Apr 20, 2007 By Jim Wexell For The 4 min read

The Steelers not only interviewed Jon Beason at his pro day, they talked to his mother. And they’re bringing Beason in for another visit just in time to meet the vets as they report for mini-camp on Friday. It looks like Beason might be their guy, but the word running through the agents’ grapevine is that the Steelers want Lawrence Timmons.

Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert were both on hand for Timmons’s pro-day workout. He had a lackluster workout, but his agent apologized to Tomlin and promised that his client would be in better shape for mini-camp.

It’s little wonder the popular opinion is that the Steelers are hot for one of these 4-3 outside linebackers. The problem is: As hard as we in the media try to pound, those square pegs just aren’t fitting into the round holes the Steelers have at 3-4 outside linebacker.

So, what are we to make of the developing news?

“I wouldn’t doubt it’s a smokescreen,” said Tom Marino.

He would know.

Before retiring to a life of luxury in the media, Marino was a scout … for 35 years. He’s been around, seen some things.

Marino’s still looking at the prospects for Scout.com, and he gave me his opinion about Beason and Timmons, a pair of 4-3 outside linebackers from Miami and Florida State.

“Both of them are good athletes, but neither are like what they’ve had come out of those schools in the past,” Marino said. “I liked Rocky (McIntosh) better than Beason. Timmons is an enigma. He had a great spring last year and they thought he was (Ernie) Sims. He had two, three superior games and the rest of the time looked like a guy. So, for the Steelers at 15, I really don’t think so.”

It’s been that way at every turn this draft season. In fact, it’s beginning to appear as if there’s not a fit for the Steelers at pick 15, where the best value appears to be at cornerback.

The Steelers already have six cornerbacks on their roster, to go along with a newly promoted secondary coach and a head coach whose expertise is teaching defensive backs.

It appears the Steelers will coach what they have as opposed to drafting a cornerback with pick 15. It’s also unlikely the Steelers will draft a 4-3 linebacker.

What does Marino think?

“I think (Anthony) Spencer’s a perfect fit for them,” he said. “They have to replace (Joey) Porter and there’s no way of getting around that.”

Marino said that about Spencer and the Steelers on the first day of the combine and hasn’t changed his mind. The Steelers just invited Spencer in for a visit this week – if it matters.

“You guys in the media overrate those visits,” Marino said. “A lot of guys they bring in they need physicals on to complete their grade. The second thing, it’s a smokescreen. Obviously you want to bring in a guy you’re going to get, since you bring in 30, but a lot of that is a smokescreen. One year in St. Louis, at least 15 of the 30 we had no interest in.

“A lot of that is overrated. We bring them in because everyone else is doing it.”

If the Steelers don’t take Spencer at 15, or trade down to take Spencer, Marino suggests they target offensive tackle Joe Staley, whom he rates higher than Penn State tackle Levi Brown.

Marino is currently reviewing video cut-ups of all of the top prospects and is in the process of updating his draft list. He had plenty to say about Staley and Brown and the rest of the offensive line prospects, but those comments will be used in the offensive line section of our draft series, which begins tomorrow.

The series will conclude in 10 days with, we believe, an accurate prediction of the Steelers’ draft. Until then, keep an eye out for those smokescreens.