Are LB'rs the most Valuable position on a D?

[cmoney23]

I always thought it was DE or CB or a Rangy ball hawking saftey... but after this season I'm starting to think its having a sideline to sideline, stub LB'r or LBing core...

Just think, we have ZERO pass rush. OK coverage in the back end... but with great LB play we are an above average D. And the min we lose McClain our D is a sieve

So, is that the most valuable position on a D?

 

[Future]

I will always think its DL.

Without a good DL, backers will just get hammered by OL getting to the second level and be rendered pretty much useless.

Now an MLB is vital for making the right calls and such, so in that sense they are important, but in terms of play-by-play production, a good DL is more valuable, imo.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

No.

 

[CCBoy]

Linebackers are an important element, as they eliminate holes in or outside of the defensive line. That is for both running and passing plays. They force an opposing offense to actually beat either the defensive line or the secondary.

Having a strong set of running linebackers, as Dallas now has with Rolando McClain, Justin Durant, and Carter, means that tight ends and running backs out in routes have a much tougher route.

The safeties for Dallas doe a good job in filling into the box on running plays, so a team really has to be the unit in the passing game.

Dallas corners are strong and very active, and the safeties have improved in over the top protections. They will probably get beaten on a long play or two before the season is over...but the linebackers are the glue between the defensive line and the secondary. At present, teams are having a rough time right down the middle of the field, and that is what good defenses do.

It takes an entire team, to include the defensive front. For Dallas, that is getting continually better, but at least it is filling on running plays and getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

If the Cowboys are able to retain Sean Lee, Rolando McClain, Justin Durant, Bruce Carter, Kyle Wilber, and Anthony Hitchens, there can be a very strong/stable unit to start with. That would allow more draft resource to spread around other positions on the defensive side of the ball.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

No, a truly great DT would typically be the most valuable. They are closer to the ball and can cause more disruption, but DTs on that level are rare. Most of the time it is the DE

 

[Hoov]

I think most good defenses have a good to very good mlb. I think the mlb who can au run or pass defense will make everything easier on the other players.

 

[Frozen700]

Starts in the middle. Overall, D-Line.

Control/dominate the front, and it's almost Game over.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

No. Also we don't have zero pass rush.

 

[gimmesix]

I always thought it was DE or CB or a Rangy ball hawking saftey... but after this season I'm starting to think its having a sideline to sideline, stub LB'r or LBing core...

Just think, we have ZERO pass rush. OK coverage in the back end... but with great LB play we are an above average D. And the min we lose McClain our D is a sieve

So, is that the most valuable position on a D?

A lot depends on your scheme. The middle linebacker and weakside linebacker are very important in this scheme because they are the high tackle positions and are also relied on heavily for underneath coverage.

Here's how NFL 101 lists them in order of importance for this scheme:

If you want to run a 4-3 front, what are the key positions to focus on? And what type of skill set are you looking for at those spots? Here are the four positions, starting with the "3-technique" defensive tackle, that I would point to first when building a front seven in the 4-3.


—"3-Technique" defensive tackle

Speed/quickness up the field with the ability to use technique/power at the point of attack to hold the gap. Think of the Bucs’ Gerald McCoy and the Bengals' Geno Atkins or look to this year’s draft class with Pittsburgh’s Aaron Donald and Florida State’s Timmy Jernigan.


—"Open-side" defensive end

The majority of NFL offenses are right handed in terms of formation and alignment, so I look to the open-side end (or right end) as a key factor in the 4-3 front.

You want size, length and true athletic ability on the edge of the defense that can hold the point, turn the corner versus an offensive tackle and play the cutback against the run game. That’s the Rams’ Robert Quinn or the Giants’ Jason Pierre-Paul with Jadeveon Clowney up next in this year’s draft class.


—Will ‘backer

In the 4-3, the Will ‘backer is going to pursue to the football, shoot backside gaps and clean up on cutback runs. He is the “playmaker” at the second level for defenses that run the 40 front. Again, think about athletic ability (versus both the run and the pass) with the Bucs’ Lavonte David or the Bears’ Lance Briggs as prime examples of the skill set you want at the Will 'backer position.

—Mike ‘backer

The Mike ‘backer has to showcase change of direction skills (hip transition), speed down the field in Cover 2 and also fill the hole as a downhill defender versus the one and two-back power-run game. That was Brian Urlacher in the past. And in today’s game, I look at the Panthers’ Luke Kuechly and the Cowboys’ Sean Lee.

