Vander Esch Discusses Move To Middle Linebacker

gimmesix said:

I hope this staff is smarter than that. In three-LB sets, Jaylon needs to be SLB and Lee WLB.

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Future said:

The only way this makes sense is if they're going to have Jaylon blitzing a heck of a lot more, because you certainly don't want him further out in coverage.

Doesn't matter much outside of that.

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NorthTexan95 said:

The MIKE has to cover the entire middle of the field so ideally you want your best coverage backer in the middle. At WILL you have the sideline to help with coverage. I think the switch is a great idea.

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ItzKelz said:

Nolan is already making better decisions than Kris. Both players will be moving back to their natural positions from college. Coach the player....not the scheme!!!

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CowboyRoy said:

Ummmmmm..........mikes first job is to control the middle in the run game.

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Doomsday101 said:

While speaking to reporters from the team's training camp at The Star, Vander Esch confirmed that he'll be making the move to middle linebacker this season, while Jaylon Smith slides over to his former place on the weak side.

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Bowdown27 said:

I felt this should have been done before but with poor coaching they had him out of position. Jaylon will be blitzing a lot more and it’s a plus. Leighton hopefully he’s fully healthy and everyone including himself, not just saying he is. I think it would wonders for the defense

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LACowboysFan1 said:

Yes, how many successful NFL coaches were that way because they put players where they're most suited. Never did like Jaylon at "only" 245 lbs in the middle, I much prefer more beef in the middle. I remember R. McClain stuffing runs and picking off passes in the limited time he was here.

Just hope LVE's neck holds up for a couple of years...

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Clove said:

Looks like Jaylon is going to be rushing the passer a lot.

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Doomsday101 said:

FRISCO, Texas – It sounds like Leighton Vander Esch is the new man in the middle.

There haven't been many details on how Mike Nolan plans to employ his defense in the first year of the Mike McCarthy Era, but the Cowboys' star linebacker provided one on Thursday afternoon.

While speaking to reporters from the team's training camp at The Star, Vander Esch confirmed that he'll be making the move to middle linebacker this season, while Jaylon Smith slides over to his former place on the weak side.

Though, to hear it from Vander Esch, the transition shouldn't be too difficult.

"In today's age of playing football, MIKE and WILL are pretty much identical," he said. "I guess if you want to call me the MIKE, you can call me the MIKE and Jaylon obviously is playing the WILL."

One of the main difference between middle and weak side linebacker comes down to alignments. Moving to the weak side could free Smith up for a more varied role, such as blitzing and covering outside the numbers. Moving to MIKE likely puts Vander Esch in charge of calling the defense, as well as covering the middle of the field – though obviously the responsibilities are similar.

"Obviously, he might get pulled out the box a little more and the Mike says in the box a little more," Vander Esch said. "But as far as techniques and how you play, they're the same thing."

If it sounds vague, it's probably because the Cowboys aren't exactly keen to divulge what exactly their new-look defense will do. But it is interesting to note that, on the two occasions Vander Esch was asked about this new scheme, he brought up similar talking points: this defense will be multiple, and it might not be so obvious.

https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/vander-esch-discusses-move-to-middle-linebacker

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quickccc said:

and its not just jaylon blitzing,.. but it's HOW this new coaching regime is blitzing him. how they plan to scheme and design his blitzes.

i keep reading how defense rarely blitzed and i've rewatched games over and it's not accurate, we actually blitzed adequately ..but we'd just
get stonewalled and just did not get home,..and because our blitzing was a failure, it's perceived that we did not blitz.

kris richard or LB ben bloom just wasn't very good at scheming the blitz, instead of lining up jaylon to go head on with blocking
backs, ...on the outside edge.where he has room to maneuver and run over backs,..or wait on a delay blitz when intitial blocking upfront
has engaged on and he could have a free lane or a poor blocking back to worry about ..

but the coaches would just flat send him up the gut middle vs anything... expect him to overpower linemen and he'd just get stone walled..
there are some coaches that are very good at designing blitzes for certain players ...and then there are some coaches that are Not ....

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buybuydandavis said:

Sad that Jaylon is now considered a liability in coverage, while he was considered elite in coverage before his injury.

With Jaylon, Lee, and LVE all on the field, I'd rather have LVE and Lee playing underneath zone, and Jaylon blitzing.

In nickel, we're probably best off with LVE and Thomas, unless it's a short field, as Lee can be a liability now too if he gets isolated in coverage. Just doesn't have the athleticism he once had in man coverage.

We're getting weak in coverage LBs. Maybe we should go dime more. We need to find a young guy to pair with LVE in nickel. I just don't see it in Jaylon.

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Future said:

The only way this makes sense is if they're going to have Jaylon blitzing a heck of a lot more, because you certainly don't want him further out in coverage.

Doesn't matter much outside of that.

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Hennessy_King said:

I don't feel good about this move. The only solace I had in the LVE pick is that his coaches will let him roam stay off blocks and play in coverage, since he was probably one of the best lbers coming out in coverage. But coming out, he struggled to shed off blocks and play through the trash. Another example of good player wrong situation. We are playing to none of his strengths now. He will be in less coverage and will have to get through more blocks. This team is something else.

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Redball Express said:

My feelings about Jaylon is that he is fine if the play is in front of him and he is running downhill to it.

And he runs well to his right but if he has to go left and change direction..

he is behind the play and does not have a good burst to his left.

So having him not dropping is best and joining the rush makes more sense.

Keep him facing the play and narrow his reads so he can react faster.

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xwalker said:

Nolan's scheme puts less stress on LBs in coverage.

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buybuydandavis said:

Jaylon is physically limited in specific ways. I see the same things you mention. Let him rush, or let him run to the edge. Keep him out of the wash, as he tends to get blown backwards if he has to engage and hold blockers.

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stasheroo said:

Phase one complete - LVE in the middle and Jaylon out.

Phase two - Jaylon at strongside linebacker.

I'm wondering if they're just talking about nickel stuff or if they're actually going to have Lee on the strongside on a regular basis?

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