Church... Nickel LB?

[Picksix]

Just wanted to read what y'all thought about that idea. Haven't seen him in games much, but he was in on the goalline stand. Seems that he has enough quickness to cover, and enough strength to defend the run. Wonder if he could be like Bill Bates. Doesn't seem like Lee is gonna take that role this year, and they have to find someone to replace Brooking in those situations.

 

[Doomsday101]

Just wanted to read what y'all thought about that idea. Haven't seen him in games much, but he was in on the goalline stand. Seems that he has enough quickness to cover, and enough strength to defend the run. Wonder if he could be like Bill Bates. Doesn't seem like Lee is gonna take that role this year, and they have to find someone to replace Brooking in those situations.

Was he at LB or did Ball come out of the game on that play? I was unsure when I saw it.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I absolutely think he could do it, and I don't see why he wouldn't. He's practically a LB anyway, only he's used to playing in space.

And Wade just gave him a little praise in the PC for the goal line stand.

But he also said Sean Lee could've played this game and did a very good job on scout teams late in the week, so he might be a candidate two weeks from now as well.

 

[igtmfo]

Good thinking in this post.

Sean Lee is a smart and passionate guy, but I've always said I wonder about his frame. He's a thin/smallish ILB for sure. Bradie mentioned this briefly - that he was a small guy for the spot - a cupla weeks ago, amongst other things in a long interview with Bradie on dc.com I think. Sean was drafted with hopes that his intelligence and work ethic could overcome it. I hope so.

I just wonder how Church (a big SS as opposed to Lee a small ILB) would react to line play and getting smacked by big guys. At least Sean Lee is used to it.

But isn't Danny McCray in the depth chart already as backup nickel LB and has practiced and played preseason some there?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Hmm, well after I posted that, after Wade gave Church some love for the goal line work and his special teams play, he said he needs work on his coverage. So maybe not, or at least not yet.

And yeah, igt, he did say McCray was in there at nickel/dime/whatever LB. That's the spot he was playing when he got the INT at the end of the game.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

Lee is going to be back after the bye I think. He's going to get on the field. He's just been hurt. Now, if he is hurt a lot then we'll see. I think McCray is the guy they plan to try more at that nickel MLB spot, and of course they did try him there at the end of the Houston game when he got the pick.

 

[Idgit]

Archer (I think) suggested this in one of his entries this week. I'd rather see Sean Lee fill the role, but Church would be a close second for me.

 

[casmith07]

I'd rather see Church in at FS. Ball has been nothing short of disappointing thus far, and Church made a key tackle on the goal line displaying textbook technique.

 

[Wrangler87]

This is one of my top concerns as the season progresses. We must get Brooking some off time. He can not play all three downs the entire season. The sooner we find someone who can cover a TE on third down, the better, be it Church, McCray or Lee.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I'd rather see Church in at FS. Ball has been nothing short of disappointing thus far, and Church made a key tackle on the goal line displaying textbook technique.

Far be it from me to defend Alan Ball but Church is too slow to play Free Safety.

Is AOA struggling with the playbook? I don't recall seeing him on defense yet.

 

[casmith07]

Far be it from me to defend Alan Ball but Church is too slow to play Free Safety.

Is AOA struggling with the playbook? I don't recall seeing him on defense yet.

They project him more as a corner from what I'm told. On top of that, you know how our staff doesn't like to really play guys that are special teams key contributors that much. If he's returning kicks and punts, that's already too much to handle.

 

[jobberone]

I don't have a favorite pet to play the nickel LB but we need someone. Brooking cannot provice decent coverage and the longer he plays there the more teams are going to pick on him.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Watching Brooking play you can tell he is playing too many downs. Quit isn't in his vocabulary so he isn't going to say anything.

Sean Lee and Jason Williams need to step up and take some downs at nickel LB

OR

the coaches have to start playing Leon Williams a lot more on regular downs to keep Brooking fresh for the 4th quarter.