Unit Of The Week: Linebackers

by TheMostViolentTeam on Sep 8, 2008 6:58 PM EDT Comment 17 comments

In the first installment of something I'll try to do every week, we'll highlight the play of what I feel is the best performing unit of players in any given game. Owing to me being completely drunk by the 2nd half this may be a shorter synopsis then coming weeks, but I digress, it's impossible to stay sober when we are piling on the touchdowns in a bar filled with 150ish wild Steelers fans like myself. In week 1, the distinction could easily go to any unit, but I'll take the linebackers:

James Harrison: Our mean SOB starting ROLB made poor Duane Brown cry in frustration at one point in the game. Not much else is needed to prove the point Harrison didn't let last seasons success get to his head. That said, he showed the same power and explosiveness as last year, and has developed his pass-rushing arsenal even more. His intensity is simply unbelievable.

James Farrior: "Steady Freddie" was at it again, stuffing runs up the middle, covering TEs and WRs, putting pressure on the QB. Farrior STILL hasn't even lost a half-step despite his advanced age (same with Townsend), and that extension will be proved to be a great investment.

Larry Foote: See Farrior's notes. Foote can do it all pretty well, and he did just that.

LaMarr Woodley: We all knew he would be a great pass-rusher, and he did just that. What we weren't sure of is if he could stick with TEs in coverage, he did that well enough to get an INT early in the game, so as of right now, he has the ability. We'll see how he does against elite TEs (like Winslow next week), but that might be a task where Timmons will be used more often than not. Great starting debut for Woodley, he should only improve as the season goes on too. Scary thought for opposition.

Lawrence Timmons: Man, our two young LBs are absolute studs. While he didn't see the field as much as Woodley, he was out there quite a bit in rotation and made some nice plays. Pressure up the middle, coverage, and he's got that zip that Polamalu does, as evidenced by him blowing up a short screen pass (I forget when). Timmons was in the middle of the field and the RB caught the ball seemingly wide open in the flat, and then BAM! Timmons is knocking him on his arse for little gain. He'll be out there more and more if he keeps that up.

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Have to add

the best part about the defense in this game, was they were dominant, without using any of our more confusing alignments. no exotic “fire-zone” blitzes, crossing stunts, etc…we just lined up and beat them physically. not only is it great to pound a team like that, but if we can dominate without getting too fancy, it’s just more tricks we can save for later; which we’ll need against better offenses than the one we faced yesterday. Almost chose the D-Line because Hampton and Aaron Smith were playing like they were 26, and not 30+. The LOS was consistently moved into the backfield by those two.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Sep 8, 2008 7:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed

our lbs were incredible…not only the five mentioned above, but i counted a couple times that woods and fox were making tackles, or involved in tackles on special teams. i would like to see timmons on the field more, but he’s young and learning. also, i will somewhat disagree with farrior not losing a “half-step.” he looked solid as usual, but, at least to me, it appears that he has lost a step in his deep zone protection, as evidenced by the first td pass. however, it is the first week of the season, and even the best get beat sometimes. other than that…harrison is a savage (silverback is the PERFECT nickname for him), everyone will know woodley’s name by season’s end, timmons is a heat-seeking missile who’ll be starting before week 10, foote looked solid as always, and as i mentioned earlier, fox and woods look to have already improved our kick coverage. great unit to select for week 1…let’s hope they keep it up for 15 more

by NoCal-SteelCity on Sep 8, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Donovan Woods

Looks like a diamond we have found in the rough of undrafted free agents.
He made more than one terrific solo special teams tackles.
Bravo to the Steelers for once again ravaging through the UDFA’s pool and finding a keeper.

by iBleedBlack&Gold on Sep 8, 2008 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

so nice

to see a guy regularly making stud tackles on ST.

by steelerark on Sep 8, 2008 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ditto

by herewegosteelers on Sep 8, 2008 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Especially

When that player was a QB/WR in college and is now playing LB in the pros.

by Romain El 82 on Sep 9, 2008 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He did convert during college to play defense at both safety and linebacker, and did pretty well as a senior year linebacker: 82 tackles, two sacks, INT, two forced fumbles, and defensive MVP for his team.

