How confident are you about these Linebackers?

[Whyjerry]

Inspired to do something because Ranching asked for it, I wanted to get your insight on this LB group. All great defenses need a stellar group of LBs. The Ravens had Lewis, the Giants had LT and Banks, the Steelers had Lambert, the Bears had Singletary...I could go on.

Right now the Cowboys have Bernard, Gifford, Lee, March, Smith, Thomas, and LVE on the roster. Lee, Smith, and LVE are probably the starters and Smith and LVE are mostly on the field when they go nickel which will be the majority of the plays. IMO Thomas is probably next up.

This group is by far the scariest on the current roster. You could make a case for S but given the depth at CB and a couple of guys that could probably play S if need be I am less worried about that position.

Lee was a great player, and I think he can still be in spots, but he is a major injury risk. LVE is coming off a major injury and did not play well last year. Smith is an absolute wild card. Should be great. Can be great. I think is issue is that he is a flake and too distracted to be a really great NFL LB. Thomas played well last year but he is just above a JAG in my opinion. The rest are camp bodies, ST guys, and JAGs not suited to play major defensive snaps.

Injury risk is high and this group is an injury or 2 away from being a major liability. I am very surprised the position was not sured up to in the draft and I expect it to be big focus for the upcoming draft.

I see big issues coming at LB this season. Your views are appreciated.

 

[John813]

It's a high ceiling, average floor unit.

If LVE is healthy, and Smith can be better positioned at times they can go back to their 2018 status, if not higher.
Lee right now is a good depth guy/spot starter. 10 years in the league now.

I still believe LVE was off ever since Heath heat seek missiled his head in week 1. Hopefully, he can bounce back and stay healthy.

 

[Jfconrow]

I think they’re a liability, that’s 3 injured LBs. If one gets hurt the season is probably over. Thomas is a good player, but not sure they can all stay healthy. I’m pulling for LVE especially to come through this year, but his neck makes me nervous. Maybe they will get half a year more to heal up. Jaylon I guess just has to manage the drop foot, or is that totally better now?

 

[Whyjerry]

It's a high ceiling, average floor unit.

If LVE is healthy, and Smith can be better positioned at times they can go back to their 2018 status, if not higher.
Lee right now is a good depth guy/spot starter. 10 years in the league now.

I still believe LVE was off ever since Heath heat seek missiled his head in week 1. Hopefully, he can bounce back and stay healthy.

Yeah this nails it. I see more downside risk than upside though.

 

[noshame]

This defensive line will make the entire back seven 10 times
better
The 1T alone will make this defense a blast to watch.

 

[cern]

Is lve truly well? If so, great. If not, looks like last year again. Jaylon needs to step it up again. Lee will be fine for his age. Can't tell what new coaching and schemes will be able to do yet. A new name needs to come to the forefront.

 

[MWH1967]

I'll hold my rabbits foot tight. Great group.

 

[JohnsKey19]

If Vander Esch's neck holds up, its a very good group and likely the strength of the defense.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Honestly, the entire group is big fat ?.......but a ton of potential. LVE is the wildcard IMO......his play as a rookie not lifted the LBers but the entire defense. He was that good. What's interesting is last year Jaylon had a career year stat-wise but little or no impact on the overall defense. In other words, LVE plays anywhere close to his rookie season, everything else with this unit will fall in place.

 

[Tangle_Foot]

Better defensive line play in front of them will go a long way, even those great linebackers that were mentioned in the opening post had some talent in front of them. That coupled with a linebackers coach that will point out their deficiencies and Coach them hard would have me feeling a lot better. I just can't imagine a passive linebacker room with some of the mistakes we watched the last season. I didn't forget about health just didn't mention it because that's the one constant for every NFL roster.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

If Vander Esch's neck holds up, its a very good group and likely the strength of the defense.

