Linebackers, IL and OLB

CowboysFaninHouston

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just scatter shooting some thoughts during the slow time

I am still concerned about LB group, although we are much better than last year. with the 3-4, we have two separate groups of LBs with very different responsibilities.

so at weakside OLB spot, we probably get Lawrence and Eze, with their job being to rush the passer and not much drop into coverage. I think we are ok there, as their job is not much different than a DE. mostly rush the passer...

the other side, the strong side OLB, although they will rush, probably have more run stopping responsibilities and sopme drop into coverage mostly covering TEs and covering their zones against slot WRs.... will Eze play on that side as a pass rusher some? Rashan Gary probably deisgnated for that side, but can he drop to cover TEs. he did run a 4.6, but being fast not necessarily the same as covering recievers.....

I heard Braham is one of the ILBs, but he ran a 4.65, which is kind of slow and will he get exposed as a pass defender. the other one is of course overshown, has the side line to side line speed and cover ability. so is he primarily the coverage guy, while braham is designated to rush up the middle and focus on run stopping. and he is rookie no less.

will Dee Winters be considered as one of the ILBs...where will he play mostly

there is williams, laifu, houston, but all pass rusher OLBs. good depth at OLB.

getting brooks would be cherry on top. no more than a 3rd, preferrably a 4th as losing him as FA may translate to a 4th or 3rd at best (for a top contract value).

sounds like too many LBs, but in a 3-4, you need 8-9 at least. and perhaps a low round trade of some if we have too many and can't keep them.
 
We need to stop having a rigid definition of 3-4 - that is not what this defense is going to be.

They're almost always going to be in a 4-front. Downs - or whoever is in the slot - is going to have a lot of LB responsibilities in 7- or 8-man boxes.
 
Let's wait until things are real real bad then we can make a move or almost because we missed out to Philly who just got the player before we could get to him
 
LouBrown said:
Slot - x - 5T - x - 1T - x - 3T - x - Edge
ILB - x - ILB​

That's pretty much the base defense. What we're calling a 3-4 mostly includes a passrushing edge and a slot, not two OLBs.
Click to expand...
Agreed. The front of this defense is likely going to be very similar to the 2025 Cowboys. The bulk of schematic changes will be to the secondary.
 
LouBrown said:
Slot - x - 5T - x - 1T - x - 3T - x - Edge
ILB - x - ILB​

That's pretty much the base defense. What we're calling a 3-4 mostly includes a passrushing edge and a slot, not two OLBs.
Click to expand...
well, even when parcells ran the 3-4, ware was the designated pass rusher. it was a matter of where he lined up on the line, and his hands not on the ground. often on the outside shoulder of the LT.... and then the other main differences are where the DL lines up and if they go gap or over the OL men, having multiple gap responsibilities.
 
I disagree, I think we will be in 5 man fronts a very high percentage of the time, sometimes with 2 ILB and a great deal with just 1 (penny)
When we are in nickel, I still think Parker will line up with a front 5 a lot of the time.
 
CowboysFaninHouston said:
that's what I kind of thought that those two will be ILBs, but size is a concern.
Click to expand...
The DT’s will be playing more read/react then getting up the field. They will be responsible covered a gap 1/2 which will condense the spacing. Their job will be occupying multiple blockers to free up the backers. Eagles didn’t have big linebackers either last season with Dean and Baun
 
CowboysFaninHouston said:
just scatter shooting some thoughts during the slow time

I am still concerned about LB group, although we are much better than last year. with the 3-4, we have two separate groups of LBs with very different responsibilities.

so at weakside OLB spot, we probably get Lawrence and Eze, with their job being to rush the passer and not much drop into coverage. I think we are ok there, as their job is not much different than a DE. mostly rush the passer...

the other side, the strong side OLB, although they will rush, probably have more run stopping responsibilities and sopme drop into coverage mostly covering TEs and covering their zones against slot WRs.... will Eze play on that side as a pass rusher some? Rashan Gary probably deisgnated for that side, but can he drop to cover TEs. he did run a 4.6, but being fast not necessarily the same as covering recievers.....

I heard Braham is one of the ILBs, but he ran a 4.65, which is kind of slow and will he get exposed as a pass defender. the other one is of course overshown, has the side line to side line speed and cover ability. so is he primarily the coverage guy, while braham is designated to rush up the middle and focus on run stopping. and he is rookie no less.

will Dee Winters be considered as one of the ILBs...where will he play mostly

there is williams, laifu, houston, but all pass rusher OLBs. good depth at OLB.

getting brooks would be cherry on top. no more than a 3rd, preferrably a 4th as losing him as FA may translate to a 4th or 3rd at best (for a top contract value).

sounds like too many LBs, but in a 3-4, you need 8-9 at least. and perhaps a low round trade of some if we have too many and can't keep them.
Click to expand...
The average speed of the 4 all pro inside linebackers last year is 4.64

Who told you Barham was slow?
 
LouBrown said:
Slot - x - 5T - x - 1T - x - 3T - x - Edge
ILB - x - ILB​

That's pretty much the base defense. What we're calling a 3-4 mostly includes a passrushing edge and a slot, not two OLBs.
Click to expand...
Don't know if I agree with this. I think the plan is to have a second edge in there on first down and to switch to a 4-2-5 when we are not in that base.

So: OLB, 5T, 1T, 3T, OLB
Two ILBs, two CBs and two Ss.

Now, they are going to mix it up, but I've seen nothing from Parker that says that his idea of a 3-4 front includes a slot corner as the fifth lineman/outside linebacker.

“So our core principles, we’ll be a 3-4 by nature, but 4-3 spacing will be appropriate, 4-2-5 in nickel, different front structures, coverages behind it.”
 
I like Barham a lot. I think he’s going to be a good LB. Winters should be solid.

Overshown is the wild card.

They could use more depth I would like to see them bring in a vet. Bringing in Wagner would be worthwhile.
 
Majic said:
I disagree, I think we will be in 5 man fronts a very high percentage of the time, sometimes with 2 ILB and a great deal with just 1 (penny)
When we are in nickel, I still think Parker will line up with a front 5 a lot of the time.
Click to expand...
I expect OLB Gary, DE Ogbonnia, NT Clark, DT Quinnen, OLB Ezeraiku to be our starting five with Overshown and Winters/Barham as the ILBs. But I don't know if that will be our group "a very high percentage of the time." I expect Ogbonnia to come off the field if we plug the run on first down or second down and force a passing situation. Then, we'll probably see Lawrence, Quinnen, Clark/Gary and Gary/Houston with Winters and Overshown at ILB or even Bell at one of the ILB spots in dime (six DBs - Bell at ILB, Downs at slot, Bland at corner, Revel at corner and Thompson and Hooker at safety ... we might could even see Downs at ILB instead of Bell and Durant or Thompson as the slot).

Bullard will rotate in some with the run-stopping group, as could Overton to give those guys some rest and Williams will do the same with the OLB/pass rusher group.
 
gimmesix said:
Don't know if I agree with this. I think the plan is to have a second edge in there on first down and to switch to a 4-2-5 when we are not in that base.

So: OLB, 5T, 1T, 3T, OLB
Two ILBs, two CBs and two Ss.

Now, they are going to mix it up, but I've seen nothing from Parker that says that his idea of a 3-4 front includes a slot corner as the fifth lineman/outside linebacker.

“So our core principles, we’ll be a 3-4 by nature, but 4-3 spacing will be appropriate, 4-2-5 in nickel, different front structures, coverages behind it.”
Click to expand...
Can't do that because teams will throw all over you.

You can play around with spacing and alignment but 5 DBs is base.
 
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