the fast linebacker on the roster and by most accounts has already won the starting job on the dime defense. His ability to turn and run with a running back or tight end should be a thing of beauty this season. He also adds a serious pass rush threat any time he's on the field. If Timmons does win the starting 'Mack' job, it would set up an intesting situation next season and could go a long way to determining if Farrior is signed to another deal.

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The good news is that the Steelers seem to have two very capable guys battling for a spot that will have a huge impact on the defense. Whoever wins the job will rack up tackles and makes plays all over the field. In the end, I'd imagine that Timmons' potential will beat out Foote's experience. Foote will put up a fight but a team can't leave a first round pick on the bench for very long. He'll be the top backup at both inside backers and will likely still see plenty of playing time, especially on special teams. Thoughts? Has Foote started his last game? What should the Steelers do in 2009 if Timmons is a beast this year?

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could someone with more X and O experience

explain the differences between the two inside linebacker positions?

by schnifin on Jul 21, 2008 2:30 PM EDT 0 recs

from wikipedia

In the 3-4, one is generally a run stuffing player who is better able to handle offensive linemen and stop running backs when the offense features a running play, while the other is often a smaller, faster player who excels in pass coverage. However, the smaller or cover LB should also be able to scrape and plug running lanes decently.

My own comment is that the difference between them will depend a lot on the personnel around them and what they are asked to do on a regular basis so there’s no hard and fast rule…

by bgbw on Jul 21, 2008 3:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

the way we run it

in our 3-4, both linebackers are good run stuffers and pass coverage. Foote is underrated in pass coverage, partly because Farrior is better and he takes the pass coverage responsibilities when needed, but Foote is a pretty good athlete. Farrior is a little bigger than Foote actually, but he is also faster. regardless our ILBs are usually pretty interchangeable, in fact all of our LB’s as a whole unit are usually pretty interchangeable and i don’t see that changing anytime soon.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Jul 21, 2008 8:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

you really think so?

I’ve always thought that he looked pretty stiff when he’s trying to drop back in coverage. He always looked to me like a guy who is at his best when he’s running ‘down hill’ (for lack of a better term).

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Jul 21, 2008 10:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

his strength

is definitely run stopping as you say, i was just pointing out he’s not a bad athlete like it seems people are making him out to be, just Farrior and Timmons are better athletes. thats why they both went in the first round. Regardless, I think Timmons will win the job.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Jul 22, 2008 5:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

Larry & Larry

Always liked Foote. An undersized overachiever who simply gets the job done. He has heart and a SB ring. He made big plays in big games, none bigger than a pick against Denver in the 05 Championship game. Worst case scenario, the Steelers have a solid starter at the inside LB position.
Best case scenario Timmons is a beast and is on the field 24/7. If that’s the case look for Foote to walk after his contract is up unless they then move Timmons to Farrior’s spot and give Foote his old job back.
Probably Foote and Timmons will share time next year with both on the field playing to their strengths based on evaluations made by the coaching staff. In any case, IMO the Steelers are solid at inside LB.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Jul 21, 2008 2:31 PM EDT 0 recs

Nickel and diming it

I wonder if we’ll see a lot of situational subbing for these two. as has been noted Foote’s a good run stuffer but suffers keeping up with backs and TEs. We could Foote in on all base formations but out on all non-base situations. Try to bring Timmons onto the field more, but without forcing him to do too much.

by Chicago Steeler on Jul 21, 2008 3:16 PM EDT 0 recs

in my opinion

Timmons needs to win this job to validate his draft position. It needs to happen or the “bust” label is really going to start to stick, justified or not.

by nerves of steel on Jul 21, 2008 3:37 PM EDT 0 recs

I don't think it's as urgent in this case.

One great thing about having a solid linebacking corps before drafting Timmons is that there was no immediate and obvious hole that really needed to be filled. Quite simply, reading NFL offenses is much harder than reading college offenses; if he has the potential to be the great linebacker that everyone projects he could be, I don’t see anything wrong with spending this year developing him further. I wouldn’t be surprised if Foote were named the “starter,” and then gradually transitioning to Timmons over the course of the year. We’ll probably be seeing a lot of both of them this season anyway.

by HinesField on Jul 22, 2008 10:29 AM EDT up 0 recs

i think that it’s Larry Foote’s job to lose right now. He has been mopre than solid since earning the starting nod and giving the position to Timmons because he was a first round draft pick would not make much sense. However, the better player should play and if Timmons wins the position in camp and during the preseason then so be it. I think Timmons has the potential to do big things once he understands how the NFL works but i don’t know if he has that figured out yet. He is a super athlete and could grow into a top inside backer in the league but he has a lot of work to do. I hope i am wrong with this and he absolutely explodes onto the scene this season. But as i see it, Foote will start to begin the season, Timmons will see spot duty and eventually overtake the postion from Foote once he has a complete understanding.

by mooski on Jul 21, 2008 3:44 PM EDT 0 recs

May the best man win.

As some have stated Larry Foote has been a very durable, solid, yet unspectacular player for the Steelers. I agree that it is unlikely that last year’s first round pick, Lawrence Timmons will be relegated to the sideline for another season, especially given how much he’s being paid. Of course Timmons’ future depends on his ability to grasp coach LeBeau’s complicated schemes. He has to show that he’s capable of playing instinctively and not get caught up in thinking too much.

