Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

[NorthCoast]

Just got done watching the Steeler highlights from 2005 (thank you hulu) and have to say the James Farrior was an absolute beast. Then I contrast this with his struggles this season and compared them with L. Foote. I know the Lions play a different defense but this makes you wonder whether we should have found a way to keep Foote.

2009:

....................Tackles..........Stops........ YAC against...passesDef.....Comp.%against
Farrior.............78.................49......... .....301..............4...................76.8
Foote..............85................53........... ....202..............4...................80.5

Farrior has meant a lot to this team and franchise since he came on board in 2002. He was a #1 draft pick the Jets let slip away but now I think he won't be able to maintain the level of play we expect from that position. The Steelers better look very strongly for his replacement in this year's draft.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

Farrior has meant a lot to this team and franchise since he came on board in 2002. He was a #1 draft pick the Jets let slip away but now I think he won't be able to maintain the level of play we expect from that position. The Steelers better look very strongly for his replacement in this year's draft.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

If not in the draft, are there any potential replacements for Farrior from this year's FA class?

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

Would be curious to see plays they had to defend comparison. Like was Foote on the field for the same amount of defensive plays as Farrior? I would guess the Lions were on D a lot more than the Steelers but their tackles are comparable and passes defensed are the same. The YAC is tough to see though.

[stlrz d]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

*shakes head*

[NorthCoast]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

Would be curious to see plays they had to defend comparison. Like was Foote on the field for the same amount of defensive plays as Farrior? I would guess the Lions were on D a lot more than the Steelers but their tackles are comparable and passes defensed are the same. The YAC is tough to see though.

Foote played 924 snaps, Farrior played 1033. So yes, a big difference there. Plus Farrior was No. 1 in the league with 16 QB pressures while Foote had only 3. So they were asked to defend differently, with Farrior rushing the QB more. It just seemed to me that Farrior was often one step too slow to the spot, whether in coverage, or rushing the passer. We need to get younger, faster, stronger at that position. Maybe getting Troy back next season, we will see the old Farrior return as well.

Heck, if old man Lewis can still play, why not Farrior?

[Shawn]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

*shakes head*

That was my first impression as well. Farrior is clearly the better ILB. But, it does bring something interesting up. If we kept Foote and cut Farrior...we would have moved Timmons to his natural position at the buck. I personally would rather have Foote in the Mack...Timmons at the Buck than our current arrangement.

[costanza2k1]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

Well Foote is a FA again and even Detroit doesn't want to sign him. He has voiced his displeasure about this a few times...reality may hit soon with him in FA. He may not find the starting role and lucrative contract he wants in FA. You never know...he may end up with again...time will tell.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

If we bring back Farrior and Peezy, would that be some kind of reverse age discrimination?

[stlrz d]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

*shakes head*

That was my first impression as well. Farrior is clearly the better ILB. But, it does bring something interesting up. If we kept Foote and cut Farrior...we would have moved Timmons to his natural position at the buck. I personally would rather have Foote in the Mack...Timmons at the Buck than our current arrangement.

Make it Timmons and Fox and you've got a deal.

[Shawn]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

[quote=stlrz d]

*shakes head*

That was my first impression as well. Farrior is clearly the better ILB. But, it does bring something interesting up. If we kept Foote and cut Farrior...we would have moved Timmons to his natural position at the buck. I personally would rather have Foote in the Mack...Timmons at the Buck than our current arrangement.

Make it Timmons and Fox and you've got a deal.[/quote:2a0l1mql]

Absolutely. I think that duo is going to be very special.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

no thanks to Foote, think about it for a second...the Lions are willing to let him go, what does that tell you?

I think Timmons and Fox will both be very good but Farrior has definitely lost a step. We need to address the ILB position early...Sean Weatherspoon in Round 1, Brandon Spikes or Daryl Washington in Round 2, Donald Butler or Micah Johnson later on.

[Shawn]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

I really do think our starters at LB are going to be set after camp. I see no need to grab a LB until round 4-5.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

I really do think our starters at LB are going to be set after camp. I see no need to grab a LB until round 4-5.

hey Shawn,

i noticed you have Casey Matthews in your mock draft? are you sure he's entering the draft, i thought he was coming back to Oregon for his senior season?

i could be wrong, i was wrong once in my life before so it is possible...

[Mel Blount's G]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

Heck, if old man Lewis can still play, why not Farrior?

Some would argue that lewis' lack of speed due to his aging is a pretty big liability on that defense. Yeah, yeah, he made the pro bowl off of reputation, a successful self-hyping campaign and padded pile-on stats, but he is terribly slow these days in sideline to sideline movement and pursuit. It's actually quite similar imo to Farrior's drop off of his game. They both compensate with superior football intellects but there is no compensating for guys running past them around the edge or in coverage situations. And, of course, Lewis is seen as irreplaceable because of his supposed leadership though it's really more to do with his endless self-promotion, which the media slurps right up.

Also consider that LeBeau seems to have a special liking for his vets that understand and can competently call/carry out his schemes on defense, which is very likely why it took Timmon's so long to take Foote's spot. Was it coincidence that the year we lose a veteran ilb is the year we had a number of defensive breakdowns with players being out of position and not knowing what was going on? Undoubtedly that had more to do w/ the loss of Troy and Aaron Smith but it's worth mentioning for the sake of

[ikestops85]

Re: Did the Steelers keep the wrong ILB?

Heck, if old man Lewis can still play, why not Farrior?

Some would argue that lewis' lack of speed due to his aging is a pretty big liability on that defense. Yeah, yeah, he made the pro bowl off of reputation, a successful self-hyping campaign and padded pile-on stats, but he is terribly slow these days in sideline to sideline movement and pursuit. It's actually quite similar imo to Farrior's drop off of his game. They both compensate with superior football intellects but there is no compensating for guys running past them around the edge or in coverage situations. And, of course, Lewis is seen as irreplaceable because of his supposed leadership though it's really more to do with his endless self-promotion, which the media slurps right up.

Also consider that LeBeau seems to have a special liking for his vets that understand and can competently call/carry out his schemes on defense, which is very likely why it took Timmon's so long to take Foote's spot. Was it coincidence that the year we lose a veteran ilb is the year we had a number of defensive breakdowns with players being out of position and not knowing what was going on? Undoubtedly that had more to do w/ the loss of Troy and Aaron Smith but it's worth mentioning for the sake of

First, MBG, I got to love the Good job with that. Second, I think Farrior has dropped from a very good linebacker to a good linebacker. C'mon folks, the guy is still good. How spoiled are we in the Burgh?

Let's draft an ILB and give him a year to learn our oh so complicated defense ( ) and then start to phase Farrior out. I do think Fox is going to turn out to be a very good linebacker so whomever we draft won't have that much pressure to perform right away. If the ILB that we draft pans out we get some depth where Timmons can move to the outside if injuries strike.