Steelers ILB Farrior agrees to new contract (1 Viewer)

[Aaron Rudnicki]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08234/90600...mpid=latest.xml

Steelers' Farrior agrees to new contract

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Steelers and linebacker James Farrior have agreed to a contract extension and Farrior will sign it today. Farrior's contract was due to expire after this year, but will be replaced by a contract that runs 2008-2012. It's worth $18.25 million. He gets a $5 million signing bonus and will receive slightly less than $10 million over the first two years and $12.6 million over the first three years.

Farrior, 33, is the first Steeler whose contract expires after the 2008 season to agree to an extension. Farrior, who has led team in tackles the past years, is represented by Pittsburgh agent Ralph Cindrich. Farrior recorded six sacks last season, second on the team.

Farrior seems to be very undervalued this year so I'm guessing that most people were writing him off and thinking that the end was near. This deal suggests otherwise, although the signing bonus was only $5 million so it's probably not much more than a 1 or 2 year extension. Still, the Steelers must feel pretty good about him and think he has another couple good years left.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08234/90600...mpid=latest.xml

Steelers' Farrior agrees to new contract

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Steelers and linebacker James Farrior have agreed to a contract extension and Farrior will sign it today. Farrior's contract was due to expire after this year, but will be replaced by a contract that runs 2008-2012. It's worth $18.25 million. He gets a $5 million signing bonus and will receive slightly less than $10 million over the first two years and $12.6 million over the first three years.

Farrior, 33, is the first Steeler whose contract expires after the 2008 season to agree to an extension. Farrior, who has led team in tackles the past years, is represented by Pittsburgh agent Ralph Cindrich. Farrior recorded six sacks last season, second on the team.

Farrior seems to be very undervalued this year so I'm guessing that most people were writing him off and thinking that the end was near. This deal suggests otherwise, although the signing bonus was only $5 million so it's probably not much more than a 1 or 2 year extension. Still, the Steelers must feel pretty good about him and think he has another couple good years left.

We saved 440k this year on the cap ('08). From 3.2 to 2.8.And we added 4 more years at under 3.9m for each of those years.('09-'12)

Also the final two years, if we cut him, we lose no cap space.

We didnt want to 'have' to replace him next year as we would have.

He can eventually move to RILB and allow Timmons to play LILB.

Larry Foote is a goner, his contract expires after next year ('9).

Farrior is the play caller on defense and stated he wanted to remain a Steeler even as a back up if need be.

He gets 12.5m pretty much guaranteed for 3 years , instead of 1 year at 3.2 and then hitting the FA market.

 

[Jene Bramel]

I'm not sure I had fully bought into the local writer speculation that Timmons would move to LILB in the future anyway. He seems like a better fit at RILB.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

I'm not sure I had fully bought into the local writer speculation that Timmons would move to LILB in the future anyway. He seems like a better fit at RILB.

No offense, but how in the hell would you know that?He has the best range of everyone in the linebacking crew, bar none. He's also a sudden hitter.And its the LILB that has the freedom to diagnose, roam and range to the ball.You think Timmons is limited in some way?

 

[Jene Bramel]

I'm not sure I had fully bought into the local writer speculation that Timmons would move to LILB in the future anyway. He seems like a better fit at RILB.

No offense, but how in the hell would you know that?He has the best range of everyone in the linebacking crew, bar none. He's also a sudden hitter.And its the LILB that has the freedom to diagnose, roam and range to the ball.You think Timmons is limited in some way?

Generally speaking, the player with the better range that you'd like to roam and range to the ball fits the better on the weak side of the defense. That's the right side, not the left side. Granted, when the Steelers align in a base 3-4, there's a lot of true double-bubble alignments and the ILB responsibilities probably aren't all that different on the left vs the right. But they play slant and twist games enough on the front line that the distinction is still worth making. I'm interested to hear why you think the LILB is more likely to be the rangier player in a given scheme, or this one in particular.I'm certainly no scout, but the guys that the Steelers have used at LILB over the last few years (Levon Kirkland, Earl Holmes, James Farrior) have all gone at least 240 pounds, and though all had very good range for their size (Kirkland sickly so), I'd describe each as more physical than fluid. The Kendrell Bell, Larry Foote types are decent sized players (235-240lbs), but less take-on-the-play types. I think Timmons fits into the latter category.And, you're correct, I haven't seen any potential strides Timmons may have made with a year of NFL coaching. However, nearly every pre-draft scouting report praised Timmons for his range, instincts (more quickness of reaction than football smarts though) and pass rush ability and criticized his ability to play with leverage and take on blocks. That's what I'm basing my opinion on for now. Certainly open-minded enough to change my mind if Timmons has become a 240+ pound, stack-and-shed monster in the meantime. And that's entirely possible -- Farrior himself made a similar career transition in New York as a younger player. But I haven't seen those kinds of reports yet and I've yet to see him play live.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

ty Jene.

Timm's weakness is handling offensive linemen and getting through their blocks.

Its Farrior position that routinely is free to move and doesnt get as many punch-outs by the OLs.

The LILB get far more coverage schemes were he has to move with a receiver while the RILB gets to maintain his position in the middle of the field. I think Kendrell and Farrior were the same size. About 7-10 pounds heavier then Timmons currently is at age 22 (doesnt turn 23 until May of next year). I would prefer (in the days to come) seeing Timmons in the midst of the defense always being a factor. Its best for the team. He makes Foote look so darn slow.

FTR: the idea of him going to RILB I postulated around here comes from me... not a Pittsburgh writer.

Though Im sure it has been repeated more recently elsewhere.