James Farrior, you are one of my favorites but....................................

by grapes on Jan 4, 2010 4:23 PM EST

you are getting old and slowing down. In some ways I see Farrior's position as big a problem as the secondary. I think we all agree he has lost a step. I think the biggest issue with replacing him is the fact that he is our defensive signal caller. I don't know what the plan is. Do the steelers have enough faith in Timmons at this point to turn the role over to him? Fox? Definitely not a rookie (1st rounder or not). Or do we leave him in place for another year?

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I quess you could have troy be the signal caller but at safety don't know if every one could hear him

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by WVPiratesfan on Jan 4, 2010 4:56 PM EST reply actions

does it have to be an inside player?

by grapes on Jan 4, 2010 5:18 PM EST reply actions

I quess not

but when you have a inside player there is a better chance of everyone hearing them

by WVPiratesfan on Jan 4, 2010 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

that's a good question

I know there are better people on the site to answer this. I hope to hear from them. The way I view it is a defense is called, but then it is the front 7 and the db’s. A LB is up to see the field, and he needs to be in command. Harrison is a warrior but not a leader, and Woodley and Timmions are to young.

by SteelBuckeye on Jan 4, 2010 9:25 PM EST up reply actions

Woodley and Timmons are NOT young

If memory serves a lot of rookie linebackers start and call the plays right away. That Lofa Tatupu guy did it in Seattle in his rookie season. Not sure about Patrick Willis with 49ers…

Timmons and Woodley are 3rd year veterans, soon to be 4th year battle tested VETs who own SB hardware.

by Bonek on Jan 4, 2010 10:43 PM EST up reply actions

a few options...

…a few have already been mentioned:
1. things remain the same
2. a different LB could take over. it’s not unheard of for an OLB to make the calls.
they are all currently ‘3 down’ players so changing out the radio helmet shouldn’t be a problem. in fact, i am guessing the off-season review of tape and honest review of his performance might lead to #51 becoming a 2 down player – this actually creates the need for him to give up the helmet.
however, while their are times farrior blitzes off the corner, he does so either out of a set package or after setting up late. this is because his role is to first read and react to pre-snap situations. i’m not sure the other 3 LB slots have the freedom to do that AND do what they need to do in the current scheme. (i not stating that – i honestly just don’t know.)
3. moving it to a DB (specifically a safety) isn’t out of the question. in some defenses, a call will come in separately for the DBs from the rest of the D. that helps/hurts this option. i think clark tended to make those calls for the DBs before his health status became more uncertain (?). troy is in much the same situation i already mentioned re: the other LBs and needing to make so many other reads for his own actions.

the final option:
with no NTs left on the roster (if/when Big Snack goes)
…and MLBs loosing steps every day…
…and if our Def. Coord. decides to retire…
…and our CBs unable to cover anyone…
4-3 Cover-2…James just has to drop straight back

…i’m just sayin’

by ithinkivehurtthisbefore on Jan 4, 2010 5:56 PM EST reply actions

We need to make some moves in Free Agency

We don’t have enough high Draft Picks to cover all our holes

by lightningrod on Jan 4, 2010 7:38 PM EST reply actions

we don't have major holes

just had major injuries.

by Bonek on Jan 4, 2010 10:45 PM EST up reply actions

Fox seems to be a pretty smart player

he might be able to

by shleeve on Jan 4, 2010 8:13 PM EST reply actions

What about?

Farrior putting on 5-10 pounds and moving to Foote’s old spot, a run oriented more aggressive position, and letting Timmons be the cleanup and cover player. Foote was never very fast so Farrior could probably do a good job as a plugger in his old role. He could retain his playcalling duties and just be asked less in coverage… Seems the move would benefit both players…

Please stop unleashing hell, coach, I can't take it anymore!!!

by Steelfrog on Jan 5, 2010 5:38 AM EST reply actions

I think it could work

it all comes down to how much Farrior slows down this off-season

by WVPiratesfan on Jan 5, 2010 10:52 AM EST up reply actions

Farrior putting on weight last offseason may have sped up his slowing down...

He added some weight in the offseason to get up to 240-ish, and he visably slowed down this season. Adding more weight would only slow him down more, assuming that the weight is what slowed him down initially of course. I don’t know for sure.

I’d like to see him lose a little bit of weight personally, it might give him back a little of what he lost.

'I’ve learned to become a flat-liner. There’s a lot out there that’ll make your heart jump if you allow it."
-Coach Tomlin

by NYSteelersFan4 on Jan 5, 2010 11:37 AM EST up reply actions