ILBs, MIKEs, Green Dots and Unicorns

[Kwyn]

This is going to be another monster, so apologies ahead of time and thanks to those who actually read it. I do this to get my own thoughts straight as much as anything so thanks for indulging me.

I started this out wanting to respond to the Jaishawn Barham excitement that many of us are feeling. I noticed a number of comments about him being the starting “MLB” and wearing the green dot.

That led to a bit more noodling about the role of linebackers in Parker’s defense as I tried to figure out how I felt about the whole thing.

On defense, the D-line and the secondary are set, for better or worse, so LB is where some decisions are about to be made to lock us in for the year. So, here goes:

First off, I don’t think we are even going to have a “MLB”. That’s a 4-3 role and evokes images of Singletary and Lewis. It’s not applicable to a Fangio/Parker style defense. To be honest, it’s a bit of a dinosaur.

What we’ll have in our base 3-4 is a pair of ILBs. One on the strong side (the side with the most offensive players) and one on the weak side (WIL). The two OLBs aren’t really linebackers at all despite being the “1” and the “4” of the LBs.

A “MIKE” is not a position, it’s a job description, and that job is to be the quarterback of the defense who reads the defense and calls out pre-snap adjustments.

In a traditional 4-3, the MLB is, by default, the MIKE. There is no other LB sitting in the middle of the dense.

In our base 3-4, the Strongside ILB is the MIKE.

In our 4-2-5 Nickel, the MIKE will also be an ILB.

 

[Kwyn]

So, who are our starting LBs?

Parker isn’t married to the traditional thumper in the middle, and that’s why I’m pretty confident that Overshown will end end up as the starting SS ILB, functioning as the MIKE. Winters will be the starting WIL.

Overshown is a converted safety who still often looks like one, which is not ideal for an ILB, but he’s gifted physically and he’s fast.

When we play teams like the Niners or Lions, who run a lot of heavy personnel, it could get ugly because he’ll be vulnerable to linemen climbing through the line of scrimmage and putting a hurt on him.

Barham or Winters, when they are on the field with him, might be asked to stuff the A-gaps to keep him from getting pounded on every running play, but that is risky in and of itself. Trying to hide your strong side ILB is usually asking for trouble.

So, if thats the case, how do we get Barham on the field 50%-60% of the snaps?

You put him in on 1st and 10 or 2nd/3rd and short opposite Gary or Eze and in place of whichever one is resting.

Houston or Miller will rotate in on obvious passing downs like 3rd-and-long and in those situations, Barham goes to the bench.

Remember, we are a front seven by committee. There are only a couple of players who will be on the field 80% of the snaps.

 

[Kwyn]

The Green Dot

Ideally, the MIKE is a strong and fast ILB with a Caleb Downs-like ability to process every position on both sides of the ball and he has the Green Dot on his helmet. That’s every DC's Field General dream.

Unfortunately, I really don’t think we’re going to have a perfect solution because we don’t have that exact type of linebacker on the team.

Whoever has the dot must be able to do two things:

• Have the mental aptitude to read the offense and make adjustments for the defense in the 15 seconds before the headset turns off
• Be on the field almost every snap.

That being said, I think it’s got to be Overshown. He got the dot in minicamp and I think he’s still Plan A for all the reasons above.

But what about Barham?

Barham has been working hard at studying film and the playbook and Parker has had him as one of several players getting experience with the green dot in practice, but there are some concerns that make it unlikely he ends up with that responsibility, at least for this season.

Barham, coming out of college, was specifically flagged as needing to improve on his reads because he often functioned as a heat-seeking missile and could be maneuvered by the quarterback. That was in reference to his years as a LB, not necessarily the time in his senior year as an EDGE.

As mentioned, the green dot means you are the field general and the coach on the field. You read the offense tell others how to adjust. That sounds like a lot for any rookie.

If Barham were to win the starting SS ILB position, he would be on the field a bunch, but so far he’s doing a lot of rotating. That could change, but if they plan on sometimes using him as an EDGE/OLB, his role down-to-down would shift, making it extra difficult for a rookie being asked to do something completely new.

 

[Kwyn]

Wrapping up …

The bottom line is that we don’t actually have the prototype for this role, but Parker is betting that we don’t need one.

