10 things to know about Jasper Brinkley

[cowboyschmps3]

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[AsthmaField]

He is certainly a thumper. He will hit you.

 

[waving monkey]

It appears our LB's are loaded. Our DE's are loaded our DB's need a little something.
But we are looking pretty good.

 

[Bullflop]

He is certainly a thumper. He will hit you.

He's built like a tank, so it only stands to reason. RBs are rarely seen to go anywhere at all when he makes direct contact.

 

[AsthmaField]

He's built like a tank, so it only stands to reason. RBs are rarely seen to go anywhere at all when he makes direct contact.

Yep. The enforcer in the middle will be there regardless if it is Brinkley or McClain. It was a very smart move to bring Brinkley in. People didn't pay much attention to it but it should pay off.

 

[Bullflop]

Yep. The enforcer in the middle will be there regardless if it is Brinkley or McClain. It was a very smart move to bring Brinkley in. People didn't pay much attention to it but it should pay off.

It was the only practical thing to do to bring somebody like him in, knowing how RoMac is prone to do pretty much what he feels like at the time. Brinkley has really good instincts, although he doesn't have the closing speed to the outside that Sean Lee or Hitchens does. He used to come out on nickel downs with the Vikes but isn't really isn't all that bad in coverage. He'll do fine -- really glad we got him to fill in for RoMac.

 

[AsthmaField]

It was the only practical thing to do to bring somebody like him in, knowing how RoMac is prone to do pretty much what he feels like at the time. Brinkley has really good instincts, although he doesn't have the closing speed to the outside that Sean Lee or Hitchins does. He used to come out on nickel downs with the Vikes but isn't really isn't all that bad in coverage. He'll do fine -- really glad we got him to fill in for RoMac.

I think that Dallas wasn't really feeling like McClain was coming back and the wanted an enforcer in the middle, so they signed Brinkley. Then, when they had the chance to sign McClain to a relatively cheap and incentive laden deal, they went ahead and brought him back.

Now, as it turns out, they have some nice insurance in the middle. There is going to be a big hitter in there whenever they want one (base defense).

 

[xwalker]

It was the only practical thing to do to bring somebody like him in, knowing how RoMac is prone to do pretty much what he feels like at the time. Brinkley has really good instincts, although he doesn't have the closing speed to the outside that Sean Lee or Hitchens does. He used to come out on nickel downs with the Vikes but isn't really isn't all that bad in coverage. He'll do fine -- really glad we got him to fill in for RoMac.

Yes, if he plays is will only be in the base, not the Nickel. They played Nickel 66% of the snaps last season. I wonder what percent of the snaps in base were run vs pass.

He looked OK in coverage in the games I reviewed. He's not a complete liability like Bradie James was in coverage, but he's obviously not the guy you want playing in the Nickel.

 

[Bullflop]

I think that Dallas wasn't really feeling like McClain was coming back and the wanted an enforcer in the middle, so they signed Brinkley. Then, when they had the chance to sign McClain to a relatively cheap and incentive laden deal, they went ahead and brought him back.

Now, as it turns out, they have some nice insurance in the middle. There is going to be a big hitter in there whenever they want one (base defense).

Funny how things seem to fall in place like that sometimes. I can't remember when we've been this set at LB.

 

[xwalker]

I think that Dallas wasn't really feeling like McClain was coming back and the wanted an enforcer in the middle, so they signed Brinkley. Then, when they had the chance to sign McClain to a relatively cheap and incentive laden deal, they went ahead and brought him back.

Now, as it turns out, they have some nice insurance in the middle. There is going to be a big hitter in there whenever they want one (base defense).

Agree. I think Stephen/McClay were going to move on from RoMc, but Jerry pushed to re-sign him and when he didn't get any good offers from other teams that sealed the deal.

From that perspective, anything RoMc contributes is a bonus.

 

[AsthmaField]

Yes, if he plays is will only be in the base, not the Nickel. They played Nickel 66% of the snaps last season. I wonder what percent of the snaps in base were run vs pass.

