This LB room has some solid pieces

Pass2Run said:
I disagree. I think overall, they're going to be better as a group. That's why Eberflus wanted Sanborn and Murray. They have potential he can bring out and are decent players already.

I think they make us a little better against the run than last year.
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they have potential. but it has to be proven on the field.
every single NFL team will have exactly the same claims...
On paper, it doesn't look impressive at all.
 
Collectively its not a bad unit at all, my only fear is that I don't think we have a true 3 down backer in the bunch.

Overshown I have pretty low expectations on for this year....It may be 2026 before he is truly 100%
Murray is more of that cover 2 drop back player than a step up and fill type of LB....a huge reason why I think the Cowboys should seriously look at a DJ Reader type if hes available.
Sanborn the exact opposite of Murray, should thrive in the run game, but could be limited against the pass
Liufau seems like a solid at everything type, excellent at nothing type of player. He will be one to watch in camp this year. I'm skeptical of how high his ceiling is, but I cant count him out either
 
thunderpimp91 said:
Collectively its not a bad unit at all, my only fear is that I don't think we have a true 3 down backer in the bunch.

Overshown I have pretty low expectations on for this year....It may be 2026 before he is truly 100%
Murray is more of that cover 2 drop back player than a step up and fill type of LB....a huge reason why I think the Cowboys should seriously look at a DJ Reader type if hes available.
Sanborn the exact opposite of Murray, should thrive in the run game, but could be limited against the pass
Liufau seems like a solid at everything type, excellent at nothing type of player. He will be one to watch in camp this year. I'm skeptical of how high his ceiling is, but I cant count him out either
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I worry about Overshown getting injured again if he does come back.

On both of his injuries, his knee ligaments snapped without there being any impact or weight from another player bending his knee.

I don't know what would cause that, honestly, nutrition maybe? But it's weird when you watch both of his injuries.
 
Had it not been for Overshown's most recent injury, I would have considered the squad to be close to solid. However, his status to me is "iffy".

Liufau will be improved, and I like the rookie James.

Despite the criticism. I'm not giving up on Damone Clark but I wouldn't consider him a real solid contributor at this point.

Sanborn was an undrafted free agent backup pressed into play by the Bears due to injuries.

Murray seems like a good veteran addition.

I don't know if I would characterize the LB squad as "solid". I think there is potential but there are still questions.

I think that if the younger DE's develop and Parsons can play LB around half his snaps then it would go a very long way in making the LBers a more solid position for the Cowboys.
 
MonsterD said:
That's a really far out there take. Also remember Mazi has nepo-Jones protection.
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Not sure it is that far out to think Toia might be better at taking on double teams, and getting Dallas into their pass rush package.

I am not taking anything away from Mazi, he just doesn't demand a double team, and gets handled singularly by a guard usually bigger than he is because they wanted him to lose weight.

I just prefer a 1T that can demand double teams to keep him from crashing the pocket or stand up and hold the double when they rush -- allowing for LBs to hit gaps and the RB behind it. Rather than the guy who can work 1v1's to get to the QB, but gets blown off the line when doubled.

Different designs on what a 1T does.

With that said, even if Mazi has protection and rotates in and plays a lot.........why is it so far out to think if Toia can produce for two downs and stop the run..........he wouldn't have a HUGE roll. He would get them the lead, and then allow for the Mazi and OSA, etc to be more effective against a more than likely pass.
 
I think we've got our LBs set. Overshown is a freaking missile, and is a true difference maker when healthy. Liufau really started to take off at the end of last season, and I think he's earned starter reps for 2025.

Sanborn is a borderline starter talent. He's a great depth guy, and might even be the Plan B at Mike if Liufau ends up being a flash in the pan. Murray can't play. Clark can't play. James wasn't much of a college player, but he's young and apparently has his stuff together mentally. He may contribute a season or two from now.
 
plasticman said:
Had it not been for Overshown's most recent injury, I would have considered the squad to be close to solid. However, his status to me is "iffy".

