Colber, Tomlin, Timmons Interviews

[Menudo]

Some interesting stuff in here for the Steelers fans:

 

 

Coach Tomlin and Kevin Colbert

On Lawrence Timmons

Outside Linebacker-FloridaState

1st Round — 15th Overall

 

 

Kevin Colbert: Well, I told you guys the other day that we were going to take (Lawrence) Timmons. If Mike Prisuta would have been here, he would have known that. We are very excited to get Lawrence Timmons. Lawrence is definitely the guy that we had targeted. We had a group of about four or five guys with every mock draft that we went through, where it came down to those four or five guys that we came back to. We then took that group and prioritized them and it was unanimous that Lawrence Timmons was going to be that pick, if we got that group to pick from and we are very excited. Lawrence is an outside linebacker, but we think he has the versatility to play inside as well. He can play at the point, he can chase the ball, he can cover and he can sure rush the passer, so there isn't anything at the linebacker position that this kid hasn't done. While he is learning, we think he will be a very good special teams contributor. He is a solid kid; he is healthy and he is coming from a great program and we are really excited to have him on board.

 

Coach Tomlin: Of course we are really excited to have Lawrence (Timmons). His football character is what we seek. He is a guy that loves the game. He is very versatile. His skill set defies scheme, which is one of that things that have talked about. He is an outside backer, who is capable of playing off the line of scrimmage. He is capable of playing on the tight end. He has pass rush capabilities, but he also has the R-H factor. He is a runner and hitter and he is a Pittsburgh Steeler.

 

Can you compare him to anyone that you have worked with?

 

Coach Tomlin: He has some Derrick Brooks qualities. You don't necessarily want to put that on anyone because Brooks is a legendary player, but he runs around and strikes people. He is relentless and he loves the game. He also comes from the same program.

 

You usually like to draft players with more experience, what made you go with him as a junior?

 

Kevin Colbert: Actually, he is less of a projection than any of the guys. In this outside linebacker group, there was one other guy there that was truly an outside backer. It is always the case with us in the 3-4. We are taking the undersized defensive ends. In Lawrence's case, he was stuck behind some pretty good backers down at FloridaState until this season. When he got his chance to start, he played well and was productive. The good thing about it is that there is still a lot that you haven't seen and fortunately we will get to see it here. If this guy would have stayed there through his senior year, I think he would have been right up there with the rest of those FloridaState linebackers, that played ahead and with him.

 

Coach Tomlin: Speaking of that, he is a linebacker that scored three touchdowns, blocked two kicks and had five sacks. He is a productive football player and can make plays in a lot of ways.

 

Are there any size concerns with him?

 

 

Kevin Colbert: For an outside linebacker, sure, ideally you want them 6-3, 260 pounds and running a 4.5. His measurables are almost identical to Greg Lloyd's. You can say that Greg was a sixth round pick, but should he have been a sixth round pick for as good as he was? There are some guys that can play without the great measurables and we have seen him do these things against offensive tackles. There are also other ways that you can use a guy like that, but I will let coach speak on that. But again, his versatility and the fact that he has played on the line, behind the, with his hand down, he has really done it all. I just think that there are so many things that we can do with this guy and we are happy to have him available for some packages.

 

Where does he fit into this defense right now?

 

Coach Tomlin: He is a right outside linebacker. He has MAC capabilities and we like what he has from the versatility standpoint, but initially, he will start out at the right outside linebacker.

 

Could he go down as a defensive end in the 4-3 defense?

 

Coach Tomlin: He is certainly capable of that.

 

Where did Darrell Revis and Adam Carricker play into your mock draft?

 

Kevin Colbert: Both of those players are going to be excellent. There is no question about it. It wasn't surprising to see them get picked where they got picked. We got one inquiry, but once Lawrence was there for us, we knew that he was our pick unless somebody did something crazy which was not the case.

 

Did the inquiry come before Revis went to the Jets?

 

Kevin Colbert: No. It was when we were on the clock.

 

Will he be a guy that plays at the point like Joey [Porter] was, or is he a projection for a future 4-3?

 

Coach Tomlin: We're a 3-4 team. He's a right outside linebacker.

 

At 234 [pounds]?

 

Coach Tomlin: Yes.

 

He's kind of been labeled as an instinctive guy. Does he have a lot of football polish?

 

Coach Tomlin: He does, but at the same time, he's got a very interesting upside. He's a young guy. He's 20 years old. He's got a nice resume. No doubt, his best football is ahead of him.

 

When did you target him? Was it today, yesterday, when was it?

