Linebacker Positional Group

[Sydla]

After hearing MM's press conference yesterday, it appears Neal is going to become the team's new will linebacker. They are still in discussions to resign Sean Lee, which would make signing KJ Wright, highly unlikely. It's a shame as it looks like Seattle probably won't be bringing him back.

If Neal is going to play the will, who plays the mike, who plays the strong-side? My guess Lve remains at the mike, Jaylon moves to the strong-side and comes off the field against the pass.

I don't think the front office/coaches view the position in dire need like most of us fans. In my opinion, they need to start rebuilding the positional group now as all three starters could potentially be off the team next season. What I have read/heard recently suggests, we can cross off them taking a linebacker in rd 1, maybe even rd 2 in this year's draft.

At this point, you have to go LVE at MIKE and Smith at SAM. Smith simply can't play in the middle. LVE isn't much better but has some upside still at MIKE IMO.

 

[Swagger]

IDK about moving vanderglass to MLB. We are giving him the sean lee treatment. I hope like heck we do not pick up his 5th year options. Let him go in FA no matter how good he plays this season. No more contract year warriors. If Micah is there I wouldn't be mad if we drafted him over Surtain.

Agree.
Vanderglass is done in Dallas.

 

[John813]

What is a middle linebacker when the team runs the 4-2-5 the majority of the time, to counter most teams that run the 11 package as their base?

Serious. Is there a difference in requirements for the two linebackers in the nickel? Outside of being able to drop back in coverage, shed a peewee block etc?

I mean one is on the strong side and there is a weak side one, so some different assignments there but in general is there a huge difference between either one?

 

[thunderpimp91]

this sort of post really gets me with its excuse making for the front office

if we sign KJ Wright that immediately solves several issues for the defense

he is available

we have the money to sign him

so when you say “we can realistically replace only so much in one off season” I’m totally at a loss as to what in heck you are talking about?

the fact is that this FO is full of idiots
If we had signed KJ Wright instead of paying Neal 5 million, we would have a MLB who knows the scheme, LVE could play WLB and our LB core would be much better than what it us now with Neal at WLB and glass LVE playing MLB

put the onus where it belongs

I’m not against bringing in KJ, but realistically this team coming into the offseason had issues on defense at S,LB,DT, and multiple CB openings which all require starting caliber players. It’s not realistic to go out and find quality free agents at four spots on one side of the ball when you start with $18MM in cap space. I think it’s fair to say at some point your coaching staff needs to develop established players that you already have high assets in. LB is the spot you can reasonably expect improvement out of. They opted for a SS/LB hybrid that they can keep on the field more. No issues with that. Hopefully they can add solid depth via the draft. I remain more worried about the CB and DT positions.

 

[visionary]

I’m not against bringing in KJ, but realistically this team coming into the offseason had issues on defense at S,LB,DT, and multiple CB openings which all require starting caliber players. It’s not realistic to go out and find quality free agents at four spots on one side of the ball when you start with $18MM in cap space. I think it’s fair to say at some point your coaching staff needs to develop established players that you already have high assets in. LB is the spot you can reasonably expect improvement out of. They opted for a SS/LB hybrid that they can keep on the field more. No issues with that. Hopefully they can add solid depth via the draft. I remain more worried about the CB and DT positions.

mom not talking about that

I’m talking about you saying “there is only so much we can upgrade in one off season” and giving the FO a free pass
The fact is we can do this in one off season if the FO actually gets its head out of its *** and starts making good decisions

 

[Bowdown27]

If they do then take Surtain.

Exactly or horn. We’re in a very good spot.

 

[Bowdown27]

I think day 2 they'll take one depending on the board. Browning, Werner, Surratt, Moses etc

IMO if we want a thumper, Paddy Fisher could be your guy late day 3

Man I’d love any of them. You think cox will hit round 2?