Liufau will be improved, and I like the rookie James.

Despite the criticism. I'm not giving up on Damone Clark but I wouldn't consider him a real solid contributor at this point.

Sanborn was an undrafted free agent backup pressed into play by the Bears due to injuries.

Murray seems like a good veteran addition.

I don't know if I would characterize the LB squad as "solid". I think there is potential but there are still questions.

I think that if the younger DE's develop and Parsons can play LB around half his snaps then it would go a very long way in making the LBers a more solid position for the Cowboys.
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Fans are sleeping on Murray. He can be decent at some things and I think he'll be better here with better players around him now.

As far as Clark, you'd think he'd have gotten it by now. Just doesn't play with the motor and instincts you'd like to see.

Sanborn can start though. When he played, fans loved him. He's also great at ST. It looks like we're looking for more LBs who also play teams.

Liafu is solid, and I'm also looking forward to seeing the rookie. I like the fact he's only 20. That's quite an accomplishment for a 20 year old to be drafted at LB. I see why the scouts like him but I think he's a ST player year 1.
 
Is Parsons completely out of the LB picture? I would play him as an off the ball LB a few snaps a game.
 
Coogiguy03 said:
Interested in seeing how Eberflus comes up with the rotations, and how he develops these young LB's. It's good that he's worked with Sanborn before so the transition and helping the other learn the defense will be easier!

So far we have Overshown, Liafau, Clark, James, Sanborn, Murray

Last year we relied on Kendricks and Liafau to be our main LB's, it's good to see what we've picked up, i'm excited to see their growth, please give your thoughts
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You can't count on Overshown, he may be done. He is injury prone and had major serious knee injury.
 
The only NFL starter is an injured player, so it’s about as solid as wet toilet paper.
 
gimmesix said:
I have hope for this group but lots of questions, too.

Murray is a failed first-round pick who essentially washed out with his second team and was traded to us for practically nothing. His contract is costing us $7.4 million this year, so for the Joneses that's an expensive "free agent," but I think we believe we can get more out of him in Eberflus's scheme than his former teams did. It always concerns me when we think we're smarter than other teams' coaches.

I think Liufau has the same problem as Murray, he's not a great instinctual player. A failed play by him against Philadelphia is stuck in my mind. I think it was a fourth-down play, but it may have been third down. The Eagles were going for it with their backup QB playing. The QB faked to the back, who Parsons buried. Liufau needed to take the QB, who kept the ball, but instead also went for the fake. Parsons got up and you could see by his body language that Liufau was supposed to take the QB, who turned it into a big play. Knowing your assignments, reading your keys is an absolute must for a linebacker.

Sanborn seems like a solid but limited player. I think he could be a fan favorite because he's going to give it his all. I just don't know if his all is good enough.

These are the LBs we're going to have to rely on until Overshown returns.
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countering your claim about Liafu is that notorious punt where he was the one screaming to everyone not to touch the ball
and one dumb cluck did
 
gtb1943 said:
countering your claim about Liafu is that notorious punt where he was the one screaming to everyone not to touch the ball
and one dumb cluck did
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That's not instincts, that's understanding the rules. No one is saying he's dumb player. On the play that was mentioned, no one knew that the QB was going to keep the ball, so reading the player and understanding your responsibilities was needed. Parsons came off the edge and took down the RB. If he had gotten the ball, he was going nowhere. Liufau came off the same side, but instead of reading the QB, he also took the fake. That's why Parsons got hopping mad. He didn't take it out on Liufau, but it was clear that the rookie did not read where he needed to be properly. The success of the play relied on that, and that's what it got.

That was one of the main knocks on Liufau coming out of college: Lacks consistent play instincts, which sometimes leads to missteps. That was just an example where it showed up. Hopefully, he'll be better about it this year, but instinctual reactions are hard to control. Eberflus' system is supposed to take some of that out of play, though, having players carry out assignments without overthinking them. But I'm not sure it would have helped on that play, unless carrying out his assignment was you've got the QB.
 
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