As for Larry Footes future, I believe his situation depends on if the Steelers extend James Farrior or not.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v458/MBlaster1/Silverbacksig2bb.gif[/IMG]

by Master Blaster on Jul 21, 2008 5:52 PM EDT 0 recs

Too Many Linebackers is a good thing!

I’m not complaining about having a lot of talent at ILB this year. It’s football and injuries happen all the time. I’m not sold on Timmons being able to not only win the job, but stay healthy all year. Tomlin has favored veterans over younger players, but Timmons was his very first pick. Regardless, I think Tomlin will appoint the guy who earns the job. In my opinion, it will be Foote. However, Timmons will play on 3rd and long regularly and may take the job by mid-season or if an injury occurs. I’m concerned is Harrison or Woodley gets hurt. I like B. Davis, but I don’t think he’s ready to contribute on 1st and 2nd down until much later in the season. Can Timmons play outside if needed?

Tony - Stillers Fan in Raleigh

by Tshaff on Jul 21, 2008 8:38 PM EDT 0 recs

Looking forward to see how Timmons plays this year

- I was one of those fans who wasn’t too happy when the Steelers drafted Timmons last year. I wanted to the Steelers to trade down if possible. I especially didn’t feel good about the pick when Colbert said that he was drafted to play OLB, since I thought that he clearly didn’t have the frame to play 3-4 OLB in today’s NFL. (Before anyone says that James Harrison doesn’t have the frame of a typical 3-4 OLB, let me just say that JH was an UDFA. He has bucked the odds. I expect the 15th pick of the draft to be less of an atypical projection.)

- Timmons certainly passes the eye test in that pic. Wow.

- I didn’t think that Timmons looked very instinctive in his limited PT last year. Hopefully, that was just due to not knowing the playbook and his responsibilities very well.

- IF the light does go on this season for Timmons, I can envision Timmons as a Polamalu type player (healthy version) at the mack. Wouldn’t that be nice?

- Foote should definitely be resigned to a reasonable contract if possible. He would be a very good lb for depth and ST. (This scenario is based upon Timmons panning out.) Of course, if he wants to start and/or gets starter money somewhere else, then that’s obviously his right.

- Slghtly off topic, but it would be nice to see Foote, Mike Humpal and Bruce Davis form a nice core trio of lb on the ST coverage units this season.

by steeler1275 on Jul 22, 2008 5:29 AM EDT 0 recs

the players drafted behind timmons

were a bit more productive. I’m talking d-line and linebackers here with Harrell (Green Bay), Moss (Denver), Beason (Carolina) and Spenser (Dallas). Timmons played in 16 games and registered two tackles (both in the slop fest against Miami) while the others had 16, 12, 137, and 27 tackles respectively. I’m not a Timmons basher or anything, I just think that if he does not win this competition and take a place on the inside the sounds of the bust label will become louder and louder

by nerves of steel on Jul 22, 2008 10:47 AM EDT 0 recs

I'm with you

but I don’t think anyone other than Beason has shown much to this point. I was against drafting Timmons, but looking at the players taken after him, we didn’t have many options. If we could have gotten Willis, Carriker or Brown it would have been nice, but they were all gone and the talent level dropped rather sharply after that. I’ve said elsewhere that I would have liked to see us draft an OL, particularly Joe Staley, because Starks would have walked, Colon would be a guard, and we would have had a future replacement for Marvel if we didn’t want to sign him.

Other than Staley, I’m not sold that anyone else would have been a better option. Beason started right away and stayed healthy, but I still question whether he is a better prospect. Timmons had an injury and some people in front of him (and still does), so I’m willing to wait another year before turning on him. Woodley’s presence has made it easier to be patient.

by BadMaafala on Jul 22, 2008 11:50 AM EDT up 0 recs

I wanted the Steelers to trade down and draft...

Ben Grubbs, Aaron Sears and/or Justin Blaylock. (Basically whomever the Steelers had ranked highest on their board out of the three.) And of course, we would have picked up an extra draft choice or two.

At the time, I noted that Faneca was heading into the final year of his contract (and probably shouldn’t or wouldn’t be resigned) and I haven’t been impressed with Kendall Simmons’ play ever since he was diagnosed with diabetes.

If Timmons was a Demarcus Ware, Shawn Merriman type talent, I wouldn’t have minded the pick, but I didn’t think he was that type of difference maker. Instead of Timmons, I would have preferred the Steelers wait to select another lb later in the draft amongst David Harris, Justin Durant, Quincy Black, Brian Robison, Antwan Barnes, or Tim Shaw. (Again, whomever the Steelers thought would fit their scheme and had ranked highest on their board.)

Hopefully, Timmons makes me look foolish.

by steeler1275 on Jul 23, 2008 12:24 AM EDT up 0 recs

I like the pick

Like everyone else i didnt see Timmons being an OLB in our system, so im glad he will be at a position in the middle to run sideline to sideline instead of trying to come off the edge all of the time. I dont think its fair to compare him to other players in the draft because hes yet to have a chance to show what he can do.

I think the situation with Timmons and Foote will result in a situational scheme. Both will be on the field, but Timmons probably a little more because hes more well rounded. Either way, this is a good problem to have.

by SteelerDomination on Jul 22, 2008 12:34 PM EDT 0 recs