Sean Lee Moving to SAM as Starter

dsturgeon · May 7, 2019

Remember that we seem to always have a veteran lb on the bench. Lee at 80 percent is still a very good back up. If lve or jaylon got hurt, I think lee would bring his level of play up some, as soon as he played enough snaps to get back in the groove.

Sean lee when healthy was always the gaurenteed starter. He never had to think about beating someone out for playing time. I think that might have been a hurdle for him. Lve had a very special season for a rookie.

The question is, is lee the best choice on the strong side? He might not win that competition. He obviously didn't beat out Wilson

TexasHillbilly · May 7, 2019

boxer-rumble said:
He should still have to earn it like everyone else on the team.

He’s shown he has the talent so no worries there. It’s probably best he plays a limited roll to keep him fresh considering his injury history.

He has earned it. If he is healthy and moving well, I hope they do put him on the field. What a great tandem of LB's.

Sydla · May 7, 2019

TheCount said:
This essentially means he'll barely be on the field, limiting him to a role as a two-down linebacker.

Shame for a guy who, at one point, was one of the better coverage LB's in the game but at least maybe he'll survive the season.

Something smells about this......................

Lee is a smart guy. What kind of promise is it that he remains a starter at a position where he will see like 25% of the snaps?

Call me a cynic (20+ years of crap does that to you), but it would not surprise me to see them try to force more snaps for Lee by taking LVE and Smith off the field more.

DanA · May 7, 2019

The reality is that Lee has enough experience as a MIKE and WILL and works hard enough in the film room that he can cover all three positions. Moving Lee to SAM is just a bit more cross training. Not a bad thing.

jrumann59 · May 7, 2019

TheCount said:
This essentially means he'll barely be on the field, limiting him to a role as a two-down linebacker.

Shame for a guy who, at one point, was one of the better coverage LB's in the game but at least maybe he'll survive the season.

Doubtful, as Sam he has to deal with TE and OT when on the line, he will not have the luxury of being covered up.

conner01 · May 7, 2019

boxer-rumble said:
He should still have to earn it like everyone else on the team.

He’s shown he has the talent so no worries there. It’s probably best he plays a limited roll to keep him fresh considering his injury history.

Care to name a better 3rd LB on the roster?

Jumbo075 · May 7, 2019

TheCount said:
This essentially means he'll barely be on the field, limiting him to a role as a two-down linebacker.

Shame for a guy who, at one point, was one of the better coverage LB's in the game but at least maybe he'll survive the season.

Sean Lee is not well suited to play the SAM linebacker position. It will be better for the Cowboys if they slide Smith to SAM, and Vander Esch to MIKE when Lee is on the field. I suspect the Cowboys know that. But because of their respect for Lee, they will give him a chance to play the SAM position in training camp. That is fine in training camp, but when Lee is on the field in the Fall, the team needs him to play on the weak side.

Stash · May 7, 2019

Sydla said:
Something smells about this......................

Lee is a smart guy. What kind of promise is it that he remains a starter at a position where he will see like 25% of the snaps?

Call me a cynic (20+ years of crap does that to you), but it would not surprise me to see them try to force more snaps for Lee by taking LVE and Smith off the field more.

I definitely get the feeling that the team is "forcing" this rather than letting things happen naturally. Once more getting caught up in their "feelings" for Sean Lee the person rather than what's truly best for the team.

Are they actually going to play Lee at SLB? A role that involves even more contact for an injury prone player they've gone to great lengths to protect in the past?

Or are they going to reshuffle two successful young linebackers to shoe horn an aging vet onto the field and move both Smith and Vander Esch from their normal roles?

Cowboys1fan · May 7, 2019

links18 said:
He will be a starter, play two downs, but barely be on the field?

Last year Sam starter only played 27% of snaps all year so yea he’s a starter but won’t play a lot of snaps

aikemirv · May 7, 2019

Lee is the consumate professional. Suggesting that he won't earn it or that he just expects it is a lot of disrespect for the guy IMO.

conner01 · May 7, 2019

Floatyworm said:
I swear...this team could have 25 pro bowlers....and still find a way to screw this up. The last thing I want to see is Sean Lee trying to cover a TE in space. Why do you think he has been the weakside LBer all these years??? Because he can't cover!!!!

