Lawrence Timmons – May 23, 2017
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Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Linebacker Lawrence Timmons
(Going back to your free agent visit here, what was said to you by either Head Coach Adam Gase, Executive Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum or Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke that made you want to sign here. And was it a no-brainer as far as you wanting to sign here or were there other options that were very tempting?) – “It was pretty easy. This is my offseason home anyways. I come down here and train with Pete Bommarito anyway, for the past 10 years, so I’ve always come down here.”
(What was said to you on your free agent visit that made this place appealing to you? Anything stand out about Head Coach Adam Gase or Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke or anybody?) – “I mean, the energy here. I played against them in the playoffs and seen the energy here. They are a new team, young, so I know it’s going to be pretty easy for me.”
(What’s the first day like of OTAs with a new team?) – “It’s pretty good. Like I said, it was pretty new for me. I like the energy. It was new for me. I’ve been somewhere for 10 years. It’s crazy being somewhere for 10 years then coming here – different colors. It was an experience for me.”
(What’s the most difficult part about starting over?) – “I mean, it’s the league pretty much. It’s a business; it’s a job. So you don’t really look … It’s a business, that’s the way I look at it – professional.”
(In Pittsburgh, how many different positions of linebacker did you play? Did you play both the inside positions?) – “I played every position in Pittsburgh so I’m used to being interchangeable. I’m like a fixer.”
(You might guess what I’m asking next. It sounds like that’s how they are planning on using you here.) – “We still don’t know. (We’re) taking it day to day. (It was) the same in Pittsburgh. I could be outside, I could be inside, try to be like the utility guy.”
(What are your early impressions of Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke?) – “I like his energy. (He’s a) humble guy, very nice. It makes me feel good, very welcoming. We’re just getting to know each other. It’s just OTAs right now so we’re taking it day by day.”
(Today was the first day on the field. Did you start in the middle? On Day 1, did you start in the middle?) – “Like I said, we don’t know. I’m being interchangeable and just trying to get to know everything and get adjusted, taking it day by day.”
(What’s the No. 1 thing you want to bring to this defense?) – “Just what I always do, have a physical presence. I feel like I can cover, stop the run. I can blitz the passer. So, just go from there.”
(DT Ndamukong Suh said that you brought an attitude and that he could sense the attitude already. Can you describe the attitude you bring to the football field?) – “I just like to have fun out there. I’m a linebacker. I do what linebackers do. I socialize with the first level and the third level. I just keep it real simple out there.”
(You’ve obviously started a ton of games. You’ve played ton of snaps. Do you think it’s taken any toll physically? You’re very durable but do you think the quality of your play has maintained itself at the same level it had been four years ago, five years ago?) – “I mean they signed me. I’m here. So I’m just happy to be here. I don’t feel like there’s no drop off there.”
(This is a run defense that finished 30th in the league last year. How do you repair a run defense? Is it scheme, coaching, attitude, talent?) – “That’s a difficult … It’s a combination of both. You have to put (all of) those together. It’s like … I don’t really know how to answer that question, sorry.”
(Did anybody have any jokes about you shutting down their season last year?) – “No, no I never heard that. (laughter) They are a funny group, but I haven’t heard nothing like that. We are pretty humble. I threw up the first time (we played the Dolphins), so they got me too. (laughter) I threw up in the end zone, so I’m going to just keep it humble.”
(Are you worried about the heat?) – “I’m from Florida State. I’m getting adjusted to it now. I started cramping before this (press conference), that’s why I had to leave. It’s something you get adjusted to.”
(How much did people give you crap about throwing up on the field? I remember it was online, on social media and everything.) – “It’s the story of my life. I get it everywhere. ‘Aren’t you that guy that was throwing up in the end zone?’ (laughter) It just comes with the territory. In football, you win some, you lose some. You just make fun of it and enjoy it.”
(Just your thoughts on this linebacker group overall? What you know about LB Kiko Alonso, LB Koa Misi, the Ohio State player in LB Raekwon McMillan.) – “(McMillan’s) a nice young player. He looks pretty good. (He has) nice size on him (and) moves well. He seems very smart too, so I know our coaches are going to do a good job with him so I’m looking forward to seeing his growth.”
(And LB Koa Misi and LB Kiko Alonso, you’ve obviously competed against. You’ve seen them from the other sideline.) – “I’ve known Koa for a long time. (He’s) a great player, a very physical player (and) a great blitzer. So I’m just looking forward to this year.”
(You guys shut down RB Jay Ajayi in the playoffs – 16 carries, 33 yards. Obviously in the first game, it was different. It kind of surprised everybody what he … The Dolphins changed their offense for that game. Was that a surprise for you guys? Can you just talk of the evolution to the last game when you guys played them again?) – “I mean, you see the guy. He’s a great one-cut runner. He gets his pads downhill and he can go. He’s very fast. He’s a bigger running back. When he gets his pads north and south, he’s a problem. That’s the thing about him. We stopped him the second game we played him, but the first game, I mean you saw he went for 204 yards. The guy is a special back. He catches the ball well. I’m just looking forward to see him do that same thing this year.
