Well-paid LBs a disruptive duo for Steelers

By Ralph N. Paulk, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, September 24, 2011

Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley aren't exactly polar opposites, but the Steelers linebackers have little in common on the football field.

Timmons is a quick, sure tackler with incalculable instincts. Woodley's aggression is more measured, partly because he relies on angles to pursue the ball.

They may possess different methods, but their varying styles are similarly effective. So, it was hardly surprising that Steelers' general manager Kevin Colbert manipulated a way to keep his relatively young linebackers off the open market.

Timmons and Woodley — first- and second-round picks in 2007 — both signed long-term deals worth more than a combined $110 million soon after the NFL Players Association and the majority of team owners reached an agreement to end a sixth-month lockout.

Admittedly, the hefty payday heightened the expectations of the youngest starters on an experienced defense.

"When we signed those deals, it was important for us to elevate our game," Timmons said. "At the same time, you don't want to force things because you can't be yourself.

"I can't really say we are the bedrocks of the defense. It's not true right now. We have so many playmakers. If we do our jobs, things will come our way."

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