 

Kevin Colbert: He's been interesting to us, obviously. We got our first look at him once he declared. Once all the scenarios came into focus clearer, it was clear that he was going to be the guy that we were going to want. Hopefully, he was going to make it to us. We felt good that we were going to have a pretty good change of getting him. And it worked out.

 

Did anything happen with him during his interview to cement your opinion going in?

 

Kevin Colbert: You don't think I say many words, but this kid is very quiet, very soft-spoken, really a quiet kid. That's the one thing – as a junior, so many times when you talk to them you think you are talking to your kids, teenagers. But this kid is very serious and very, very quiet. I think that's how you'll find this kid to be.

 

Do you appreciate that quality in him?

 

Kevin Colbert: No. It was unique. You hear Willie Reid and [bryant] McFadden going at it. He's a little different than those two guys.

 

Mike, is there anything personally that you liked about him?

 

Coach Tomlin: He has a quiet confidence about him. I mentioned the fact earlier that he was 20, but he presents himself as a mature person, particularly from a football standpoint. He's a very grounded young man.

 

So he's not going to be another Joey Porter?

 

Kevin Colbert: He's got a long way to go. He might be different on the field. I've never been that close to him during game situations, but just meeting the kid, that was the one thing that struck me. He's very serious and very quiet.

 

Mike, a few Florida newspapers reported during his pro day that he was pretty out of shape and that his agent apologized to you, saying he'd be in better shape at mini camp. Did it bother you at all, if true?

 

Coach Tomlin: That did not happen.

 

Have you dealt with [agent] Drew Rosenhaus on a first-round pick before?

 

Kevin Colbert: I like Drew. Honestly, I've know Drew for I don't know how many [years] – since 1990. Drew has always been very up front. If we've had to do a deal with him, we've been able to do deals with the guy. I'm sure there are different opinions, but we've always had a great relationship. Negotiations are always going to be tough. He's going to do his job for his client, We're going to do our job for the team. But we'll come to an agreement.

 

Who are some of those other guys that you've dealt with Rosenhaus?

 

Kevin Colbert: This goes all the way back. This is back to 1990 when he represented Jeff Cross, who was a defensive lineman from Missouri. There's so many [players]. We don't anticipate that problem. We never let the agent affect whether we're going to take a player anyway.

 

Do you have any Mike Alstott reminders ready to go?

 

Coach Tomlin: We're going to take it one step at a time. We're looking forward to getting back in there to continue on with the day. But it's been an awesome start for us thus far.

 

There is a lot of talk about you guys doing some different things with Brett Kiesel. Does this mean that he's staying as a 3-4 end?

 

Coach Tomlin: I think the discussions have been with some of the sub-package situations and those discussions will continue. I just think that's the nature of where the NFL is going. Brett has an interesting skill set. He's athletic and he's capable of doing a lot of things. When you've got guys that are capable of doing multiple things, like Kiesel, like the young man that we just added, Lawrence Timmons, then it just opens things up. And it gives you many options.

 

How does this affect James Harrison?

 

Coach Tomlin: It does not. We're going to create a competitive environment. Guys are going to get an opportunity to compete. That's what football is about. Those decisions we decide inside the white lines, as it should be. We look forward to creating that climate.

 

 

 

How much did his special teams abilities influence the pick?

 

Coach Tomlin: It's who he is as a football player. It's part of his profile. It's something that we appreciate [and] something that we value. He's a dynamic special teams player.

 

Was this guy on your radar before the season started?

 

Kevin Colbert: Not really. As an underclassman, you don't really evaluate those guys until they declare. Now, there are some obvious guys that were super productive as freshmen and sophomores and you know about them and you are more aware of them. But, as we stated earlier, Lawrence didn't become a full-time starter until this season. Really once he turned his name in for evaluation to the NFL, and I'm part of that committee, that was really my first knowledge of Lawrence thinking about coming out. He got a good evaluation then [and] got a good one today, too. So we're happy.

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Unread 04-28-2007, 10:08 PM #2

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Re: Colbert & Tomlin on first round pick LB Lawrence Timmons

 

Lawrence Timmons

Outside Linebacker-FloridaState

1st Round — 15th Overall

 

 

Lawrence, pretty exciting day, huh?

 

Oh yeah.

 

Why is it so exciting?

 

I got drafted.

 

Were you surprised that you went this high, or did you think that the Steelers were going to take you?

 

I don't know what I'm feeling right now. I'm just happy that I got drafted. It's just an unbelievable feeling.

 

What do you know about the Steelers?

