BTB Vela: Scouting the Cowboys ILB Prospects -- Think 46

[BAT]

I haven't seen him play, but based just on his highlight video alone ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkEh6r7qoFU ), he is nothing like Woodson. He rarely delivers a big hit, and he seems to tackle with his hands an awful lot. He won't get away with that at the next level.

Fast and athletic, yes. Woodson-like? No.

He does know how to horse-collar, though, so he at least has that part of the conversion to SS down!

Not the thumper like Woodson, but Woodson-like b/c he would be a LB who is fast enough (4.4 40) to convert to SS, not to mention his forte is pass coverage. Also has the work ethic and football smarts to boot.

 

[28 Joker]

The 40 times on the linebackers are really slow. Darry Beckwith ran a 4.77. Kevin Burnett ran a 4.5. Tyronne McKenzie ran a 4.7.

I see some stong-side talent, but I'm not seeing the weak-side speed Dallas needs at that position.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

I'm almost to the point where I think we should just resign Burnett and draft Mckillop..there's really no other great options..I'm not quite sold on Ray Lewis yet...but there arn't any solid FA ILB's out there..Crowell is too slow and no 3-4 experience.

We could draft Mckillop..have him start with Monty Beisel mixed in there too..just another option..

 

[wahaja]

I think that if your looking at an inside lb you have to pay attention to Jasper Brinkley i think he will be the steal of the draft. his 40 time was decent he ran in the mid 4.7s which for his size is pretty decent he weighs about 250 his a brick house if he can stay healthy, i think he is the best Middle linebacker in this years draft!

 

[28 Joker]

Watch out for Gerald McGrath of Southern Miss. He ran a 4.61, and he was the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. This guy can run. He has speed. He is a junior, and he just went to the top of my list at ILB.

 

[AmishCowboy]

McKillop had a decent workout yesterday, I'm interested.

 

[TNCowboy]

Good passing teams will destroy the 46. You really can't use it as anything more than a part-time or gimmick defense. Vela's talking about it as though it'll be our base defense.

Yeah, let's draft some small ILBs to be 3 down players. :laugh2: Great idea, Vela.

 

[dcfanatic]

Good passing teams will destroy the 46. You really can't use it as anything more than a part-time or gimmick defense. Vela's talking about it as though it'll be our base defense.

Yeah, let's draft some small ILBs to be 3 down players. :laugh2: Great idea, Vela.

That's what I'm saying.

Because it worked for the Bears in 1985 don't mean it's the way to go in 2009. And you can't just pass of remarks like 'we don't have a good enough Safety' to play it all the time.

The WR's aren't the same as they were in 1985 either. They have much better recognition skills in reading a defense and the offenses are far more advanced in changing what they are doing (presnap) at the LOS.

 

[codychi1]

Mckillop,Phillips and Brinkley would be on my radar to fill that ILB spot.

Brinkley is a monster inside. Say no to ray ray and T.O.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Vela's just thinking out loud in the offseason. I guess some missed this:

Burnett replaced Thomas because he can cover extremely well, but he's not an ideal long-term solution on running downs. He's even riskier in the base 3-4, which Dallas still runs most of the time.

Personally, I think Wade was just throwing a curveball at offenses and, more than anything, trying to make the best use of the personnel he had. I don't think the 46 will be anything we use regularly.

 

[BAT]

I think that if your looking at an inside lb you have to pay attention to Jasper Brinkley i think he will be the steal of the draft. his 40 time was decent he ran in the mid 4.7s which for his size is pretty decent he weighs about 250 his a brick house if he can stay healthy, i think he is the best Middle linebacker in this years draft!

So what do you do at WILB? Brinkley can only play James' SILB spot, b/c Brinkley's coverage skills are almost as good as Bradie's.