It's way too early to worry about Jarvis Jones

[Slapstick]

He's not an "elite" pass rusher. I think that is pretty obvious. He runs 4.9. He can't beat NFL tackles by simply lining up and whipping them--too slow, too small. But as Dukes said, he does have ability. This is where the coaching and personnel come in.

Personnel has done their job. They brought in Shazier to team with Timmons. That inside cross blitz should be back in the playbook soon. They also brought in Tuitt, who can provide pressure. Coaching has to do their job now. They've moved Heyward to Jarvis' side, thereby giving him more opportunities with lesser blockers (TEs, RBs). He better feast on those.

It is these tweaks that are going to say how Jarvis develops, because the guy isn't Von Miller, Aldon Smith, or Clay Matthews. He is in Peezy/Greg Lloyd mold more (both of whom also couldn't beat good OTs very often).

Running a 4.9 is meaningless when talking about pass rushing...what you need is a quick first step, which he has...

I've stated this before and you can verify it for yourself:

Jones' 10 yard split in that 40 time is equal to Aldon Smith's...

[steelsnis]

Running a 4.9 is meaningless when talking about pass rushing...what you need is a quick first step, which he has...

I've stated this before and you can verify it for yourself:

Jones' 10 yard split in that 40 time is equal to Aldon Smith's...

EXACTLY!

The only time the 40 matters for a LB is when he picks off a pass or picks up a fumble and is headed the other way. Otherwise it's his short-range quickness.

[RuthlessBurgher]

They brought in Shazier to team with Timmons. That inside cross blitz should be back in the playbook soon.

That should be really fun to watch. That inside cross blitz was effective when we used to run it with Farrior and Foote. The upgrade in speed to Shazier and Timmons could make Farrior and Foote look like Casey Hampton and Jamain Stephens trying to run the conditioning test.

[Oviedo]

That should be really fun to watch. That inside cross blitz was effective when we used to run it with Farrior and Foote. The upgrade in speed to Shazier and Timmons could make Farrior and Foote look like Casey Hampton and Jamain Stephens trying to run the conditioning test.

The guy on the sideline has to call the play. I've never understood why Timmons is not used more for blitzing.

[papillon]

The guy on the sideline has to call the play. I've never understood why Timmons is not used more for blitzing.

Pending on where Timmons starts from don't you have to have someone at least cover his zone briefly to discourage a pass into that area? That might mean Willianms? I don't think so. Jones? Probably not. Heyward or Hood? Doubtful. Worilds? Maybe. Polamalu or Clark? Here are your best options provided the opponent isn't running 3 or 4 verticals.

Before you start sending people after the quarterback, you need to have some cover behind it, don't you? The Steeler defense was lacking in so many places last year that blaming the play calling is like blaming a fork for being obese.

Pappy

[Shoe]

Meaningless?

Running a 4.9 is meaningless when talking about pass rushing...what you need is a quick first step, which he has...

I've stated this before and you can verify it for yourself:

Jones' 10 yard split in that 40 time is equal to Aldon Smith's...

I would agree that there isn't a direct correlation between 40 time and playing ability, but to say that it is meaningless, isn't being objective. I'm struggling to think of an OLB with 4.9 speed, let alone an OLB with 4.9 speed who became a star.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I would agree that there isn't a direct correlation between 40 time and playing ability, but to say that it is meaningless, isn't being objective. I'm struggling to think of an OLB with 4.9 speed, let alone an OLB with 4.9 speed who became a star.

I don't remember Terrell Suggs 40 time offhand, but I know it wasn't good.

[Slapstick]

Suggs ran a 4.85, which is what Jones supposedly ran...Jones also reportedly tweaked a hamstring during his 40, but continued with the workout anyway...

[steelsnis]

I would agree that there isn't a direct correlation between 40 time and playing ability, but to say that it is meaningless, isn't being objective. I'm struggling to think of an OLB with 4.9 speed, let alone an OLB with 4.9 speed who became a star.

Im not sure why the only 40-time people are using for JJ is the one from the Georgia Pro-Day when he had a bad hammy. According to the Sporting News heading into his final season at Georgia, Jones was listed as running a 4.65 40-yard dash.

In his first season at Georgia after transferring from USC, Jones (6-3, 241, 4.65 40-yard dash) displayed the game-changing talent to make plays behind the line—something that was expected of him when he first arrived at USC. Jones has the agility to change directions in a blur to avoid blocks, and the lightning-quick burst to finish plays, which led to his 19½ tackles for loss and 13½ sacks in 2011. With so many NFL teams playing 3-4 defenses, Jones could be a top 10 pick as an outside linebacker because there is a premium on playmakers at that position. Projection: First-round pick

Btw, James Harrison was timed at one point at 4.85 in the 40. So again, the 40 doesn't really equate to ability to play LB.

Back to Harrison and those "measurables." Can you guess what his 40-yard time was? It was 4.85. I believe he was able to make it to the quarterback over 60 times during his career in Pittsburgh.

Oh, and there was that 100-yard dash--he sure looked pretty fast there:

[Slapstick]

Truthfully, JH did not look fast in that 100 yard dash...it was a combo of good blocking and the same indomitable will that made an undrafted player who was cut four times into a Defensive Player of the Year...

[Shawn]

Truthfully, JH did not look fast in that 100 yard dash...it was a combo of good blocking and the same indomitable will that made an undrafted player who was cut four times into a Defensive Player of the Year...

So, what you are saying is JH played with heart. It's that special it factor that made him special. It's why I enjoy seeing it so much...when a guy hits the field and plays like he loves the game.

[Slapstick]

So, what you are saying is JH played with heart. It's that special it factor that made him special. It's why I enjoy seeing it so much...when a guy hits the field and plays like he loves the game.

I don't think that it's even that...positive.

I think that Harrison, much like Lambert, was just a pissed off wrecking ball of pure, concentrated meanness on the field...

[RobinCole]

I'm not saying Jones fits this description but some players' "game speed" is faster than their "stopwatch speed". I recall that Franco was timed at 4.8 in the 40, which wasn't considered "fast" even in 1972. But when he broke into the clear he was seldom caught if it was a straight-out foot race. They had to have the angle to catch him.

[Slapstick]

I'm not saying Jones fits this description but some players' "game speed" is faster than their "stopwatch speed". I recall that Franco was timed at 4.8 in the 40, which wasn't considered "fast" even in 1972. But when he broke into the clear he was seldom caught if it was a straight-out foot race. They had to have the angle to catch him.

Possibly the most famous example of the vast difference between running in shorts and running in a helmet and pads while carrying a ball?

Jerry Rice

[ikestops85]

I would agree that there isn't a direct correlation between 40 time and playing ability, but to say that it is meaningless, isn't being objective. I'm struggling to think of an OLB with 4.9 speed, let alone an OLB with 4.9 speed who became a star.

Vontaze Burflict ... 5.09 and 5.1 seconds in his 40 at the combine.