He looked OK in coverage in the games I reviewed. He's not a complete liability like Bradie James was in coverage, but he's obviously not the guy you want playing in the Nickel.

But his big, physical presence will be a continuation of what McClain brings to the middle of the base D (minus the crazy gene, of course). If one goes out for a couple of games, that intimidator in the middle is still there.

 

[Bullflop]

Yes, if he plays is will only be in the base, not the Nickel. They played Nickel 66% of the snaps last season. I wonder what percent of the snaps in base were run vs pass.

He looked OK in coverage in the games I reviewed. He's not a complete liability like Bradie James was in coverage, but he's obviously not the guy you want playing in the Nickel.

Yessir -- I won't be looking to see him in the nickel. Just glad we'll have him there to plug 'em in the base, tho.

We'll still have someone in there when McClain isn't available to make RBs wish they hadn't gone over the middle to meet him.

 

[AsthmaField]

Agree. I think Stephen/McClay were going to move on from RoMc, but Jerry pushed to re-sign him and when he didn't get any good offers from other teams that sealed the deal.

From that perspective, anything RoMc contributes is a bonus.

I'm not so sure about the Jerry vs Stephen/McClay part, but yes, I think the incentive laden deal (which is already paying off) was the key to Dallas bringing him back. IMO, McClain really wanted to be in Dallas and would have had to gotten a substantially better deal elsewhere to leave. He didn't, so Dallas signed him back up.

I'm speculating though.

 

[xwalker]

But his big, physical presence will be a continuation of what McClain brings to the middle of the base D (minus the crazy gene, of course). If one goes out for a couple of games, that intimidator in the middle is still there.

Yes, no doubt on about the physical presence against the run.

He is one of those LBs that might have been a Star player at some point in the past when coverage was less of an issue (i.e. The Dick Butkus era).

 

[AsthmaField]

Yes, no doubt on about the physical presence against the run.

He is one of those LBs that might have been a Star player at some point in the past when coverage was less of an issue (i.e. The Dick Butkus era).

Remember LeVon Kirkland? What was he about 285-290?

 

[JohnsKey19]

Yep. The enforcer in the middle will be there regardless if it is Brinkley or McClain. It was a very smart move to bring Brinkley in. People didn't pay much attention to it but it should pay off.

Could turn out to be a significant signing. Allows the team to keep Lee at WLB with McClain slated to miss a minimum of 4 games. The likelihood is McClain misses more games due to injury.

 

[Bullflop]

Remember LeVon Kirkland? What was he about 285-290?

He was at his best when he was at 275 but he probably gained weight as his career progressed. He was huge.

 

[AbeBeta]

Yep. The enforcer in the middle will be there regardless if it is Brinkley or McClain. It was a very smart move to bring Brinkley in. People didn't pay much attention to it but it should pay off.

Sure. But McClain really makes plays in the passing game - he isn't great in coverage but he's got nice instincts.

 

[xwalker]

I'm not so sure about the Jerry vs Stephen/McClay part, but yes, I think the incentive laden deal (which is already paying off) was the key to Dallas bringing him back. IMO, McClain really wanted to be in Dallas and would have had to gotten a substantially better deal elsewhere to leave. He didn't, so Dallas signed him back up.

I'm speculating though.

Several of the local media that are close to the team are convinced that RoMc wouldn't be back if not for Jerry. It's well know that some of the coaches were not in favor of him returning. They gave Brinkley a good bit of money to be a backup player at a position that is only on they field 34% of the snaps.

 

[xwalker]

Remember LeVon Kirkland? What was he about 285-290?

Yes, he was the biggest off the line (non 3-4 OLB) LB that I've seen. His position as an ILB in the Steelers 3-4 was a little more forgiving in regards to coverage duties than a LB in a 4-3, but he was still better in coverage than Bradie James ever was.

I think the 285 was at the end of his career. He was probably not quite that big at his peak.