LBs and Lack of Splash Plays

[TwoCentPlain]

Jerry made the comment that the 12th overall pick was too high for a LB.

I don’t get that. I wouldn’t devalue the LB position like that especially for a player like Parsons.

1) What position are Parson’s splash plays coming from? Why is a talent like that excelling at DE more than LB?

2) If Parsons isn’t making splash plays at the traditional LB position, I would assume it is more about scheme than talent at the LB position. Or is it just less opportunity to affect the game at LB vs DE no matter what the scene is these days?

3) Don’t recall the LBs here making a whole lot of splash plays. Lee, Jaylon, LVE on occasion. Now we have a super talented LB in Parsons but at the traditional LB position he does not excel?

4) Is it league wide and there just isn’t as many playmaking LBs and influencers at the LB position. Seems like LBs made more plays decades before than now. Are LBs today more like intermediate safeties when not blitzing? Analytics? Keep it in front of you and just make the tackle, nothing fancy.

5) Or is it just limited by Jaylon and LVE just not all that? Like to see Cox out there to see what he can do.

 

[Aftershock]

A good MLB doesn’t make splash plays. Maybe a few sacks here and there but their main responsibilities are to command the rest of the defense, read defenses, react appropriately, and make good tackles, stop the run, etc. Good coverage is needed too in the middle and I heard somewhere that parsons is mediocre in coverage

a good LB should be very smart and watch a ton of film to predict what the offense will do on every snap. Kuechly comes to mind. Wagner as well. These guys are generational LB but their stat sheet isn’t filled to the brim with INTs and Sacks. They impact the game in other ways

 

[thunderpimp91]

Different eras. Off ball LBs are on the field fewer plays as nickel and dime packages are the norm. Also with such an emphasis on the passing game traditional backers sit in coverage most plays.

not saying these guys are not valuable, but the “splash plays” become fewer and further between from the position as a whole.

 

[CATCH17]

Jerry made the comment that the 12th overall pick was too high for a LB.

I don’t get that. I wouldn’t devalue the LB position like that especially for a player like Parsons.

1) What position are Parson’s splash plays coming from? Why is a talent like that excelling at DE more than LB?

2) If Parsons isn’t making splash plays at the traditional LB position, I would assume it is more about scheme than talent at the LB position. Or is it just less opportunity to affect the game at LB vs DE no matter what the scene is these days?

3) Don’t recall the LBs here making a whole lot of splash plays. Lee, Jaylon, LVE on occasion. Now we have a super talented LB in Parsons but at the traditional LB position he does not excel?

4) Is it league wide and there just isn’t as many playmaking LBs and influencers at the LB position. Seems like LBs made more plays decades before than now. Are LBs today more like intermediate safeties when not blitzing? Analytics? Keep it in front of you and just make the tackle, nothing fancy.

5) Or is it just limited by Jaylon and LVE just not all that? Like to see Cox out there to see what he can do.

Because linebackers are cheap, easy to find in the draft, and aren’t a premium position you pay.

I repeated this a million times this past off-season but some of you don’t understand how the draft works.

First round picks, especially top 10 picks, are used on players that impact the pass game.

The run game is devalued. Teams don’t value big run stuffing Nose Tackles like Cowboyszone does.

If you can’t cover you are nearly useless at linebacker in today’s NFL.


Premium position are Corner, pass rusher, Offensive Tackle, QB.

 

[Doomsday101]

What I saw in the last game Parson at LB coming up the middle taking on center a guard and still putting pressure and allowing others to come up and make the sack. 5 sacks in this game Parson getting 1 of them and 2 ints to go along with that due to pressure being brought. Bottom line is defense as a unit going out and making big plays to change the course of the game. Quinn wants to move Parson around and keep QB guessing.

 

[Zman5]

Jerry made the comment that the 12th overall pick was too high for a LB.

I don’t get that. I wouldn’t devalue the LB position like that especially for a player like Parsons.

1) What position are Parson’s splash plays coming from? Why is a talent like that excelling at DE more than LB?

2) If Parsons isn’t making splash plays at the traditional LB position, I would assume it is more about scheme than talent at the LB position. Or is it just less opportunity to affect the game at LB vs DE no matter what the scene is these days?

3) Don’t recall the LBs here making a whole lot of splash plays. Lee, Jaylon, LVE on occasion. Now we have a super talented LB in Parsons but at the traditional LB position he does not excel?

4) Is it league wide and there just isn’t as many playmaking LBs and influencers at the LB position. Seems like LBs made more plays decades before than now. Are LBs today more like intermediate safeties when not blitzing? Analytics? Keep it in front of you and just make the tackle, nothing fancy.

5) Or is it just limited by Jaylon and LVE just not all that? Like to see Cox out there to see what he can do.

Jerry drafted a RB with a 4th pick. Just another dumb comments from Jerry while being drunk again.

 

[CATCH17]

The truth is Dallas had their board whiped on draft day so they traded back and drafted a Linebacker and due to injury we found out that he is an incredible pass rush specialist from anywhere on the field including defensive end.

 

[CATCH17]

Jerry drafted a RB with a 4th pick. Just another dumb comments from Jerry while being drunk again.