Now the real interesting thing with Smith sitting out and the hype generated about that is what if MT wants Madison or Woods to be more than they currently are? Woods used to play safety in college and Madison plays CB. Woods seemed pretty decent at QB, I don’t think Madison impressed overly at CB. Still though, anyone think these guys have a shot to be moved to safety or are planned on practicing as a swing position to safety?

I’m not saying Anthony Smith should go away, but he might want to beef up his special teams contributions if he wants to be active.

by steelguy99 on Sep 9, 2008 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I meant woods seemed decent at LB, not QB.

by steelguy99 on Sep 9, 2008 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure, I'm hoping our draft pick Ryan Mundy makes it back

by herewegosteelers on Sep 9, 2008 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yah i wanted

to comment on the subs, but i was so wasted when they saw alot of action in the 2nd half that i really couldn’t comment on it.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Sep 8, 2008 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I thought the coaches did a great job with their subs on both the Dline and LBs. Timmons saw good action and played well when he did but they left Foote in enough to get his feet wet.

Keisel also played really well I feel like I should mention. He once again got many pressures with few sacks to show for it.

by Chicago Steeler on Sep 8, 2008 7:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Blitzburgh 2

Be prepared to be highlighting the LB corp all season long TMVT. The are reminiscent of the mid 90’s squad the wreaked havoc throughout the league.

Deebo is a maniac. Sort of like Lloyd but crazier. I semi hope another drunken Brown fan wanders onto the field Sunday night just to watch the Deebo power slam. Woodley is an animal. A sort of Kirkland/Greene hybrid. Farrior is extremely athletic and smart. He reminds me a bit of a poor man’s Jack Ham even though Dobre Shunka played outside. Foote is solid like Jerry O and I can’t wait to see what we find out about 94 in the coming weeks. As stated in my fan post I was extremely excited about the ST play of Woods and commend the FO on their UDFA prowess. Fox seems like a helluva FA in creating ST and depth at LB. Should be a helluva ride.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Sep 8, 2008 10:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bingo

It was also crystal clear that when the linebackers play they way they did, and the D-Line holds their ground, life is so much easier for the defensive backs. Those backers are a DBs best friend. It seems like all the DBs have to do is keep their man in front of them and make the open tackle and eventually we will stop the opposition.

by maryrose on Sep 8, 2008 10:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

correct

lots of Steelers fans get frustrated when our CBs play off the receiver at the line and seem to “allow” the short completion, but this plays into the teeth of our defense, as the offense winds up in 3rd & long, and then we can unleash the beasts that are our OLBs.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Sep 9, 2008 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nasty.....Just nasty

Its so refreshing to see some pressure opposite Harrison. I always thought Haggans was mediocre at best. Now we have Woodley who looks like a premier pass rusher, and surprisingly did his thing in coverage, which he wasnt asked to do at Michigan. Throw in an athletic freak of nature in Timmons and we have an unreal LB unit.

by SteelerDomination on Sep 9, 2008 2:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice writeup

You covered the LB’s well. I only want to accentuate how nice it is to have a guy like Timmons that can take away that RB dumpoff on 3rd and long that always used to kill us. He did it in camp, he did it in the preseason, and now he did it the regular season. Problem solved.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Sep 9, 2008 10:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah Most V and Bad

Great point about Timmons’ impact against the dump off. And to think, HE’S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER, AND BETTER, ALL SEASON LONG. He’s got Farrior mentoring, and Harrison and Woodley wreaking havoc out there which can only open things up.

Woodley – Farrior – Timmons – Harrison

quadruple YOY

by herewegosteelers on Sep 9, 2008 11:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs