Are linebackers that important?

[Hoofbite]

Honestly, I'm not sure theres a defense in the league that would lose with if their offense was putting up 40.

 

[BAT]

How are the Saints winning games with our 2nd string linebackers?

Saints D sucked last season with those very same LBs. The difference is Gregg Williams, the Saints new DC.

The D is no longer playing on its heels (Gibbs favored read and react, bend but don't break), while Gregg Williams attacks, attacks and attacks some more. Williams also is a madman about creating turnovers. He is constantly coaching the generation of turnovers. The addition of ball hawk vet leader Darren Sharper is also a factor.

 

[kramskoi]

New Orleans is the highest scoring team in the league. That hides a lot of weaknesses.

...and as Miami showed...you only get to exploit their weaknesses when you keep the ball, run with authority and rush the passer...hard to survive vs. the Saints being one-dimensional...

 

[davidb257]

LB's are extremely important yet possibly the easiest position to train and develop.

Put another 50 lbs on the Roy Williams in Cinci and you got yourself one mean MLB.

Imagine Brandon Jacobs putting on more muscle mass and being trained for a season at MLB? Linebackers are very producable.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

With today's football, linebackers are very important with both the 4-3 and especially the 3-4.

Constant motion and adjustments that attack the whole field requires that middle of the defense to be solid.

I disagree. In the 4-3 you can get away with average to decent linebackers. That's why Fujita and Shanle couldn't make it here but can in New Orleans. In the 4-3 you rely on the defensive line and specifically the DE's to get pressure on the quarterback. The linebackers become less important IMO.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

LB's are extremely important yet possibly the easiest position to train and develop.

Put another 50 lbs on the Roy Williams in Cinci and you got yourself one mean MLB.

Imagine Brandon Jacobs putting on more muscle mass and being trained for a season at MLB? Linebackers are very producable.

I'm calling BS. Name atleast 1 example of a safety or a running back training to become a middle linebacker lol. Especially at the middle linebacker position. You need a ball hawk right there. He's more than likely the quarterback of the defense. Especially in the 4-3.

Saints D sucked last season with those very same LBs. The difference is Gregg Williams, the Saints new DC.

The D is no longer playing on its heels (Gibbs favored read and react, bend but don't break), while Gregg Williams attacks, attacks and attacks some more. Williams also is a madman about creating turnovers. He is constantly coaching the generation of turnovers. The addition of ball hawk vet leader Darren Sharper is also a factor.

I've seen that defense play a couple of times now and honestly? That defense isn't that impressive. I think its more of their offense that contributes to why they're so good and why their defense looks so good. Its why the Dolphins had that big lead on them. Don't try to shoot out with them. You'll more than likely lose. Develop the running game against them. But you get down by 14 you're more than likely going to try and shoot out with them and that explains why Sharper has so many INT's.

 

[davidb257]

I'm calling BS. Name atleast 1 example of a safety or a running back training to become a middle linebacker lol. Especially at the middle linebacker position. You need a ball hawk right there. He's more than likely the quarterback of the defense. Especially in the 4-3.

I'm not saying it happens often, or even at all for that matter. Though if a player with the physical intangibles like BJ or RW and a huge desire to switch the the MLB could do it if need be.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I'm not saying it happens often, or even at all for that matter. Though if a player with the physical intangibles like BJ or RW and a huge desire to switch the the MLB could do it if need be.

I just think you make it sound easier than it really is. I just think if it was that easy guys like Adam Archuleta, Roy Williams, etc. would've made the switch to MLB when the league became less about the big hitters at the safety position and more about the coverage at the safety position.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

It isn't that linebackers are unimportant in certain 4-3 alignments. It's that they tend to be "system players", who, rather than possessing all the physical assets and abilities of prototypical linebackers, have a very specific skill set that is required for their defense to be effective.

Because they lack the ideal physical makeup for their position, system players tend to be cheaper and more easily replaced.

Jimmy Johnson seemed to favor system linebackers; not once in their three Super Bowl victories during the 90s did the Cowboys have the same group of starting linebackers.

 

[BAZ]

Put another 50 lbs on the Roy Williams in Cinci and you got yourself one mean MLB.

No, you just have a fatter safety that can't cover butter on bread.

 

[The Panch]

LB's are extremely important yet possibly the easiest position to train and develop.

Put another 50 lbs on the Roy Williams in Cinci and you got yourself one mean MLB.

Imagine Brandon Jacobs putting on more muscle mass and being trained for a season at MLB? Linebackers are very producable.

You forgot you need to put a biscuit on his head.

 

[davidb257]

No, you just have a fatter safety that can't cover butter on bread.

I dont know about you, but I like my safety's nice and fat.

 

[Doomsday101]

How are the Saints winning games with our 2nd string linebackers?

By being able to point a lot of points on the board forcing the other team to play their game

 

[jobberone]

I think you're wrong. Most successful defenses skimp on linebackers unless they're pass-rushing linebackers.

I don't agree with this at all. Look at the difference Brooking made in this defense not to mention when Bradie starting playing at a high level. Active LBs esp in the middle are necessary to have a top defense.

 

[Temo]

I don't agree with this at all. Look at the difference Brooking made in this defense not to mention when Bradie starting playing at a high level. Active LBs esp in the middle are necessary to have a top defense.

Neither of these two guys gets paid as much as anyone on the D-Line or the secondary. In fact I'm pretty sure they're the lowest paid starters on the team of guys who are not on rookie contracts. And that's true for most teams. And as always, following the money will show you where the team's priorities are at.

Again, I'm not saying that the ILB position on this team is useless. It's just not as important as any other position on the defense.