100%

 

[Hawkeye0202]

If Vander Esch's neck holds up, its a very good group and likely the strength of the defense.[

100%

 

[Qcard]

Inspired to do something because Ranching asked for it, I wanted to get your insight on this LB group. All great defenses need a stellar group of LBs. The Ravens had Lewis, the Giants had LT and Banks, the Steelers had Lambert, the Bears had Singletary...I could go on.

Right now the Cowboys have Bernard, Gifford, Lee, March, Smith, Thomas, and LVE on the roster. Lee, Smith, and LVE are probably the starters and Smith and LVE are mostly on the field when they go nickel which will be the majority of the plays. IMO Thomas is probably next up.

This group is by far the scariest on the current roster. You could make a case for S but given the depth at CB and a couple of guys that could probably play S if need be I am less worried about that position.

Lee was a great player, and I think he can still be in spots, but he is a major injury risk. LVE is coming off a major injury and did not play well last year. Smith is an absolute wild card. Should be great. Can be great. I think is issue is that he is a flake and too distracted to be a really great NFL LB. Thomas played well last year but he is just above a JAG in my opinion. The rest are camp bodies, ST guys, and JAGs not suited to play major defensive snaps.

Injury risk is high and this group is an injury or 2 away from being a major liability. I am very surprised the position was not sured up to in the draft and I expect it to be big focus for the upcoming draft.

I see big issues coming at LB this season. Your views are appreciated.

It is so hard to determine what to expect based on Garretism.

I think the entire team went off the reservation, they knew the coaching staff was garbage.

We were so fundamentally flawed, I am willing to give everyone on defense a Mulligan......

Jaylon and LVE duo with Mike Nolan...giddy

 

[Cowboyny]

Inspired to do something because Ranching asked for it, I wanted to get your insight on this LB group. All great defenses need a stellar group of LBs. The Ravens had Lewis, the Giants had LT and Banks, the Steelers had Lambert, the Bears had Singletary...I could go on.

Right now the Cowboys have Bernard, Gifford, Lee, March, Smith, Thomas, and LVE on the roster. Lee, Smith, and LVE are probably the starters and Smith and LVE are mostly on the field when they go nickel which will be the majority of the plays. IMO Thomas is probably next up.

This group is by far the scariest on the current roster. You could make a case for S but given the depth at CB and a couple of guys that could probably play S if need be I am less worried about that position.

Lee was a great player, and I think he can still be in spots, but he is a major injury risk. LVE is coming off a major injury and did not play well last year. Smith is an absolute wild card. Should be great. Can be great. I think is issue is that he is a flake and too distracted to be a really great NFL LB. Thomas played well last year but he is just above a JAG in my opinion. The rest are camp bodies, ST guys, and JAGs not suited to play major defensive snaps.

Injury risk is high and this group is an injury or 2 away from being a major liability. I am very surprised the position was not sured up to in the draft and I expect it to be big focus for the upcoming draft.

I see big issues coming at LB this season. Your views are appreciated.

-A better scheme and personnel with only help the LB group. We have discussed numerous times how Marinelli's defense was exposed.

-Jaylon is a run and hit linebacker, who is best using his straight line speed and burst. If used right can be very effective/productive.

-Lve biggest concern is his durability. He suffered a similar injury in college and was able to come back and have a breakout Senior season. We almost have to give him a mulligan for last year as he was basically playing on 1 arm. He has a similar skill set as a younger Sean Lee, but more size/length and athletic ability. He has star potential at the position. All indications are he is 100% healthy.

-The new scheme will basically employ two off the ball linebackers, where the third will be more of a DE/Pass rusher. The likes of Lee/Thomas are quality backups. A player like Gifford is more of a developmental prospect who can ascend with more experience.

-Every positional unit is in need of better depth. The front office has to do a better job in day 3 of the draft to improve upon this area.

 

[jazzcat22]

Seeing how they only have 8 LB's on the roster, this is a big concern to me. They had 9, and released Covington.

