I believe the team will use more of an Edge as Strong LB

[Cowboyny]

Watched the video posted here today regarding how the Cowboys envision Zaven Collins. He would line up as the strong side linebacker, where he will set the edge, rush the passer and drop back in coverage. What other prospects fit this skillset as more of a 3-4 OLB for this position:

-Oljulari, Ossai, Turner, Perkins, Tyron, Browning

 

[stilltheguru]

Strongside lbs dont get drafted at 10 unless LVE or Jaylon are getting benched. We wont be in 3 lb sets much

 

[32BellyOption]

I don’t see us taking Collins but I’d like any of those other guys in later rounds.

 

[fivetwos]

Watched the video posted here today regarding how the Cowboys envision Zaven Collins. He would line up as the strong side linebacker, where he will set the edge, rush the passer and drop back in coverage. What other prospects fit this skillset as more of a 3-4 OLB for this position:

-Oljulari, Ossai, Turner, Perkins, Tyron, Browning

As much as Ojulari has found his way to the top of my wish list, I realize it isn't going to happen.

He is probably more of a 34 rush LB, and will thrive in NE or Pitt.

We will continue to count on Randy Gregory to get to the passer.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Sam backers have never had much of a home in the Hawk-3 defense. It's a conservative scheme, and while the players are meant to execute it aggressively (bump n run coverage, fly to the ball, etc), there's not much room in the playsheet for lurking blitzers or heavy run fronts.

Our defense in '21 will basically look like our Richard defenses in '18 and '19.

 

[Cowboyny]

Sam backers have never had much of a home in the Hawk-3 defense. It's a conservative scheme, and while the players are meant to execute it aggressively (bump n run coverage, fly to the ball, etc), there's not much room in the playsheet for lurking blitzers or heavy run fronts.

Our defense in '21 will basically look like our Richard defenses in '18 and '19.

Didn't Bruce Irvin play a similar role when he was drafted by the Seahawks. I don't think he played the Leo, but was more of a strong-side linebacker.

 

[Cowboyny]

As much as Ojulari has found his way to the top of my wish list, I realize it isn't going to happen.

He is probably more of a 34 rush LB, and will thrive in NE or Pitt.

We will continue to count on Randy Gregory to get to the passer.

I know the Leo position which Gregory will be playing calls for a stand-up wide pass rusher, the position is kind of like a 3-4 OLB.

 

[tm1119]

Didn’t they already sell Neal as the 3rd LB in a base 4-3? I’m no expert, but we can’t have both a “Leo” and also play Neal at LB.

 

[Jfconrow]

Parsons could be the Edge player, but he doesn’t exactly set the edge. Phillips is a similar player. Collins is more of a mlb. I would take Phillips/Parsons and Colins and be very happy...after 3 or 4 years they could transition into a Greg Ellis type Player maybe....Lawrence is the strong side set the edge right now and Greggory would be an awesome WSL, like Dware if he can just hold it together

 

[fivetwos]

I know the Leo position which Gregory will be playing calls for a stand-up wide pass rusher, the position is kind of like a 3-4 OLB.

Never have enough of those, as opposed to trying to blanket receivers with corners when the rules don't allow it.

Those Giant teams that had no business beating Brady, and Tampa from last year....all won due in large part to pressure from each side, not because they covered so well.

Surtain is the safe pick though and I'd call it at 80% he is the pick, maybe higher.

It's the Greg Ellis thing to do.

 

[DanA]

Parsons could be the Edge player, but he doesn’t exactly set the edge. Phillips is a similar player. Collins is more of a mlb. I would take Phillips/Parsons and Colins and be very happy...after 3 or 4 years they could transition into a Greg Ellis type Player maybe....Lawrence is the strong side set the edge right now and Greggory would be an awesome WSL, like Dware if he can just hold it together

I assume you mean he's not a pass rushing specialist and therefore not as good at setting the edge as a good run defending DE. But he regularly sets the edge at Penn State, and I'd put it as a strength.

 

[AsthmaField]

Didn’t they already sell Neal as the 3rd LB in a base 4-3? I’m no expert, but we can’t have both a “Leo” and also play Neal at LB.

Yeah, Neal could play WLB while Gregory (or Ojulari) played the LEO spot.

The LEO position is just basically a Weakside DE who is in a two (or three) point stance in a wide-9 alignment. You still have a “front four” (one of them being the LEO) with 3 LB’s and 4 DB’s in base, although most of the time they’d probably be in a nickel which would be with the LEO standing in a wide-9 alignment with two LB’s (say LVE and Neal) and 5 DB’s.

Here is a shot of the Seattle defense that Quinn ran. You can see that the LEO is out on the edge (here in a 3 point stance). You can also see there are 3 other DL as well as 3 LB’s. The SLB is lined up on the line of scrimmage while the MLB and the WLB are lined up in a more traditional off the ball position.

So yes, Neal would definitely play at the same time as a LEO.

If Jaylon is playing the SAM, he could play up at the LOS and have some more opportunities to get after the QB than he has had in previous seasons, with LVE in the middle and Neal as the Will. Personally, I think that Jaylon is pretty decent getting pressure on the QB.

 

[Rockport]

Watched the video posted here today regarding how the Cowboys envision Zaven Collins. He would line up as the strong side linebacker, where he will set the edge, rush the passer and drop back in coverage. What other prospects fit this skillset as more of a 3-4 OLB for this position:

-Oljulari, Ossai, Turner, Perkins, Tyron, Browning

I believe that you, nor I, have any idea what the Cowboys believe. And to think that we do is just narcissistic behavior.

