News: Best three linebackers

[CCBoy]

Best three linebackers

Hitchens will open in the middle. Sean Lee is set on the weak side. What happens on the strong side?

Rookie Damien Wilson has spent the majority of camp as the starter on the weak side while the club cautiously works Lee back into the mix. Now that Lee is getting more time in practice, Wilson has been moved to the starter on the strong side ahead of Kyle Wilber.

Wilber, who has looked good in this camp, is now getting work in the middle.

“Damien has been working his tail off in the fundamentals and basics of football,’’ linebackers coach Matt Eberflus said. “I think he’s improved tremendously up to this point and he’s only going to get better with his work ethic.

“If you’ve got a player who’s willing to work extremely hard and be a good listener and be a good practice player, then the inevitable is going to happen. He’s going to improve.”

The intention is to finish camp with both players in those roles and see how they respond. The Cowboys did the same at this stage of last year’s training camp, moving Justin Durant from weak side to strong side so the team could get its top three linebackers on the field.

“I’m going to process it day to day, but it’s my thought to leave him [Wilson] there and see how he does,” Eberflus said.

http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...-cowboys-before-team-breaks-training-camp.ece

 

[Kaiser]

Wilber on the strong side, especially with Hitchens needed at SAM.

 

[CCBoy]

I don't know...the drafting department may be on scent as to drafted linebackers.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

While Ro is out:
Lee/Hitchens/Wilson
Gach/Brinkley/Wilber

When Ro is back:
Lee/Ro/Hitchens
Gach/Brinkley/Wilson

 

[Kaiser]

I love Wilson and think he is a starter in the future, but at this point Eberflus knows exactly what he is has in Wilber so he is giving Wilson the reps he needs to develop and to establish what he is capable of.

Also Wilbur contracted Nick Hayden's disease a long time ago - he does solid, though limited, work that the defense needs and a lot of fans don't appreciate it.

 

[dallasdave]

Best three linebackers

Hitchens will open in the middle. Sean Lee is set on the weak side. What happens on the strong side?

Rookie Damien Wilson has spent the majority of camp as the starter on the weak side while the club cautiously works Lee back into the mix. Now that Lee is getting more time in practice, Wilson has been moved to the starter on the strong side ahead of Kyle Wilber.

Wilber, who has looked good in this camp, is now getting work in the middle.

“Damien has been working his tail off in the fundamentals and basics of football,’’ linebackers coach Matt Eberflus said. “I think he’s improved tremendously up to this point and he’s only going to get better with his work ethic.

“If you’ve got a player who’s willing to work extremely hard and be a good listener and be a good practice player, then the inevitable is going to happen. He’s going to improve.”

The intention is to finish camp with both players in those roles and see how they respond. The Cowboys did the same at this stage of last year’s training camp, moving Justin Durant from weak side to strong side so the team could get its top three linebackers on the field.

“I’m going to process it day to day, but it’s my thought to leave him [Wilson] there and see how he does,” Eberflus said.

http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...-cowboys-before-team-breaks-training-camp.ece

Last 2 years Dallas got good LB's with good value picks in the draft. Hitchens and Wilson will both be starters in the future if not this year.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I'm happy with this. From what I've read, Wilson might be a better version of Hitchens and might be better sooner than later. That's not to say Hitchens doesn't have a role in the future with Lee's fragility and McClain's instability. I wouldn't mind seeing Hitchens and Wilson battle it out for that starting SAM spot when (if) McClain comes back. I could see Hitchens being the future MLB and Wilson the future WLB. That seems to be their best spots. But at the moment, they're fighting for the 3rd spot, the SLB.

 

[dallasdave]

I'm happy with this. From what I've read, Wilson might be a better version of Hitchens and might be better sooner than later. That's not to say Hitchens doesn't have a role in the future with Lee's fragility and McClain's instability. I wouldn't mind seeing Hitchens and Wilson battle it out for that starting SAM spot when (if) McClain comes back. I could see Hitchens being the future MLB and Wilson the future WLB. That seems to be their best spots. But at the moment, they're fighting for the 3rd spot, the SLB.

ery good

Two very good LB prospects.

 

[xwalker]

I love Wilson and think he is a starter in the future, but at this point Eberflus knows exactly what he is has in Wilber so he is giving Wilson the reps he needs to develop and to establish what he is capable of.

Also Wilbur contracted Nick Hayden's disease a long time ago - he does solid, though limited, work that the defense needs and a lot of fans don't appreciate it.

The article seems to be saying that they plan to keep Wilson as the starting SLB and Wilber as a 2nd team MLB. I doubt if the coaches actually told the reporter that they plan to do that. Coaches are rarely committal on those issues.

 

[Hailmary]

While Ro is out:
Lee/Hitchens/Wilson
Gach/Brinkley/Wilber

When Ro is back:
Lee/Ro/Hitchens
Gach/Brinkley/Wilson

If the combo of Lee/Hitchens/Wilson plays well, do you still automatically pencil in Ro when he returns?

 

[xwalker]

If the combo of Lee/Hitchens/Wilson plays well, do you still automatically pencil in Ro when he returns?

No, but he is unlikely to play in the Nickel even if he returns which would limit him to about 34% of the snaps. He is decent insurance in case of injuries.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

Nice to see The Omen didn't completely kill the name Damien.

 

[Daillest88]

Hitchens is a starter.. Last yeah he was above average for us, a 4th rd pick that none of us wanted. Wilson is more athletic then hitchens,seems like he's got a good head on his shoulders.. Hitchens MLB, Wilson SLB, Lee WLB, our scouting department has been on fire the last few years.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

The Cowboys usually sub out the "sam" linebacker with a nickel back; so if there's such a thing as the least important position in Rod Marinelli's scheme; this is it.

I still like the idea of finding a starting spot for Damien Wilson though.

 

[texbumthelife]

Wilber covering tight ends is absolutely terrifying. His lateral mobility is awful.

It's a joke we can't get our three best linebackers on the field because Lee can't play middle or strong anymore due to injuries. (in the event they don't want Wilson at SLB that is)

 

[BIGDen]

Wilber on the strong side, especially with Hitchens needed at SAM.

Did you mean "Hitchens needed at the MIKE"? "Strong side" and "Sam" are the same thing.

 

[Kaiser]

Did you mean "Hitchens needed at the MIKE"? "Strong side" and "Sam" are the same thing.

Yes, my bad. I did mean needed at Mike. I get the feeling that Hitchens getting so much time in the middle is both a message to McClain and a signal the team isn't confident he will play that much this season.

 

[Aven8]

Wilson could see a lot of time at on the weakside if/when Lee gets hurt.