He is banking on speed, both physically and schematically, over traditional size. Mix in a healthy dose of deception and that’s a scheme that Vic Fangio would heartily endorse. Zack Baun is what Parker needs Overshown to become asap. A lean, fast, sideline to sideline playmaker who runs the defense.

If the D-line keeps our group of hybrid LBs clean to fly around and make plays, they can smother modern spread offenses and Parker will look like a genius

But … if physical offenses like Shanahan’s or Campbell’s force us into a phone-booth knife fight, the lack of a true, heavy thumper could turn the defense into an all-you-can-eat buffet.

In the crazy world of NFL gamesmanship, the next offensive trend could be more of those “heavy” sets which will make life difficult for what we’re building, but you can’t have it all, all of the time.

In a true fantasy, this ideal player is a guy who moves like Overshown, thinks like Downs, and smashes like Barham.

If Barham matures and learns and grows like the most optimistic fans hope, then who knows, maybe next year he ends up as the SS ILB MIKE with the Dot and Overshown moves to WIL with Winters becoming a backup if the team retains him.

Then, maybe Barham turns into a unicorn.

 

[Jarv]

I like the way you broke up this OP, very readable. Thank you.

 

[DeaconMoss]

I think a phone booth veteran LB can be found anytime. Watch the waivers.

 

[Whirlwin]

Barham. I like the name, Bam Bam, big dog named him.

 

[Whirlwin]

Nice post cowboy brother

 

[big dog cowboy]

Barham. I like the name, Bam Bam, big dog named him.

 

[JayFord]

Im not sure about Jaishawn being the green dot right now just because i want him to learn the game a bit more before being handed that responsibility….

However, he may have to learn quick because i actually expect him to take over for Overshown because until he proves otherwise hes only playing 7 games

 

[Coogiguy03]

Jeebus!!

 

[erod]

It's going to be really interesting.

But the bottom line is, I'm ecstatic about Barham, and I suddenly feel much better about the linebacking corp overall.

 

[erod]

Downs is likely the green dot.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Very nicely down. On point.

Everyone wants one of those special big, smart, fast LBs and they don't come by often. Ray Lewis comes to mind.

, so coaches scheme and knowing against some teams they don't match up well, Ala SF who will be very physical. AgainsT them you need to keep them on their toes and take some chances and maybe go to a 5-2 type of line up, betting they will run more than pass, except it makes you vulnerable to the pass but that's were fast LBs and a smart Safety like Downs can help.

And in the NFL it goes in ten yearish cycles... teams become passing type, and defenses load up on pass rushers and fast players and move to 3-4, then a team like SF and Seattle move towards physical OLs, running attack and defenses follow by moving to bigger lane closing DLs and 4-3 scheme to counter and it continues

 

[CT Dal Fan]

In regards to your comment about Barham potentially giving Gary or EZE a rest, I think you are 100 percent spot on.

Remember Michigan moved Barham to edge last season and he did well. This could precisely be the role the Cowboys have in mind for Barham. A thumper at LB that can rush the passer in certain packages when asked.

 

[Kwyn]

Downs is likely the green dot.

I had also initially assumed he was the best fit simply because of his student of the game approach and because he’ll be on the field all the time.

The more I looked around the league and dug up some history of the green dot I talked myself out of it

There are a few factors that work against him.

• The simple fact that while the green dot talks to everyone in the field, their most critical function is making line calls to the front seven and to do this he needs to be close to the line of scrimmage on every olay, playing the box safety role most of the time
• It limits the safety from being able to play single high shell or play a center fielder role. If he does, he’s 15 yards off the LOS and being able to get his voice commands to the front seven is just a logistical problem
• With that in mind it limits Downs from being as diverse and flexible as Parker needs him to be. Parker’s going to use a lot of deception and that includes lots of “motion” in the defense, mainly from the safeties. Having Downs drop down out of a two high shell into the box or out to the right, messes with the quarterback
• Downs is a rookie and he’s currently learning three complete playbooks, Safety, CB and LB. It’s a lot. A whole lot. Combining learning three playbooks as having the dot is probably too much.

There are a few rookies who will likely get the green dot but they are all linebackers and don’t have any of the issues that Downs would have, particularly the fact they just have one playbook. Kendall Daniel’s will get it and Sonny Styles is the plan in Washington. Maybe Jacob Rodroguez if Jordyn Brooks nagging injuries opens the door. Eventually they did draft Rodriguez to wear the dot but Brooks being a bit limited in preseason has opened the door to speeding up the process.