The fact that we are making due without a dominant "open-side" defensive end is a credit to Marinelli and the way he's mixing things up, but for this defense to truly be dominant, we need a play-wrecker at this position.

 

[jazzcat22]

Good question, but I still go with the DL, especially get a pass rush and getting those sacks as well as pressure. It's opens up a lot how the rest of the defense can do their assignments. Other than just a blown play that does happen to the best of them. It is kind of equates to the QB's best friend is a running game saying. That's my opinion anyway.

But I do say, everyone, has to be pleased ecstatic with the LB'er play this year. What was thought to be a weak link of a weak defense before the season. Then when Lee went down, even worse.
It's turned out pretty darn well.

 

[xwalker]

I always thought it was DE or CB or a Rangy ball hawking saftey... but after this season I'm starting to think its having a sideline to sideline, stub LB'r or LBing core...

Just think, we have ZERO pass rush. OK coverage in the back end... but with great LB play we are an above average D. And the min we lose McClain our D is a sieve

So, is that the most valuable position on a D?

No, I don't think so, but they are more important than the inside LBs were in the Rob Ryan or Wade Phillips scheme. In Marinelli's scheme, the LBs are the brains of the defense. The pass rush first mentality that he preaches with the DLine causes the LBs job to be more difficult. They really have to be on with the mental side of the game in terms of instantly recognizing run or pass.

Also, this DLine is a try-hard overachieving bunch which again increases the degree of difficultly for the LBs as compared to playing behind a DLine with multiple Pro Bowl type players.

 

[RS12]

Games always have been, and always will be won in the trenches.

 

[Sportsbabe]

I always thought it was DE or CB or a Rangy ball hawking saftey... but after this season I'm starting to think its having a sideline to sideline, stub LB'r or LBing core...

Just think, we have ZERO pass rush. OK coverage in the back end... but with great LB play we are an above average D. And the min we lose McClain our D is a sieve

So, is that the most valuable position on a D?

I think the D-line is the most valuable, because if you have a good line they can stop/slow down the run before it gets to the 2nd level; they can put pressure on the QB which in turn helps the CB's with INT's and pass deflections and also helps 3rd down efficiency. I also believe the line is the most important thing on both sides of the ball because a good football team starts at the foundation, in the trenches.

 

[AsthmaField]

I know that Jimmy Johnson would typically spend his first round picks on DE's, DT's, and Corners. He usually would find his LB's in the 2nd or 3rd round, like Dixon Edwards, and Godfrey Myles. He got Vincent Smith in Plan B free agency, I think, but Smith was the same type of guy (not dominating, just solid).

Jimmy did use a late first on Robert Jones, a MLB, who was ok, but nothing special, but that was only after he had the DL and corners pretty set.

I have always thought that DL in a 43 is much more important than LB's. However, McClain is bringing a lot to this defense. I think it is the intimidating presence and his attitude as much as anything though, and I think that could come from any position in the front 7.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[Crown Royal]

As far as value, I would say a dominant DB is the most valuable, because they are so very rare and hard to find. Followed up closely by DT and DE. It's important to get a great LB core, but they are a little less rare.

 

[Red Dragon]

I still think it's CB or free safety.

 

[Idgit]

Follow the money. It goes DE, LB, then CB on defense.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Depends on the scheme. In this scheme, they are not. Important? Yes. Not the most important thou.

I would say, however, that it might be our most talented group, overall, on the defensive side of the ball but that's not the same as most important, scheme wise.

 

[dstovall5]

I think all positions are important and rely on one another, whether it's LB, DB, or DL. If you have a strong secondary, but a weak pass rush, well it doesn't matter because teams have all day to throw on you. If you have a strong pass rush, but a weak secondary, well you may get to the QB quick but if the DB's cant cover then it's an easy completion all day. If you have a weak LB core then you're going to get gashed up the middle with runs and passing routes over the middle. The great thing about football is that it's the ultimate team sport, to reach full potential you need every position working in unison as they directly affect one another.

With that said, I'd rather have a dominant D-Line over anything else. If you can get to the QB quick and sack him, you can rattle him very easily. Especially if you're getting pressure in his face up the middle. Even if your secondary sucks and can't cover anyone, every QB is mistake prone when they're under severe pressure.

 

[perrykemp]

In a 3-4, the LBers are absolutely the most important element of the defense.

In a 4-3, no.