PFF top 10 LBer units entering 2021 (Cowboys 6)

[Hawkeye0202]

This kid immediately upgrades was our weakest defensive unit........just me, but this is a home run pick



6. DALLAS COWBOYS
To accept Dallas this high on the list, look beyond the disaster that was their 2020 season and acknowledge the talent they have at the position, particularly factoring in rookies. Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch were both poor in 2020, with neither earning an overall PFF grade above 55.0 and injuries also being a factor. Each player has a previous season with an 84.0-plus grade on their resume. They are now joined by Micah Parsons, the best linebacker prospect to enter the league in several seasons. This unit has incredible potential, but it needs to translate that into real production.

 

[Jipper]

Sorry but this is way high....we have two ineffective starters, both due to injury concerns and a rookie, albeit a very highly ranked one.

We will be improved but this just seems way to optimistic until we see some play

 

[Corso]

This kid immediately upgrades was our weakest defensive unit........just me, but this is a home run pick



6. DALLAS COWBOYS
To accept Dallas this high on the list, look beyond the disaster that was their 2020 season and acknowledge the talent they have at the position, particularly factoring in rookies. Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch were both poor in 2020, with neither earning an overall PFF grade above 55.0 and injuries also being a factor. Each player has a previous season with an 84.0-plus grade on their resume. They are now joined by Micah Parsons, the best linebacker prospect to enter the league in several seasons. This unit has incredible potential, but it needs to translate that into real production.

Hopefully it turns out that way.

 

[plasticman]

I was hoping the defense would come in under the radar this season. Some of the more intelligent analysts have acknowledged the irregular circumstances and horrible luck with injuries.

All this defense really has to do to dramatically improve is get rid of the injuries. Both sides of the ball were completely gutted and it began before game #1. The defense loses their best veteran free agent signing, the offense loses an All Pro center. From there it just got worse.

If this defense can stay healthy it will thrive. Then add in this season's draft picks and it could very well be a "worse to first" possibility.

 

[Rockport]

Sorry but this is way high....we have two ineffective starters, both due to injury concerns and a rookie, albeit a very highly ranked one.

We will be improved but this just seems way to optimistic until we see some play

No blame on the horrid defense last year on the coaching staff? The entire defensive unit had a sub par year last year.

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

Way too high until proven otherwise.

 

[JoeKing]

LVE is our best LBer. The rest we don't know enough about to earn us that "6th" ranking. It's just too premature.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

No blame on the horrid defense last year on the coaching staff? The entire defensive unit had a sub par year last year.

Absolutely you can blame the coaching staff, but you can't then turn around and accredit the new coaching staff for fixing it until they do. They are what they are until they're not

 

[conner01]

I’m more interested in rankings after the season
After players actually play football

 

[J12B]

How are the Seahawks 2nd?

Don't know a single player in their LB unit

 

[Ranched]

It's hard to fathom that Penn State, which used to be known as “Linebacker U,” has failed to produce a linebacker chosen in the first round since 2000.

But Parsons is destined to end the drought. There’s not much this kid can’t do. We'll see if can continue doing so, as a pro.

 

[Rockport]

Absolutely you can blame the coaching staff, but you can't then turn around and accredit the new coaching staff for fixing it until they do. They are what they are until they're not

Didn’t say they have fixed it just that they’re trying and I’m willing to give them a chance.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

Didn’t say they have fixed it just that they’re trying and I’m willing to give them a chance.

I can approve of that stance, but last year what would you say the linebackers should have been ranked? 20's? Isnt going all the way up to 6 a little extreme? I think they're basing it on previous seasons we've seen LVE and Smith in , and not anything recently

 

[Jipper]

No blame on the horrid defense last year on the coaching staff? The entire defensive unit had a sub par year last year.

absolutly blame partly goes to the coaching staff, but still 6th is very high even just considering the personnel don’t you think?

 

[Rockport]

I can approve of that stance, but last year what would you say the linebackers should have been ranked? 20's? Isnt going all the way up to 6 a little extreme? I think they're basing it on previous seasons we've seen LVE and Smith in , and not anything recently

Well they said the Cowboys drafted the best LB’er in several years so that’s a huge part of the ranking.

 

[Rockport]

absolutly blame partly goes to the coaching staff, but still 6th is very high even just considering the personnel don’t you think?

Not really especially drafting Parsons. He seems to be that good. Also with Neal.

 

[Batman1980]

Sorry but this is way high....we have two ineffective starters, both due to injury concerns and a rookie, albeit a very highly ranked one.

We will be improved but this just seems way to optimistic until we see some play

If our LB corp play receives an overall boost, it will be more so due to the picks of players such as Bohanna and Gallimore than Parsons.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

If we look at the seasons over the past ten years in which the defense wasn’t a total liability, it was usually the linebacker position leading the way, especially in the playoff seasons. In 2014, they got an excellent 10-12 games out of Rolando McClain. 2016 was Lee’s last really good year.

 

[Jipper]

Not really especially drafting Parsons. He seems to be that good. Also with Neal.

Neal is a reclamation project and seeming to be good as a rookie is still not enough to vault one of the worst lb cores to top .6...again good for people being optimistic but let's be real here, the likelihood of their ranking is middle of the pack unless there is substantial overperformance

 

[Jipper]

If our LB corp play receives an overall boost, it will be more so due to the picks of players such as Bohanna and Gallimore than Parsons.

No argument there...we needed some more talent for sure