Nov 5, 2014 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin brought the term thoughtfully non-rhythmic to Pittsburgh a few years back. The definition seems to be doing the unexpected, but with a purpose.

The Steelers have certainly done that the past few weeks with their inside linebacker rotation.

Veteran Lawrence Timmons, the team’s leading tackler, has been a constant on the field. But who lines up to him on a given play? Well, that’s anyone’s guess.

“It’s matchups,” said Tomlin. “It’s either situational things that we’re calling, the people that we’re playing, whether it’s zone, man (or) pressure. I’m not going to get too much into the details and tip our hand but there are a few elements that go into the discussion. Some of it is very much related to what it is we’re doing or who we are. Some of it is relative to game situations or our opponents personnel.”

Much of the discussion revolves around Timmons and what the Steelers want him to do on a given play.

The Steelers consider Timmons their best linebacker in coverage and what they do with the other inside linebackers plays off of that skill.

For example, two weeks ago when the Steelers played the Colts, who have two good receiving threats at tight end in Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, Timmons played more in coverage.

As a result, Vince Williams, the best run-stopper among their other inside linebackers, played 36 snaps, compared to 30 for Ryan Shazier and just one for Sean Spence, who had been starting while Shazier was out with a knee sprain.

Last week against Baltimore, when Shazier went down in the first half with an ankle sprain, Spence saw most of the action, playing 57 snaps, compared to just nine for Williams.

“We want to get Lawrence matched up on the tight end in coverage, and that why we do it,” said Spence.

What the Steelers (5-3) will do Sunday against the New York Jets (1-8) is anyone’s guess.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. The Steelers drafted Shazier with their 15th pick hoping he would be an every-down linebacker.

But he suffered a knee injury in a Week 3 win at Carolina and missed the next four games. Now, he’s out again with an ankle sprain.

Even Spence and Williams don’t know how much they’ll be used each week until game day.

“I have no idea,” said Williams, who started 11 games at inside linebacker in 2013. “I just prepare. I go out and work hard and I’m sure Sean Spence does as well. We always look forward to the opportunity to go out and put ourselves on tape. That’s all we can do.”

It should prove interesting to see how the Steelers deploy their inside linebackers against New York.

Despite their record, the Jets have a potent three-man rushing attack led by Chris Ivory. Former 2,000-yard rusher Chris Johnson also sees time, as does Bilal Powell. Adding in quarterback Michael Vick, arguably the most explosive runner at that position in NFL history, and it’s not hard to see why the Jets average nearly 140 yards rushing per game.

“They’ve got three good backs and a good offensive line,” said Spence. “It’s hard to believe that team’s 1-8. They’ve got a lot of Pro Bowl guys at a lot of spots.

“They run it all. They run outside zone, inside zone, zone read with Michael Vick. He adds a different element.”

The Jets also have a dangerous tight end in rookie Jace Amaro, who’s second on the team with 32 receptions.

It could mean the Steelers will try to guess when using Spence and Williams.

“Hopefully, I’ll get the opportunity to play more and show what I’m capable of,” said Williams. “I don’t look at myself as a one-dimensional player. I look at myself as a complete linebacker. In the grand scheme of things, I want to have a (hall of fame) career like everyone else. I don’t think you can accomplish that by just being a two-down linebacker. I never looked at myself as a two-down linebacker, even though that’s what I can do. I can stop the run. But I’m not going to look at myself that way.”

Odds and end zones

In addition to Shazier, safeties Troy Polamalu (knee) and Shamarko Thomas (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday. Tomlin has already declared those three out for Sunday. … Also not practicing because of injury were safety Ross Ventrone (hamstring) and linebacker Jason Worilds (abdomen). … With three safeties not practicing, the Steelers signed safety Jordan Dangerfield to their practice squad and released defensive end Ethan Hemer. … QB Ben Roethlisberger was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week.