 

I know that they've always had a great defense. I've always liked them for their defense, and I know that they've won five Super Bowls.

 

What do you think about replacing Joey Porter at right outside linebacker?

 

I don't know about Joey, but I just go out there and try to do what I do. That got me here, just playing my game.

 

What do you do and do well then?

 

Well, I can play the 3-4 and 4-3 defense like I played at FSU, and I can rush the passer well and drop back in coverage. I think I can be a very good one in Pittsburgh.

 

What kind of defense did they [the Steelers] tell you that you'd be playing here?

 

Well, they play a 3-4 at Pitt.

 

You have several former teammates from FloridaState here, Bryant McFadden and Willie Reid. Do you know those guys pretty well?

 

Yes I do. They're good guys. I talk to McFadden on a consistent basis.

 

You played on the strong side last season, and Mike Tomlin said he would put you on the right side this season. How do you feel about that, and have you ever played over there?

 

I feel real good about that – I've played on both sides.

 

 

 

You've been compared to Derrick Brooks. What do you know about him?

 

Brooks is one of the best linebackers to ever come from FSU. He's a good athlete, and it feels good to have a comparison like that.

 

Derrick played a lot of inside linebacker, and he said if you're not going to be a 3-4 outside guy in the future, you may be an inside guy in the 3-4. What do you think about that?

 

Anyplace that will get me on the field, I'll do it.

 

Are special teams an area where you can contribute right away?

 

I've been playing on special teams all of my football life. That's what I started out doing at FSU, and I did it for the three years that I was there. That's something I feel really comfortable with.

 

Can you be a good pass rusher?

 

Yes sir.

 

You had five sacks last year. Did they cut you loose a little bit?

 

Yeah, they cut me loose.

 

What do you say to critics who say that your weight, 234 pounds, isn't enough to stop the run?

 

I don't worry about what other people think.

 

Did they talk to you about getting bigger?

 

They just want me to get out there on the field and make plays.

 

Where were you watching the draft, and with whom?

 

I was watching it at The Surf Club on Miami Beach, and I was watching it with my family.

 

What is the main thing that you think you can contribute to the Steelers, and how does it feel to possibly start?

 

It feels good.

 

Why do you wear #83 – a wide receiver's number?

 

It's a unique number. I like to be original. I don't like to do stuff that everybody else does – I like to be different.

 

You played behind Ernie Simms – did you learn much from him?

 

Ernie's a heck of a player. As you can see, he did real well his rookie year. He's just an awesome athlete.

 

Who do you compare yourself to as a linebacker?

 

I don't just compare myself as a linebacker, because I played special teams, I played defensive end – I'm just all over the place.

 

When do you expect to meet with the Steelers, and meet with your new coach?

 

I'm flying up there tomorrow. Don't quote me on that, actually I'm not sure.

 

Kevin Colbert said that he was part of your pre-draft evaluation. When did you feel that the Steelers were likely to take you?

 

I didn't know he was part of that. I was just trying to make a decision about whether it (coming out early) would be good or not. I talked to my agent about it, and it worked out well.

 

How close were you to returning to FSU for your senior season?

 

I was pretty close to staying. I talked to the coaches about it, and they were behind me whatever I decided. Of course they didn't want me to leave, but it was a decision that I made by myself and it worked out well.

 

How many brothers and sisters do you have, and are there any athletes in the family besides you?

 

My dad played basketball at Duquesne. I have two sisters.

 

When did your dad play at Duquesne, and what was his name?

 

Back in the 70's, I'm not sure. His name is Lindsley Timmons. (Lindsley Timmons played for the Duquesne Dukes in 1976.)

 

Was your dad hoping you'd get picked by the Steelers, since he played here?

 

He was like, wherever you get on, you get on. He's real happy for me.

 

What did he tell you about Pittsburgh?

 

He told me it's a beautiful city – and it gets cold there.

 

Your new coach will be 45 years younger than your coach at FSU. What do you know about Mike Tomlin?

 

He's a good guy. He's always been a good coach, and I'm just glad to be his first first-round pick. I just want to show him what I can do.

 

Are you talkative on the field, like Joey Porter was?

 

I just go out there and play the game and let my actions speak. Joey Porter is an awesome athlete – I don't even want to think about how good he is, he's just so good.

 

So you're not like McFadden or Reid – they're more talkative.

 

When I get around them, I get to talking. They're good guys. I'm just pretty much a quiet guy most of the time.

 

Give us one main thing that stands out about you.

 

My versatility.

 

Why did you choose FSU?

 

I felt that that was the best place for me, and I just felt at home there more than any other school.