Two words: Lawrence Timmons

[stinkypete]

Timmons has been falling in most mocks, out of round 1 entirely in a few. He was undersized at the combine, but has the body to add some pounds. Scouts consider him versatile enough to play in the 3-4. He's outstanding in coverage and is a solid pass rusher.

Why aren't we talking about Timmons more? Anybody know of a major weakness in his game. Seems like if LB is taken in round 1, this is the guy.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Timmons is a very good football player. However, he does not seem to be a fit for the Patriots defense. He is more suited as a a 4-3 LB as many of the others are.

Bradley is a better fit for us although he does not have the talent that Timmons does.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Timmons has been falling in most mocks, out of round 1 entirely in a few. He was undersized at the combine, but has the body to add some pounds. Scouts consider him versatile enough to play in the 3-4. He's outstanding in coverage and is a solid pass rusher.

Why aren't we talking about Timmons more? Anybody know of a major weakness in his game. Seems like if LB is taken in round 1, this is the guy.

Probably because the Pats need more help on the inside rather than the outside. WTH Vrabel, Thomas & Colvin, we are pretty set on the outside, for now. With only Bruschi on the inside, we need more depth if they oush Vrabel back inside. Hell, we need depth all over our LB corp.

 

[Metaphors]

I'm inclined to agree with you. His consistent production in college likely carries more weight with the Pats FO than his measurables at the combine...which I believe has been the source of his freefall. Before the combine he was generally considered a mid-1st round pick and competing with Willis for first LB taken.

 

[BelichickFan]

In terms of measurable, I'm not sure Timmons should be discounted so quickly.

At the combine Willis was 6'1", 242 with a 4.46 shuttle and 7.23 cone. Those improved to 4.37 and 7.10 at his pro day.

At the combine Timmons was 6'1", 234 with a 4.32 shuttle and 6.92 cone. Shuttle improved to 4.34 at the pro day, no 3 cone.

He would need to get bigger but NFL Draft Scout says "has room to add at least another 10 pounds with no drop-off in quickness" so it's not inconceivable at all.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I was kind of thinking along the same lines. Alot of scouts were turned off by his workouts but there is also alot of people saying the game film on this guy is incredible. "Watch his game film,the tapes don't lie" is one of a few quotes I remember reading.

 

[stinkypete]

Probably because the Pats need more help on the inside rather than the outside. WTH Vrabel, Thomas & Colvin, we are pretty set on the outside, for now. With only Bruschi on the inside, we need more depth if they oush Vrabel back inside. Hell, we need depth all over our LB corp.

Why can't Timmons be groomed to play inside? He's stout against the run and probably the 2nd smoothest coverage LB available after Willis. Seems an ideal fit to me.

 

[Metaphors]

I was kind of thinking along the same lines. Alot of scouts were turned off by his workouts but there is also alot of people saying the game film on this guy is incredible. "Watch his game film,the tapes don't lie" is one of a few quotes I remember reading.

Being in ACC country, got to watch quite a few games. On a relatively bad FSU defense, he was a consistent playmaker against the run, applying pressure and in coverage.

Still has questions because he really only got a chance to shine this past year. He made the most of the chance but it is still a pretty small sample of production on which to evaluate him.

 

[spacecrime]

Why can't Timmons be groomed to play inside? He's stout against the run

At 234 # he isn't going to be very stout in the NFL against OCs and OGs who knock him on his keister.

He is fine for a defense like the Colts or Bucs, a bad fit IMO for the Pats. Maybe he could lose 5 pounds and play strong safety? Or put on a few pounds and replace TBC as OLB pass rushing specialist?

But I just done see him as playing inside for the Pats.

 

[thecrazyeye]

I think Timmons could be groomed to be versitile to go inside and out.
Who cares if the guy isnt 250+. I know the Pats prefer a bigger LB, but its all about playing strength. Timmons could have better playing strength at 6'1 235 than some guy who is 6'3 250. Is the 250 pounder a better fit for our system because of his size? If he can add around 10 pounds and be at 245 i think that would be perfect.
OLB in college usually transfer to ILB in the Pats defense, but I think Timmons could be a weapon that you play everywhere.

I dont think Vilma is that heavy and the Pats had a real interest in him the year he came out. If Timmons is around during our picks we have to look at him

 

[sebman2112]

I was interested in Timmons as an OLB before, when I thought he was 6'3". I thought he could have an impact straight out of college as a pass rusher/blitzer/coverage backer, and I thought he could be a good future replacement for either Vrabel or Colvin, but I didn't really scout him for ILB. Maybe he could play inside, but I think he is better suited on the outside. Having him play as a versatile backer who plays both positions might be better than just playing him inside fulltime.

Here are some excerpts from Scouts Inc.

"Scouts Grade: 93" (Highest rated OLB in the draft, Paul Poz is rated at 89)

"Strengths: A tremendously gifted natural athlete. He possesses adequate size and the frame to get bigger. Displays fluid hips and good change-of-direction skills. He is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker versus the run. Displays excellent closing burst and is a big hitter for his size. He possesses outstanding initial quickness and is a huge threat when turned loose off the edge as a pass rusher. He has a knack for shooting the correct gap and blowing up plays in the backfield. Displays very good range in coverage when he diagnoses the play quickly enough. Also possesses the speed and athleticism to match up one-on-one versus the NFL's premier running backs in coverage."
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/player?id=11379