A View from the SteelCage...An "F" in Steeler History

 We have this exciting LB.  Young, fast, hits like a truck.  6’1", 245 lb…a monster.  Has some weaknesses, but the sky is the limit.  His backup is Mr. Reliable.  You can just count on him, no worries at all, there’s that F word, Foote.  Don’t I mean Fox?  Nope and I don’t mean Timmons either.  Back up to 2002/2003 and I am talking about Kendrell "Ring your" Bell.  I want to point out some pretty interesting similarities between Bell/Foote and Timmons/Fox.  Statistics can be manipulated to come to the conclusions you want, but look for yourself.

via www.post-gazette.com

     First, take away Timmons first season as injuries and youth kept him out of the lineup.  Here are his stats for 2008 (first season really playing):

Kendrell Bells Stats during 2001 (Rookie Campaign):

     Bell’s weakness was of course the pass, Timmons’ is the run.  Neither is bad, but they definitely excel at the other.  Bell played on 1st and 2nd, Timmons primarily on 3rd and obvious passing situations.  Bell also rushed more often as dropping into coverage wasn’t his strong point.  That explains the higher tackle and sack totals for Bell.  Timmons came in for passing situations and is equally adept at rushing and covering, which explains the decent sack total and higher passes defended and the interception.  Otherwise, the numbers are similar in their structure (meaning they were both very promising for what they were asked to do). 

     Farrior then replaced Earl Holmes as the LILB.  Bell’s next season (2002) was hampered by a high ankle sprain during the preseason and ankle troubles lingered although he still finished with respectable numbers considering the nature of an ankle sprain:

     Timmons’ next season is this year.  During the preseason he suffered a high-ankle sprain, and other ankle problems have limited his playtime.  He has started and played in 6 out of 8 games.  If the second half is the same that will mean he will start and play in 12 games (look at Bell’s 2002 stats again).  Here is Timmons’ stat line so far and projected year end stats for 2009:

     Mind you, the games Timmons has played, he hasn’t had the ankle problems Bell suffered and stays as a linebacker on passing downs whereas 2002 is the year of the failed "Kendrell Bell as a rush end in the Nickel" experiment.  Numbers look really similar again.

     Bell was excellent in 2003 but a groin injury made him completely useless in 2004 (the same injury Timmons suffered in his rookie training camp that kept him from getting reps).

     Who replaced Bell in 2004 and kept Timmons on the side line for 2007/2008?  Look at Foote’s stat lines for those three years.  Mind you 2005/2006 Foote’s totals are higher, but those three years are eerily similar especially 2004 and 2008 his first and last year starting for the Steelers :

     Now look at his 2002 stats (Bell’s ankle injury year) and that other "F" word pops his head in, Fox’s stat line and expected totals for this year (Timmons’ ankle injury year).  Fox’s stat line at end of year IMO will look more like Foote’s 2004 campaign because he rotates often with Timmons on the run downs.

     So the similarities are intriguing, but do I think Timmons’ will be a "bust" like Bell. Well, first, Bell wasn’t a bust IMO, just unlucky on the injury front.  That is like saying Greg Lloyd and Barry Foster were busts because injuries did not allow them to reach our expectations for them.  Is Timmons’ injury prone, once again no, he has just gotten a little unlucky.  He has amazing potential and is a monster.  How many other guys can stand next to Woodley’s 273 lbs and not look tiny…

via assets.sbnation.com

     Look at his body type and it looks like he could probably carry another 10 lbs and not lose any speed.  That is really scary.  And he is young folks.  He is only going to get better learning from Potsie and Coach Kevin Butler.  A few more injuries though and I will start looking prophetic.  But I think we can look forward to a future where Farrior and Timmons lock down the middle until Farrior moves on, and then who knows. 

via elyriact.smugmug.com

Next time from A View from the SteelCage…A Tale of Two Willies.