It shouldn’t be a shock that former Pittsburgh Steelers middle linebacker Lawrence Timmons signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency. Timmons played college football at Florida State and has lived in South Florida for the past 10 years.

So when the Dolphins had linebacker as their biggest need this offseason and Timmons simultaneously hit free agency, the stars aligned to make a match. Timmons, 30, signed a two-year contract worth $12 million and will take over the spot in the middle of Miami’s defense. The Dolphins ranked 30th against the run last season and desperately need Timmons’ size and physicality.

Timmons played 10 seasons in Pittsburgh and must adjust to change for the first time in his NFL career.

“It’s very different because you’ve been somewhere for so long. I love Steeler Nation always,” Timmons said. “You always respect what you’re true to. It’s just a new thing being here with the Dolphins. That’s why I love. Sometimes change is not so bad.”

The acquisition of Timmons presents a shift within Miami’s linebacking corps. Timmons, who played inside linebacker in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 defense, will play middle linebacker in Miami’s 4-3 scheme, while 2016 leading tackler Kiko Alonso will move to outside linebacker, where he can best use his speed.

Timmons said he is familiar with Alonso and expects the pair to play off each other well. Both surpassed the 100-tackle mark in 2016. Timmons also compared it to a strong pairing he had in Pittsburgh with Pro Bowl outside linebacker Ryan Shazier.

“He kind of reminds me of Shazier because he’s very fast,” Timmons said of Alonso. “He’s got a lot of range. He’s all over the field. I like the way he plays and he picks the ball off pretty nice.”