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

[conner01]

football is such a team sport that all positions can be important. generally i think a dt can have a huge impact in the run game and collapsing the pocket, but a good cover cb can take away a player on a offense. a good edge rusher can force teams to change their blocking schemes. offense is pretty easy but on defense it's a bit harder to say one position is that much more imprtant than another. good coverage can help the pass rush, good pass rush can help the coverage. but if i had to sayn one spot it would be a pass ruhser because he can force the qb out of his spot.

 

[theSHOW]

The defense is as good as it's weakest link. That said I'm feeling the Dline at 38% and the backers at 37% and the DBs at 25% back to the weakest link. Depth!

 

[Doomsday101]

The defense is as good as it's weakest link. That said I'm feeling the Dline at 38% and the backers at 37% and the DBs at 25% back to the weakest link. Depth!

In some areas but LB has seen it's share of injuries and guys like Durant have been able to move around and pick up the slack even Hutchins has contributed. I don't think we have had but 1 game where Durant, Ro and Carter have played together.

 

[theSHOW]

In some areas but LB has seen it's share of injuries and guys like Durant have been able to move around and pick up the slack even Hutchins has contributed. I don't think we have had but 1 game where Durant, Ro and Carter have played together.

That's the beauty of Anthony Hitchens
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[DFWJC]

Usually, I'd say "no".
But it depends the scheme
a beastly 3-4 pass rusher could be, or a crazy-good 4-3 MLB.

The 90s Cowboys generally thought the LB was the most disposable. So the opposite in that case.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Games are won in the trenches.

Having a great Dline is similar to having a great Oline.

In the 4-3 the Linebackers are your QB. Thus Lee's ability to sniff out where the play is going and Ro's natural skills in playing that position is highly valued.

You can have a good defense with just 4 good Dlinemen. In order to have a great defense you need smart linebackers to put people in the proper place to make plays.

 

[chagus]

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?

They are on our defense.

 

[Wood]

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?

Its always DL. If you make a QB uncomfortable in pocket you have much better chance at success. Dallas needs to attack DL in draft with same gusto as we have seen on OL.

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

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

For real? Linebackers get paid more than CBs? Is that still true if you exclude the 34 OLBs who are getting paid as rushmen (effectively, being paid like 43 WDEs because they serve much the same function in a 34)?

 

[casmith07]

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?

Each position is important, but the cornerstone, in my opinion, is the defensive line. The defensive line can control the line of scrimmage.

 

[casmith07]

Its always DL. If you make a QB uncomfortable in pocket you have much better chance at success. Dallas needs to attack DL in draft with same gusto as we have seen on OL.

They will.

 

[Idgit]

For real? Linebackers get paid more than CBs? Is that still true if you exclude the 34 OLBs who are getting paid as rushmen (effectively, being paid like 43 WDEs because they serve much the same function in a 34)?

Their floor is about the same, but their median is higher. Revis' contract gives CBs a higher ceiling than the highest paid LBs. The data I was looking at didn't break out LBs by scheme. Let me see if I can find it again...

 

[cmoney23]

See... I understand that DE is normally the most important... but with the play we've gotten from our DL and from our LB's it seems like you can get away with a sub par Dline if you have great LB play...

Heck maybe it works the other way to, I know a good DL can cover up a lot... look at those SB winning giants teams they where bad on the back end but that pass rush made up for it. Idk, just a topic of discussion.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

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.

Jimmy had a plug-and-play philosophy in regards to linebackers, and that philosophy stayed with the organization well after he left. Jerry didn't shell out big money to a linebacker until Dexter Coakley.