Timmons - 2016 Swansong?

[ATL96Steeler]

Timmons...the Buck ILB turns 30 y/o this week. If you look at his stat line from LY...5 sacks/77 tackles/42 assisted/1 int/1 FF...while he's not the same guy in coverage anymore, but he's still a very productive player.

So far...he's slated to play the '16 season with a $15mil cap hit due the restructure bonus of roughly $6.3 mil which cannot be altered plus his $8.7 mil salary for this yr. Most of thought is was a foregone conclusion he would get extended to bring his CH down....Inclusive of $7.9 in dead money, the team is reportedly $3.3 mil under the cap with the brunt of the draft class to sign still.

V Williams looks like the heir apparent to the buck job...but he's in his last yr and will be able to test the FA market in '17.

Most teams like to keep a few million under the cap for an emergency signing, etc. so it's still likely Timmons and or DeCastro will be extended to bring down their CH, but what gives?

Is this the last yr for Timmons in PIT?

I was having this conversation the other day with a Steeler fan, and he thinks if they let Timmons play under this large CH, it will be his last and they will make a fairmarket offer to VW, but not as a 3 down LB.

Your thoughts?

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Timmons...the Buck ILB turns 30 y/o this week. If you look at his stat line from LY...5 sacks/77 tackles/42 assisted/1 int/1 FF...while he's not the same guy in coverage anymore, but he's still a very productive player.

So far...he's slated to play the '16 season with a $15mil cap hit due the restructure bonus of roughly $6.3 mil which cannot be altered plus his $8.7 mil salary for this yr. Most of thought is was a foregone conclusion he would get extended to bring his CH down....Inclusive of $7.9 in dead money, the team is reportedly $3.3 mil under the cap with the brunt of the draft class to sign still.

V Williams looks like the heir apparent to the buck job...but he's in his last yr and will be able to test the FA market in '17.

Most teams like to keep a few million under the cap for an emergency signing, etc. so it's still likely Timmons and or DeCastro will be extended to bring down their CH, but what gives?

Is this the last yr for Timmons in PIT?

I was having this conversation the other day with a Steeler fan, and he thinks if they let Timmons play under this large CH, it will be his last and they will make a fairmarket offer to VW, but not as a 3 down LB.

Your thoughts?

He has earned the $15mil for many years of excellent play, but as you already noted he's becoming a liability in coverage so it's fair to question whether he's worth it. They have restructured him a few times before to lower CH's in '14 & '15 IIRC so he's due for the money. I hope they can get a deal done before the season starts, extend him & spread his CH out… But I say that with a grain of salt. Because I know the more CH they can "eat" this year, means the cleaner slate for next year. They have multiple big contracts coming up (DeCastro, Bell & AB) that are being planned for. So whatever they are doing now is definitely in preparation for those contracts. I think Timmons still has a good amount of football left in him. Possibly 2-3 more years. But we do not know what is going on behind the scenes. The steelers could have gone to him already and he and his camp could be saying they want to play this thing out. He could possibly be thinking if PIT wins the super bowl he's hanging up the cleats. Only reason why I think that is because of this delay on the restructure. If it was favorable to both sides then it would have been done already IMO.

FWIW, I love Timmons and hope he retires a Stiller. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

He has earned the $15mil for many years of excellent play, but as you already noted he's becoming a liability in coverage so it's fair to question whether he's worth it. They have restructured him a few times before to lower CH's in '14 & '15 IIRC so he's due for the money. I hope they can get a deal done before the season starts, extend him & spread his CH out… But I say that with a grain of salt. Because I know the more CH they can "eat" this year, means the cleaner slate for next year. They have multiple big contracts coming up (DeCastro, Bell & AB) that are being planned for. So whatever they are doing now is definitely in preparation for those contracts. I think Timmons still has a good amount of football left in him. Possibly 2-3 more years. But we do not know what is going on behind the scenes. The steelers could have gone to him already and he and his camp could be saying they want to play this thing out. He could possibly be thinking if PIT wins the super bowl he's hanging up the cleats. Only reason why I think that is because of this delay on the restructure. If it was favorable to both sides then it would have been done already IMO.

FWIW, I love Timmons and hope he retires a Stiller. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out.

Well stated, and I echo your fandom of Timmons in general.

In terms of worth or value to the team...no question Timmons has earned it. I'm thinking two-fold here.

#1...maybe you're right and an extension as been put on the table and the ball is on Timmons court about playing in '17.

#2...maybe the buck role is being devalued a little. Ragland...a clear cut 1st rd grade buck went in the 2nd rd. I'm starting to think if Davis picks up the DEF quickly, we're going to see 3 safeties on 3rd down a lot more in lieu of the buck if not this year, certainly in '17...some of the guys over at Steeler Depot are already thinking if VW takes over in '17, he won't be a 3 dwn LB. I tend to agree with that on VW.

In spite of his 6'4'" frame, there is some thoughts out there that Feeney is destined for a ILB role and maybe he takes over for Timmons and not VW.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Well stated, and I echo your fandom of Timmons in general.

In terms of worth or value to the team...no question Timmons has earned it. I'm thinking two-fold here.

#1...maybe you're right and an extension as been put on the table and the ball is on Timmons court about playing in '17.

#2...maybe the buck role is being devalued a little. Ragland...a clear cut 1st rd grade buck went in the 2nd rd. I'm starting to think if Davis picks up the DEF quickly, we're going to see 3 safeties on 3rd down a lot more in lieu of the buck if not this year, certainly in '17...some of the guys over at Steeler Depot are already thinking if VW takes over in '17, he won't be a 3 dwn LB. I tend to agree with that on VW.

In spite of his 6'4'" frame, there is some thoughts out there that Feeney is destined for a ILB role and maybe he takes over for Timmons and not VW.

Stating the obvious with this post... But ILB's are starting to trend towards the tweener types. Shazier & Telvin Smith to name a few. The success they are having & their ability to cover more field in this pass-happy NFL is gaining a lot of value. And that is leading towards more 3 safety sets as well. Buck ILB's are being phased out to 1-2 down roles.

Just echoing your #2 sentiment.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Yep, that was the crux of the debate...some guys were thinking maybe PIT feel as if the true, old school, thumper buck ILBs are no longer 3 down players and they are just biting the bullet and playing out the string with Timmons.

I'm not sure, but that argument does have some weight....if they bite that bullet now vs extending, they can probably get VW for $3mil per in '17 as a 2 dwn player and they have Davis in the fold ready to be a sub pkg player getting his feet wet a little this yr.

FWIW...they ran a little of this big nickel LY...Steeler Depot is reporting about 60 or so snaps taking Timmons off the field. I can see teams trying to target him on 3rd dwn with a TE or a RB this yr.

 

[Superbelt]

Yep. His position has been devalued with the grouping being three or less LB's on the field more often than not.

And while Vince isn't quite his player, he's good enough to play a package role.

I think, with his salary, Timmons is probably forced on the field more often than they might otherwise want him there for the current scheme.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Yep. His position has been devalued with the grouping being three or less LB's on the field more often than not.

And while Vince isn't quite his player, he's good enough to play a package role.

I think, with his salary, Timmons is probably forced on the field more often than they might otherwise want him there for the current scheme.

I saw somewhere PIT had about 60 or so snaps in big nickel where they pulled Timmons...I expect that number to leap 2 or 3 fold this yr even with his current cap hit....IF they deem Davis is ready to contribute...they won't put Shark out there.