It’s not dumb. The entire NFL thinks this way. They’ll make exceptions but Linebacker is not a premium position.

 

[Doomsday101]

The truth is Dallas had their board whiped on draft day so they traded back and drafted a Linebacker and due to injury we found out that he is an incredible pass rush specialist from anywhere on the field including defensive end.

I think CB was an area Dallas would have taken but Parson on many boards ranked as the top defensive prospect in this draft.

 

[phildadon86]

The truth is Dallas had their board whiped on draft day so they traded back and drafted a Linebacker and due to injury we found out that he is an incredible pass rush specialist from anywhere on the field including defensive end.

He is a lot more than that. When he learns the nuances of the game he will also be able to cover. He can do it all. He has the tools

 

[CATCH17]

I think CB was an area Dallas would have taken but Parson on many boards ranked as the top defensive prospect in this draft.

And yet Dallas traded back and risked not getting him.. Why? Because he doesn’t play a premium position and wasn’t the guy they valued the most even though his grade may have been higher than others.

 

[CATCH17]

He is a lot more than that. When he learns the nuances of the game he will also be able to cover. He can do it all. He has the tools

I could care less if he can cover. He needs to go hit the quarterback. Parsons in coverage helps the opposing team unless it’s some kind of Zone blitz that causes confusion or something.

Im glad he has some upside or whatever at Linebacker but his primary job needs to be Pass Rusher and not Linebacker.

Even Jerry knows this.

 

[Doomsday101]

And yet Dallas traded back and risked not getting him.. Why? Because he doesn’t play a premium position and wasn’t the guy they valued the most even though his grade may have been higher than others.

and yet even at LB he still rushed the passer. I'm sorry but I am not as impressed with your draft knowledge as you are. There have been many LB who have made great impact both in defending the run and the pass. guys who can rush the passer and drop into coverage and can come up and lay a big hit in the run game. What hurt Parson was missing the entire season last year as he opted out but none the less many had him listed as the top defensive prospect in this years draft. Cowboys did desire a CB and a big reason was outside of Diggs we did not have much.

 

[CATCH17]

and yet even at LB he still rushed the passer. I'm sorry but I am not as impressed with your draft knowledge as you are. There have been many LB who have made great impact both in defending the run and the pass. guys who can rush the passer and drop into coverage and can come up and lay a big hit in the run game. What hurt Parson was missing the entire season last year as he opted out but none the less many had him listed as the top defensive prospect in this years draft. Cowboys did desire a CB and a big reason was outside of Diggs we did not have much.

That’s fine.. NFL teams agree with me even if you don’t. Heck Jerry just told you that position doesn’t hold as much value.

 

[phildadon86]

That’s fine.. NFL teams agree with me even if you don’t. Heck Jerry just told you that position doesn’t hold as much value.

Yeah and Jerrys track record the last 27 years proves he knows what he is talking about.

 

[nyc-cowboy]

A good MLB doesn’t make splash plays. Maybe a few sacks here and there but their main responsibilities are to command the rest of the defense, read defenses, react appropriately, and make good tackles, stop the run, etc. Good coverage is needed too in the middle and I heard somewhere that parsons is mediocre in coverage

a good LB should be very smart and watch a ton of film to predict what the offense will do on every snap. Kuechly comes to mind. Wagner as well. These guys are generational LB but their stat sheet isn’t filled to the brim with INTs and Sacks. They impact the game in other ways

Well "splash plays" should be put in context for middle LBs.

For me, splash plays for MLBs are filling the hole and holding the RB to a 1 or 2 yard gain, sniffing out a screen and blowing it up, going sideline to sideline sifting thru the garbage and making the tackle for a minimal gain...

They dont usually get a lot of ints -tho Lee did lead the team in ints a couple of years I believe, that's how bad our DBs were at getting turnovers.

But LBs could stand out - look at LVE and Jaylon in 2018 - imagine them balling out like that NOW - wow that would really take this D to another level.

 

[CATCH17]

Yeah and Jerrys track record the last 27 years proves he knows what he is talking about.

Jerry is echoing what those around him say.

This is just common NFL knowledge and not a Jerry thing. Sorry if you guys still think it’s 1992 and haven’t figured out modem football yet.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Could it be that the LB position is morphing into slightly larger safeties. We see Neal playing LB at 6-0 211 pounds. Perhaps the 240-250 pound LB just can’t excel at today’s LB position and teams need maybe taller players around the the 215-225 pound range with more speed?

Tough for a 250 pound LB to cover a 200 pound RB with speed. Tough for a 225 LB to take on 250 pound TE blocking for a run.

 

[Haimerej]

It’s not dumb. The entire NFL thinks this way. They’ll make exceptions but Linebacker is not a premium position.

Doesn't that depend on the player? I always hear DT isn't worth a high pick either, but if people could see the future, Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack probably go 1-2 in their draft.

 

[Zman5]

It’s not dumb. The entire NFL thinks this way. They’ll make exceptions but Linebacker is not a premium position.

I'm pointing out how ridiculous Jerry is for saying what he did in that tweet considering he was dumb enough to use a 4th pick on a RB.
BTW, many had Parsons as a top 10 pick before he opted out last year.