He’s been Will because that’s the playmaker in this system
He is actually very good in coverage

BigD49 · May 7, 2019

DakPresgoat said:
I didn’t even read the promise part. That is asinine. All due respect to Lee. He doesn’t deserve a “promise” to be a starter. Not with his injury history.

Is it kinda irrelevant anyway? He's either healthy and starting or he's hurt and he's not playing...I think the problem of any "promise" will take care of itself. He looked a step slow at the end of the season when he came back on two bad hammys, but he had some great games for us early in the season (e.g, SEA), so I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt as a (healthy) starter for now

Alexander · May 7, 2019

TheCount said:
Shame for a guy who, at one point, was one of the better coverage LB's in the game

Key on the "was" part. Once one of the best, now he is pretty average and declining.

I fully believe teams will target him in the passing game with their TEs.

Future · May 7, 2019

links18 said:
He will be a starter, play two downs, but barely be on the field?

They play nickel a lot more than they play 4-3...

Kaiser · May 7, 2019

TheSkaven said:
There’s been such a flurry of GREAT Cowboys’ news in recent days; Witten looks great, Fredbeard is back, early reviews on Kellen Moore are great, but THIS is the best news of the offseason.

Plus the rookie minicamp is this week, every year you usually get an advance look at a surprise draft pick. Guys like Dorance Armstrong and Damien Wilson had mentions like that from the start, then showed they were worthy of a higher draft spot.

Whyjerry · May 7, 2019

TheCount said:
This essentially means he'll barely be on the field, limiting him to a role as a two-down linebacker.

Shame for a guy who, at one point, was one of the better coverage LB's in the game but at least maybe he'll survive the season.

Lots of miles on those tires. I think this will make him a better player. Less snaps will mean more production and better health for Lee. Plus LVE and Smith are absolute beasts that CAN NOT come off the field. I like the move. The top 3 LBs in Dallas are the best in the league.

Whyjerry · May 7, 2019

Future said:
They play nickel a lot more than they play 4-3...

Exactly. I need to look up the percent of plays with 3 LBs. I bet it is less than 35 percent.

HungryLion · May 7, 2019

BigD49 said:
Is it kinda irrelevant anyway? He's either healthy and starting or he's hurt and he's not playing...I think the problem of any "promise" will take care of itself. He looked a step slow at the end of the season when he came back on two bad hammys, but he had some great games for us early in the season (e.g, SEA), so I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt as a (healthy) starter for now

I hope he does. If he is healthy and back to normal. Then he would be the best SAM we could have and deserve to start. I like Lee. I’m not against him.

But if he isn’t the same player anymore, then he shouldn’t be starting. Which is why he shouldn’t be promised anything, but it should be based off training camp.

That’s all I’m saying.

CowboysBravesSpurs · May 7, 2019

Verdict said:
I know this isn’t going to be popular, but although Lee is a legit past All Pro type of stud he was remarkably bad last year. His play fell off of a cliff.

If he was healthy last year he is done. The only hope for the team is he wasn’t healthy last year.

He was out of position, missed plays and teams actually schemed to get players matched up on him. That doesn’t bode well for him for this coming season.

Imagine being this dumb lmao

Future · May 7, 2019

Whyjerry said:
Exactly. I need to look up the percent of plays with 3 LBs. I bet it is less than 35 percent.

I can't find the most recent season, but, as of 2017, that number was 34%, if you include goalline.

Drafting and building a defense for anything other than nickel is dumb in today's NFL. Lee "Starting" at SAM is simply an honorary role. Kyle Wilber had the same spot two years ago lol.

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2018/2017-defensive-personnel-analysis

Sean Lee Moving to SAM as Starter

dsturgeon

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TexasHillbilly

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Sydla

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DanA

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jrumann59

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conner01

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Stash

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aikemirv

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conner01

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BigD49

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Alexander

What's it going to be then, eh?

Future

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Kaiser

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Whyjerry

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HungryLion

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Future

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