 

[DanA]

Yeah, Neal could play WLB while Gregory (or Ojulari) played the LEO spot.

The LEO position is just basically a Weakside DE who is in a two (or three) point stance in a wide-9 alignment. You still have a “front four” (one of them being the LEO) with 3 LB’s and 4 DB’s in base, although most of the time they’d probably be in a nickel which would be with the LEO standing in a wide-9 alignment with two LB’s (say LVE and Neal) and 5 DB’s.

Here is a shot of the Seattle defense that Quinn ran. You can see that the LEO is out on the edge (here in a 3 point stance). You can also see there are 3 other DL as well as 3 LB’s. The SLB is lined up on the line of scrimmage while the MLB and the WLB are lined up in a more traditional off the ball position.

So yes, Neal would definitely play at the same time as a LEO.

If Jaylon is playing the SAM, he could play up at the LOS and have some more opportunities to get after the QB than he has had in previous seasons, with LVE in the middle and Neal as the Will. Personally, I think that Jaylon is pretty decent getting pressure on the QB.

The hard bit for me is figuring out who is who. I can get the main guys

• Earl Thomas (29) playing single high
• Cam Chancellor (31) on the left playing a hybrid S/LB.
• Bobby Wagner (54) is at Mike
• Bruce Irvin (51) is LEO

Who is the WILL(56) and SAM (57)? The only reason I ask is that I think that WILL is Cliff Avril who I thought was a pass rusher.

 

[AsthmaField]

The hard bit for me is figuring out who is who. I can get the main guys

• Earl Thomas (29) playing single high
• Cam Chancellor (31) on the left playing a hybrid S/LB.
• Bobby Wagner (54) is at Mike
• Bruce Irvin (51) is LEO

Who is the WILL(56) and SAM (57)? The only reason I ask is that I think that WILL is Cliff Avril who I thought was a pass rusher.

Kam is just playing the SS walked up in the box, with Wagner at the Mike position.

I don’t think that is Avril in #56. I’m pretty sure this is from the 2012 season and that is Will LB Leroy Hill and #57 is the Sam LB Mike Morgan.

Haha, I bet you were wondering why in the heck they were playing Avril at WLB.

 

[DanA]

Kam is just playing the SS walked up in the box, with Wagner at the Mike position.

I don’t think that is Avril in #56. I’m pretty sure this is from the 2012 season and that is Will LB Leroy Hill and #57 is the Sam LB Mike Morgan.

Haha, I bet you were wondering why in the heck they were playing Avril at WLB.

Yeah, I couldn't figure out what was happening.....That makes more sense except Gus Bradley was the DC in 2012, Dan Quinn was at Florida for this period.

 

[Cowboyny]

Never have enough of those, as opposed to trying to blanket receivers with corners when the rules don't allow it.

Those Giant teams that had no business beating Brady, and Tampa from last year....all won due in large part to pressure from each side, not because they covered so well.

Surtain is the safe pick though and I'd call it at 80% he is the pick, maybe higher.

It's the Greg Ellis thing to do.

Being from NY, I got to see the Giants. It was their nascar package that gave teams trouble, 4 defensive ends rushing the passer. The Cowboys were the only team to handle their front.

 

[cnuball21]

Watched the video posted here today regarding how the Cowboys envision Zaven Collins. He would line up as the strong side linebacker, where he will set the edge, rush the passer and drop back in coverage. What other prospects fit this skillset as more of a 3-4 OLB for this position:

-Oljulari, Ossai, Turner, Perkins, Tyron, Browning

The SAM is a 2 down backer...with Quinn’s scheme I don’t think that is much of a fit.

I think he’s looking for more of 3/4 rush LBr...like Ojulari.

 

[Cowboyny]

Didn’t they already sell Neal as the 3rd LB in a base 4-3? I’m no expert, but we can’t have both a “Leo” and also play Neal at LB.

Leo is basically the RE, he can either stand up or with his hand in the dirt. Think Neal will be playing more of the will linebacker in certain packages.

 

[Cowboyny]

Yeah, Neal could play WLB while Gregory (or Ojulari) played the LEO spot.

The LEO position is just basically a Weakside DE who is in a two (or three) point stance in a wide-9 alignment. You still have a “front four” (one of them being the LEO) with 3 LB’s and 4 DB’s in base, although most of the time they’d probably be in a nickel which would be with the LEO standing in a wide-9 alignment with two LB’s (say LVE and Neal) and 5 DB’s.

Here is a shot of the Seattle defense that Quinn ran. You can see that the LEO is out on the edge (here in a 3 point stance). You can also see there are 3 other DL as well as 3 LB’s. The SLB is lined up on the line of scrimmage while the MLB and the WLB are lined up in a more traditional off the ball position.

So yes, Neal would definitely play at the same time as a LEO.

If Jaylon is playing the SAM, he could play up at the LOS and have some more opportunities to get after the QB than he has had in previous seasons, with LVE in the middle and Neal as the Will. Personally, I think that Jaylon is pretty decent getting pressure on the QB.

I think we would all agree Gregory fits best as the Leo, which is basically the RE lined up wide. I started this discussion to talk about how they are going to fill the Strong-side LB position. As you see in the base, the strong side backer at the line of scrimmage. This spot is going to have to be a player who is more of a hybrid, be able to set the edge, cover and even rush. Think a player like Ossai, who they have shown interest with, fits this role.