LVE coming off and playing on a high career ending injury risk is huge, even though they and he say he is 100%.

Jaylon needs to get back to 2018 style. However I blame part of last year, not only LVE playing injured, but the lame coaching staff seemed to have changed up the defensive philosophy some, or were in disagreement and it reflected on the field. Jaylon's role seemed so much different than from 2018.

Lee finally played 16 games in 2019 but I think was still banged up a little, and he played well, but even he can only do so much. Can he do that again.

Thomas, is fine as a fill in for some plays here and there, and maybe even to play a few full games, but is not the every week for a full season player.
March looks lost on the field at LB play a good part of the time but is kept for ST's play.
Gifford, in his 2nd year, coming off an injury. Is he injury prone as Lee? I need to see more from him just before saying he is the next good LB in waiting. Did he make the team for lack of better talent from TC?

After that they have 2 UDFA players in Bernard and Kamura. Either one may take the place of March's place and even Gifford.

But only 8 LB's, very questionable to me. Now if they plan to use a few DE's at LB now and then in. the hybrid type looks, could be why. As can Smith and Gregory and Anea, which I believe partly why he was drafted besides being BPA and great value at the pick. But how often will they employ that style defense.

 

[big dog cowboy]

A strength of the team. LVE healthy, Jaylon won't be free styling, Better DL, better coaches. I'm pretty pumped about the group.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Inspired to do something because Ranching asked for it, I wanted to get your insight on this LB group. All great defenses need a stellar group of LBs. The Ravens had Lewis, the Giants had LT and Banks, the Steelers had Lambert, the Bears had Singletary...I could go on.

Right now the Cowboys have Bernard, Gifford, Lee, March, Smith, Thomas, and LVE on the roster. Lee, Smith, and LVE are probably the starters and Smith and LVE are mostly on the field when they go nickel which will be the majority of the plays. IMO Thomas is probably next up.

This group is by far the scariest on the current roster. You could make a case for S but given the depth at CB and a couple of guys that could probably play S if need be I am less worried about that position.

Lee was a great player, and I think he can still be in spots, but he is a major injury risk. LVE is coming off a major injury and did not play well last year. Smith is an absolute wild card. Should be great. Can be great. I think is issue is that he is a flake and too distracted to be a really great NFL LB. Thomas played well last year but he is just above a JAG in my opinion. The rest are camp bodies, ST guys, and JAGs not suited to play major defensive snaps.

Injury risk is high and this group is an injury or 2 away from being a major liability. I am very surprised the position was not sured up to in the draft and I expect it to be big focus for the upcoming draft.

I see big issues coming at LB this season. Your views are appreciated.

I expect a huge year out of these guys. With the two huge DT's in the middle keeping them clean, that is exactly what they need. Jaylon in particular is not a guy that does well shedding blocks.

 

[quickccc]

Inspired to do something because Ranching asked for it, I wanted to get your insight on this LB group. All great defenses need a stellar group of LBs. The Ravens had Lewis, the Giants had LT and Banks, the Steelers had Lambert, the Bears had Singletary...I could go on.

Right now the Cowboys have Bernard, Gifford, Lee, March, Smith, Thomas, and LVE on the roster. Lee, Smith, and LVE are probably the starters and Smith and LVE are mostly on the field when they go nickel which will be the majority of the plays. IMO Thomas is probably next up.

This group is by far the scariest on the current roster. You could make a case for S but given the depth at CB and a couple of guys that could probably play S if need be I am less worried about that position.

Lee was a great player, and I think he can still be in spots, but he is a major injury risk. LVE is coming off a major injury and did not play well last year. Smith is an absolute wild card. Should be great. Can be great. I think is issue is that he is a flake and too distracted to be a really great NFL LB. Thomas played well last year but he is just above a JAG in my opinion. The rest are camp bodies, ST guys, and JAGs not suited to play major defensive snaps.