 

[thunderpimp91]

mom not talking about that

I’m talking about you saying “there is only so much we can upgrade in one off season” and giving the FO a free pass
The fact is we can do this in one off season if the FO actually gets its head out of its *** and starts making good decisions

I agree we should not be giving the front office a free pass. They are the ones who neglected the defensive situation for years and tried to get by with high motor/low talent free agents high risk/reward draft picks.

I just think they have left so many holes on defense it’s impossible to completely turn it around in one year.

It’s like the person who makes poor financial decisions in their 20s and racks up 50k In credit debt. We can address the behaviors right away, but we need to be realistic about the timeline for recovery.

 

[JW82]

I think Lee is retiring. If he does, Wright would be a big addition.

 

[Aven8]

The LB room is a mess. Only because LVE has regressed and Jaylon just flat out can’t play. Outside of that you have a safety now converting to LB and Bernard.

They HAVE to draft some as Jaylon will most likely be gone and LVE soon after if he can’t stay on the field.

 

[Rayman70]

The LB room is a mess. Only because LVE has regressed and Jaylon just flat out can’t play. Outside of that you have a safety now converting to LB and Bernard.

They HAVE to draft some as Jaylon will most likely be gone and LVE soon after if he can’t stay on the field.

its a clusterBLEEP. Any adjective will do. lol

 

[Aven8]

its a clusterBLEEP. Any adjective will do. lol

And I remind people what the SB champs looked like last year with David and White tackling everything in sight.....

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Lbers gets hurt/injured more than any positional group on the team........Stephen Jones's words, not mine.

 

[Rayman70]

And I remind people what the SB champs looked like last year with David and White tackling everything in sight.....

Bingo. They dominated a team that NO ONE had losing that game. No team dominated them in that fashion before. It was a curb stomp. The linebackers were key in as you pointed out. I said it before, it might be the template Dan Quinn is using right now. Its a copycat league.

 

[Aven8]

Bingo. They dominated a team that NO ONE had losing that game. No team dominated them in that fashion before. It was a curb stomp. The linebackers were key in as you pointed out. I said it before, it might be the template Dan Quinn is using right now. Its a copycat league.

Yeah, Jaylon could be Devon Whites clone! Lol

 

[JoeKing]

After hearing MM's press conference yesterday, it appears Neal is going to become the team's new will linebacker. They are still in discussions to resign Sean Lee, which would make signing KJ Wright, highly unlikely. It's a shame as it looks like Seattle probably won't be bringing him back.

If Neal is going to play the will, who plays the mike, who plays the strong-side? My guess Lve remains at the mike, Jaylon moves to the strong-side and comes off the field against the pass.

I don't think the front office/coaches view the position in dire need like most of us fans. In my opinion, they need to start rebuilding the positional group now as all three starters could potentially be off the team next season. What I have read/heard recently suggests, we can cross off them taking a linebacker in rd 1, maybe even rd 2 in this year's draft.

The idea is to get Jaylon Smith off the field during high probability passing downs because he sucks at going into coverage. It will be interesting to see the scheme they come up with. I think it's a shame they are holding on to a player when they have to scheme around his weaknesses. Let's have some common sense here. Let's just get better players, but alas, the GM has invested too much in Jaylon to cut so they will just bench him on certain plays.

 

[Rayman70]

Yeah, Jaylon could be Devon Whites clone! Lol

lol In our dreams man ...you and me both know Jaylon is what he is more than likely. But we can dream.

 

[Cowboyny]

At this point, you have to go LVE at MIKE and Smith at SAM. Smith simply can't play in the middle. LVE isn't much better but has some upside still at MIKE IMO.

Lve should have more upside in coverage at the very least.

 

[Cowboyny]

You think they will take a cornerstone off the field in passing situations?

Either him or Lve is coming off the field.

 

[Cowboyny]

I guess you don’t like Jaylon.

He is a liability in all phases. We should just release him and sign Wright as his replacement.