Agree or disagree: Of 3 big potential LBs, Wimbley seems the best w/linemen? - Dallas Cowboys Forum

TruBlueCowboy · 04-28-2006

Maybe some of you folks who watch a lot of college football can help me out but I've been watching a lot of highlight reels of Wimbley, Carpenter and Lawson. It's really hard to tell what kind of players they are when you're only watching 10-15 highlights of multiple seasons, but one thing becomes apparent:

1) Bobby Carpenter usually gets to the QB because of the blitzes and linemen not protecting their gaps. It always looks like his highlight sacks are because he has a clean hole to the QB.

2) Manny Lawson usually gets to the QB because of pressure from the other side. It always looks like his highlight sacks are because the pocket is just straight up collapsing on all sides. (Not to take anything away from him. It's his blinding speed that allows him to get there first.)

3) Kimerion Wimbley seems to get pressure because he just manhandles the linemen in his way. He does have a damn good nose tackle on that team but the highlights I watch always seem to have him taking on linemen one-on-one and winning the battle.

Now I know this is a broad generalization, and if Lawson or Carpenter are playing the linebacker spot in college they may not even be asked to fulfill this role, but from what I've seen, Wimbley really does seem like the guy who would most likely be able to take on linemen in our 3-4.

Am I completely off or do you think Wimbley would be the best candidate for matching up with NFL offensive tackles? If so, if he has the speed to cover (which he claims he does in his interview, says he's even covered receivers before http://dallascowboyszone.com/forums/...d.php?t=54181), I don't see why he shouldn't be the first choice. Decisions, decisions, decisions.....

Chocolate Lab · 04-28-2006

I agree with you 100%. It looks to me like Wimbley is much better at getting to the QB by going through the OT compared to the other two. That was the first thing I thought when seeing his highlight clips.

But like you say, I'm mainly going off highlights.

And that's not to put down the other two candidates, Rack and theogt.

dcboy · 04-28-2006

I think the same thing and I am also only going by highlights. But from the clips Wimberly is my top realistic lb choice.

cboyd · 04-28-2006

You are exactly right my friend, Wimbley does look better in the highlights, and he seems to be a guy that can terroize a defense a lot more than Lawson or Carpentar. I have these OLB's in this order. Wimbley, Lawson, Carpentar.

jazzcat22 · 04-28-2006

Could be just the highlights that are shown of Carpenter, because it looks better in some editor's opinion. I can't go by anything other than highlights of Wimbley and Lawson. But being an Ohio State fan, watch just about all of Carpenter's games. There were many times he fought through blocks, threw guys to the ground, chased down and sacked the QB. Using strength, speed and athleticism to get to his target, QB, RB, TE, WR. Not saying he would be any better than the others, but all his sacks did not come from holes opened by blitzes.

cboyd · 04-28-2006

It's always good to have opinions from people who have seen the guys play. I do think that highlights help a lot because that is all some of us can go by. Last year I watched highlights and determined DeMarcus Ware was the guy we should get, and see how that turned out so far.

AdamJT13 · 04-28-2006

I agree that Wimbley showed the best pass-rushing skills of the three. What worries me about him, though, would be his ability to drop into coverage. Carpenter has experience doing it, and Lawson (like Ware) has the athletic ability to pick it up quickly. Wimbley doesn't have the experience (he doesn't have a ton of experience anyway), and he doesn't have quite the same athleticism as Lawson. Still, I don't know how much the team will worry about Wimbley's coverage ability, since the run-stopping ability and pass-rushing ability seem to be there.

TruBlueCowboy · 04-28-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzcat22

Could be just the highlights that are shown of Carpenter, because it looks better in some editor's opinion. I can't go by anything other than highlights of Wimbley and Lawson. But being an Ohio State fan, watch just about all of Carpenter's games. There were many times he fought through blocks, threw guys to the ground, chased down and sacked the QB. Using strength, speed and athleticism to get to his target, QB, RB, TE, WR. Not saying he would be any better than the others, but all his sacks did not come from holes opened by blitzes.

I don't disagree with you at all. Like jazzcat said, it's good to hear from the fans of the college teams. I'm sure he's had success against linemen, I just notice that a lot of his highlight sacks seem to come from circumstances that would mainly only be beneficial in a 4-3 alignment, and also wonder how much he benefits from those other linebackers around him creating problems.

**MichaelWinicki** · 04-28-2006

In my own world I would prefer the guy to be good at stopping the run first, be able to cover second and rush the passer third.

TruBlueCowboy · 04-28-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamJT13

I agree that Wimbley showed the best pass-rushing skills of the three. What worries me about him, though, would be his ability to drop into coverage. Carpenter has experience doing it, and Lawson (like Ware) has the athletic ability to pick it up quickly. Wimbley doesn't have the experience (he doesn't have a ton of experience anyway), and he doesn't have quite the same athleticism as Lawson. Still, I don't know how much the team will worry about Wimbley's coverage ability, since the run-stopping ability and pass-rushing ability seem to be there.

I guess what would keep me happy is knowing a healthy Singleton could still get some heavy playing minutes and Parcells could gradually introduce Wimbley as he felt more comfortable with him. If Wimbley has that same success with NFL offensive tackles, boy, just thinking of the damage him and Ware could do together. I imagine Ware's highlight reel next year would look like Lawson's college clips.

theogt · 04-28-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamJT13

I agree that Wimbley showed the best pass-rushing skills of the three. What worries me about him, though, would be his ability to drop into coverage. Carpenter has experience doing it, and Lawson (like Ware) has the athletic ability to pick it up quickly. Wimbley doesn't have the experience (he doesn't have a ton of experience anyway), and he doesn't have quite the same athleticism as Lawson. Still, I don't know how much the team will worry about Wimbley's coverage ability, since the run-stopping ability and pass-rushing ability seem to be there.

Word for word what he said.

CrazyCowboy · 04-28-2006

My $$$ goes to:

2) Manny Lawson usually gets to the QB because of pressure from the other side. It always looks like his highlight sacks are because the pocket is just straight up collapsing on all sides. (Not to take anything away from him. It's his blinding speed that allows him to get there first.)

acheman · 04-28-2006

Agree.
Which is why he will not be available at #18.

Avery · 04-28-2006

Wimbley would be my choice of the three followed by Lawson then Carpenter.

MiStar · 04-28-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by acheman

Agree.
Which is why he will not be available at #18.

Ditto. It would take quite a bit of luck for us to get him without trading up.