Injury risk is high and this group is an injury or 2 away from being a major liability. I am very surprised the position was not sured up to in the draft and I expect it to be big focus for the upcoming draft.

I see big issues coming at LB this season. Your views are appreciated.

we've seen our LBs at their best ...and at their worst, ..each has their worry spots .and each has their strengths. All were caught up in the coaching mutiny that didn't help matters. Much about their success will depend upon health, durability and coaching. All 3 LBs have been to at least one pro bowl so collectively it's
far more a strength than it is worry point of the team. Depth is a whole new matter though, imo.

- Leighthon Vander Esch made the pro bowl his rookie year when he displayed range, coverage skills, open field tackling and superb instincts. he got his head spun vs Rams in playoffs where he was often out of position but a great deal of that also had to do with the worthlessness going up upfront.

Much talk about a possible move to Middle LB At 6-5 255, he definitely has the size, and with his length, knack for dropping in pass lanes, being actively around the ball, i see him getting either deflections for INTs, or getting the INTs himself. He will be the future leader of the defense, imo. I'm only worried about the neck conditioning. Does he play for many years to come.. or to be forced to suddenly retire ?

- Jaylon Smith: i admit that i am not sold on Swipes future here. Probably based off two concerns- i just think he's particularly instinctive and i question his change of direction. He's easy to fooled with misdirection plays
he''ll mis-guess wrong into gaps and get stuck in traffic and somewhat awkard in stop n re-starting again or have to turn in reverse.
i think that makes him a limited player that they have to scheme and hide his flaws and there's only so much you can hide players before the better OC's and personnel figure out how to best take advantage of him. It's not known that he will be weak side OLB or strong side and outside on the flank, i dunno how he will handle the better catching TEs or RBs. it's just me, but i wouldn't be surprised

When he can get a straight Bee line shot where he can fire out of a cannon, going forward
or straight down the line in pursuit ,that's where Swipe seems to work his best.
He has blitzing ability off the edge vs RB, and he's a powerful tackler to place a big pop on ball carriers that can cause fumbles on impact on occasions.

- Sean Lee though he doesn't have the range and mobility as in his younger years, he still is operational
and a master at anticipating and reacting to developing plays, both vs run and pass.
Despite an shocking injury free 2019, i still think you don't want to put him in situations where he constantly has to take head on blocks or stick in man coverage with the more athletic TEs/RBs , and frankly i love what team did in limiting his reps and snaps to preserve his body from wear n toll. And hope this coaching regime does so as well.

 

[quickccc]

I expect a huge year out of these guys. With the two huge DT's in the middle keeping them clean, that is exactly what they need. Jaylon in particular is not a guy that does well shedding blocks.

Agree. What we present up front as quality in the trenches as interference to allow LBs to better flow.
(though i don't consider McCoy as huge) and our gap scheme responsibility should be much better and
effective vs what the previous coaching regime presented.

 

[quickccc]

With the backup depth guys
- i like Joe Thomas' athleticism, coverage ability and game experience; plus he is a damn good special teams player too. but he hasn't proved durable. the 2 years he's been here it's always been lingering injuries with him while he's sparingly as a chance to be on the field. And after him, it's pretty much unknown and scary thin.
- Luke Gifford is an unknown and another that has to beat the injury bug.
- Justin march is trash vs run and clueless lost in coverage He's strictly a special teamer. and thats'
why i prefer a better replacement.
- i had impression that undrafted Kamara was thought more as an edge player than a 4-3 OLB.
- another undrafted Francis Bernard is a mixed bag, he can guess right ..or overrun plays and not known as a take on block guy but could that be coached up or not. But five INTs shows a plus in drop zones.

All these level of guys have to be special teams contributors no doubt.
as a whole unit, i can see carrying 7 LBs - i wouldn't be surprised to see us poach a player off practice squads, or see us sign and add a cheap, street vet FA.
1) smith
2) LVE
3) Lee
4) Thomas
5) Gifford
6) March ?
7) Bernard ?