Lawrence Timmons, the Steelers veteran inside linebacker, has a hard task in front of him in 2014.
The 28 year old will be required to lead the Steelers young defense, both on and off the field, as well as continue the high level of play he has shown since 2010.
Long under appreciated by the national audience, Timmons is one of the rare linebackers in the NFL athletic enough to stuff the run whilst being fully capable of dropping into coverage without being exposed. Despite being the beating heart of the Steelers defense since 2011, Timmons has never been voted to a Pro Bowl.
During a wide ranging Q&A with Jim Wexell of the Steel City Insider, the Steelers legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau gave Timmons a huge vote of confidence.
Discussing Timmons versatility, LeBeau had this to say.
"Lawrence is an amazing guy. He played the open inside backer for us all along. We had some injury problems a couple years ago and he went to outside and did a great job for us outside. He played the inside in the third-down defense. And when we had a problem at the strong side, he went to the strong side. He’s a very versatile guy. He really looks at home, to me, on the strong side"
When asked if he'd ever had a linebacker previously play all those multiple roles, LeBeau responded " I have. I have had several different players but I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone play it better than Lawrence has played them."
The notion of an every-down linebacker is starting to become antiquated in today's NFL, with specialisation becoming the calling card of the day on the defensive side of the ball. This, I'm sure, is something that hasn't escaped Dick LeBeau, but he says there will always be a place for someone with Timmons' skill set.
"You’re always going to have to have one or two of those guys in there. Not every play’s a pass, even though it’s third-and-8. It’s good to have a lot of little guys that are really fast running around covering those speed guys, but you’ve got to have somebody with a little muscle, too. I think there will always be a place for a bigger backer, but he’ll have to be of the ilk of Lawrence, agile enough and fast enough to do some stuff in pass coverage."
After all these years in the NFL, one would imagine there isn't much that leaves Dick LeBeau puzzled. However, like virtually every Steelers fan, he just doesn't understand why Lawrence Timmons hasn't been voted to a Pro Bowl.
"I’ve said for three years he’s been playing at a Pro Bowl level, for three years now. A couple of those years we led the daggone league in defense, and he should’ve gone. But, again, that’s just my opinion."
LeBeau will be hoping desperately that Timmons lives up to his Pro Bowl stature in 2014. In the Steelers defense, it all starts and ends with the linebackers, and if the Steelers are going to regain their berth among the best in the league, Timmons will need rush the passer, stuff the run and cover the pass as good as he ever has.