Safeties who have had the green dot tend to be veterans who have ridiculously fast processing and/or are in the box. Derwin James had done it for the Chargers and Eric Weddle was the gold standard for the Chargers and them was brought out of retirement to do it for the Rams.

What he will do is be the “Safety Echo”. He’ll get the call from the green dot in the huddle (who’s gettitng it through the headset) or from a hand signal at the line. He then verbally directs all of the DBs.

He absolutely could do wear the green dot, and be great at it, but for the reasons above I think it’s unlikely this year,

 

[deerhunter11]

Wrapping up …

The bottom line is that we don’t actually have the prototype for this role, but Parker is betting that we don’t need one.

He is banking on speed, both physically and schematically, over traditional size. Mix in a healthy dose of deception and that’s a scheme that Vic Fangio would heartily endorse. Zack Baun is what Parker needs Overshown to become asap. A lean, fast, sideline to sideline playmaker who runs the defense.

If the D-line keeps our group of hybrid LBs clean to fly around and make plays, they can smother modern spread offenses and Parker will look like a genius

But … if physical offenses like Shanahan’s or Campbell’s force us into a phone-booth knife fight, the lack of a true, heavy thumper could turn the defense into an all-you-can-eat buffet.

In the crazy world of NFL gamesmanship, the next offensive trend could be more of those “heavy” sets which will make life difficult for what we’re building, but you can’t have it all, all of the time.

In a true fantasy, this ideal player is a guy who moves like Overshown, thinks like Downs, and smashes like Barham.

If Barham matures and learns and grows like the most optimistic fans hope, then who knows, maybe next year he ends up as the SS ILB MIKE with the Dot and Overshown moves to WIL with Winters becoming a backup if the team retains him.

Then, maybe Barham turns into a unicorn.

Good post Kwyn Barham looked like a seasoned veteran in the middle last night. Inside linebacker looks solid between Overshown, Barham and Winters and also the 2nd year player from Syracuse is flashing as well. Barham looks comfortable rushing the passer from the inside and outside as well.

 

[Kwyn]

Good post Kwyn Barham looked like a seasoned veteran in the middle last night. Inside linebacker looks solid between Overshown, Barham and Winters and also the 2nd year player from Syracuse is flashing as well. Barham looks comfortable rushing the passer from the inside and outside as well.

That would be Justin Barron and he’s had a good camp! It will come down to him or Shemar James. I think Barron has momentum

 

[deerhunter11]

That would be Justin Barron and he’s had a good camp! It will come down to him or Shemar James. I think Barron has momentum

Barron is rising up the depth chart it would seem, looks like a player. Looks really good in pass coverage. I have been intrigued with Barron since Dallas brought him in as an undrafted free agent, he has a little Bill Bates factor to him I believe.

 

[fivetwos]

This is going to be another monster, so apologies ahead of time and thanks to those who actually read it. I do this to get my own thoughts straight as much as anything so thanks for indulging me.

I started this out wanting to respond to the Jaishawn Barham excitement that many of us are feeling. I noticed a number of comments about him being the starting “MLB” and wearing the green dot.

That led to a bit more noodling about the role of linebackers in Parker’s defense as I tried to figure out how I felt about the whole thing.

On defense, the D-line and the secondary are set, for better or worse, so LB is where some decisions are about to be made to lock us in for the year. So, here goes:

First off, I don’t think we are even going to have a “MLB”. That’s a 4-3 role and evokes images of Singletary and Lewis. It’s not applicable to a Fangio/Parker style defense. To be honest, it’s a bit of a dinosaur.

What we’ll have in our base 3-4 is a pair of ILBs. One on the strong side (the side with the most offensive players) and one on the weak side (WIL). The two OLBs aren’t really linebackers at all despite being the “1” and the “4” of the LBs.

A “MIKE” is not a position, it’s a job description, and that job is to be the quarterback of the defense who reads the defense and calls out pre-snap adjustments.

In a traditional 4-3, the MLB is, by default, the MIKE. There is no other LB sitting in the middle of the dense.

In our base 3-4, the Strongside ILB is the MIKE.

In our 4-2-5 Nickel, the MIKE will also be an ILB.

Gave ya likes earlier but wanted to give thanks for all this stuff. I’ve been watching this game for 50 years but this is helpful in understanding the new system. I never played at all, even at the lowest of levels.