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Steelers notebook: Veteran Lawrence Timmons part of tackling woes
By Ray Fittipaldo / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons once went through an entire season with only six missed tackles. Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens, Timmons missed five.
It has been a rough start to the season for the veteran inside linebacker, who also missed three tackles in the opener against the Cleveland Browns. One explanation for his early struggles is the new position his coaches are asking him to play this season.
When the Steelers selected Ryan Shazier in the draft in May, they plugged him in at the mack inside linebacker position, where Timmons played his first seven seasons. Timmons moved to the buck position, where Larry Foote played and called the defensive signals.
“Being at the buck position, you have to get everyone lined up, you have to get lined up yourself and know what you’re doing,” Timmons said. “And you have to know the situation. There is a lot that goes into it. I’m a field general out there. I have to be on my details on everything.”
Timmons didn’t blame the position switch for his early struggles, but there is no substitute for experience, even for an eighth-year veteran.
“I feel like it’s coming along real well,” he said. “I’m getting better and better at it as the days go on. I’m picking up as much as I can in the classroom and listening to the coaches. I’m going to keep attacking it.”
Timmons’ tackling mishaps against the Ravens were part of a larger epidemic for the Steelers, who missed 15 as a defense in the 26-6 loss. Through two games, the Steelers have missed 26 tackles. They are on pace to miss twice as many tackles as they did last year, when they averaged 6.8 missed tackles per game.
“Sometimes you get geeked up and you really want to make the play,” Timmons said. “Sometimes you’ll go hard and overrun it. Other times you’re not as aggressive as you should be. It’s a combination of being balanced and just getting the guy down.”
Moore set to play
Receiver Lance Moore, who missed the first two games with a groin injury, went through a full practice Monday and, barring any setbacks, will make his Steelers debut Sunday night at Carolina.
Moore’s injury has lingered for a month, but he said he finally feels well enough to help.
“It takes time,” Moore said. “The days I was thinking I was ready I kind of did a little, and it wasn’t ready yet. You can continue to do that and make it worse, or sit out and hope it heals on its own. I think that’s where we are now. I felt better [Monday] than I have in a number of weeks. I look forward to continue to get better.”
Moore was signed over the offseason to play the slot-receiver position Jerricho Cotchery occupied the previous three seasons for the Steelers. Cotchery signed as a free agent with Carolina after last season and has eight receptions for 78 yards for the Panthers, who won their first two games.
Justin Brown, a sixth-round draft pick in 2013, played the slot in the first two games. He made four catches, but also had a crucial fumble that halted a drive in Baltimore territory.
“I think, first and foremost, I’ll bring some experience,” Moore said. “I’ve played a lot of ball. Maybe I’ll have a different understanding than some of the guys have and another perspective. Everyone has something to say when we come off the field. I think it’s a lot easier for guys to take that information in if I’m on the field with them.”
Moore said it was too early to know how much he’ll play against Carolina.
“I’m trying to do whatever I can to help,” Moore said. “If they want me to come and play a bunch of snaps, I’ll be ready. If they want me to play a few snaps because it’s first game, that’s what I’ll do.”
[URL]http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...s/201409160102[/URL]
By Ray Fittipaldo / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons once went through an entire season with only six missed tackles. Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens, Timmons missed five.
It has been a rough start to the season for the veteran inside linebacker, who also missed three tackles in the opener against the Cleveland Browns. One explanation for his early struggles is the new position his coaches are asking him to play this season.
When the Steelers selected Ryan Shazier in the draft in May, they plugged him in at the mack inside linebacker position, where Timmons played his first seven seasons. Timmons moved to the buck position, where Larry Foote played and called the defensive signals.
“Being at the buck position, you have to get everyone lined up, you have to get lined up yourself and know what you’re doing,” Timmons said. “And you have to know the situation. There is a lot that goes into it. I’m a field general out there. I have to be on my details on everything.”
Timmons didn’t blame the position switch for his early struggles, but there is no substitute for experience, even for an eighth-year veteran.
“I feel like it’s coming along real well,” he said. “I’m getting better and better at it as the days go on. I’m picking up as much as I can in the classroom and listening to the coaches. I’m going to keep attacking it.”
Timmons’ tackling mishaps against the Ravens were part of a larger epidemic for the Steelers, who missed 15 as a defense in the 26-6 loss. Through two games, the Steelers have missed 26 tackles. They are on pace to miss twice as many tackles as they did last year, when they averaged 6.8 missed tackles per game.
“Sometimes you get geeked up and you really want to make the play,” Timmons said. “Sometimes you’ll go hard and overrun it. Other times you’re not as aggressive as you should be. It’s a combination of being balanced and just getting the guy down.”
Moore set to play
Receiver Lance Moore, who missed the first two games with a groin injury, went through a full practice Monday and, barring any setbacks, will make his Steelers debut Sunday night at Carolina.
Moore’s injury has lingered for a month, but he said he finally feels well enough to help.
“It takes time,” Moore said. “The days I was thinking I was ready I kind of did a little, and it wasn’t ready yet. You can continue to do that and make it worse, or sit out and hope it heals on its own. I think that’s where we are now. I felt better [Monday] than I have in a number of weeks. I look forward to continue to get better.”
Moore was signed over the offseason to play the slot-receiver position Jerricho Cotchery occupied the previous three seasons for the Steelers. Cotchery signed as a free agent with Carolina after last season and has eight receptions for 78 yards for the Panthers, who won their first two games.
Justin Brown, a sixth-round draft pick in 2013, played the slot in the first two games. He made four catches, but also had a crucial fumble that halted a drive in Baltimore territory.
“I think, first and foremost, I’ll bring some experience,” Moore said. “I’ve played a lot of ball. Maybe I’ll have a different understanding than some of the guys have and another perspective. Everyone has something to say when we come off the field. I think it’s a lot easier for guys to take that information in if I’m on the field with them.”
Moore said it was too early to know how much he’ll play against Carolina.
“I’m trying to do whatever I can to help,” Moore said. “If they want me to come and play a bunch of snaps, I’ll be ready. If they want me to play a few snaps because it’s first game, that’s what I’ll do.”
[URL]http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...s/201409160102[/URL]
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