Cowboys LB Data

[xwalker]

Here are the measurable(s) and career stats for current and some past Cowboys LBs. I wanted to review how the new guys compared to others.

The column Max games is the number of seasons since drafted times 16. The column Percent Games Played is the Percentage of Games played relative to the Max possible. This is to see how many games they were active relative to how many possible games they could have been active.

One thing I noticed is that Watson had 2 forced fumbles in 120 tackles and Brinkley had 5 in 248 tackles.

Keep in mind that Brinkley and McClain were over 10 pounds heavier than all of the others when the measured times were recorded.

Watson is the best overall athlete (4.4, 40 vert at 240 pounds) followed by Rivers (4.54, 42 vert at 241 pounds).

Brinkley is close to McClain in the forty and ten with slightly better agility measurements.

All of them have good arm length for 4-3 LBs.

Brinkley, Gachkar and Watson have been active a high percentage of all games since they came into the league.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Thanks X!

At this point I would l'm not sure Ro Mc is even wanted by the Cowboys. Brinkley is the guy at MLB for 1st and 2nd down.

 

[Nightman]

Another great post. I am less worried about losing Carter, Durant and maybe RoMc.

Brinkley is very solid and never injured(knock on wood), Gachkar can play on the outside and is a ST ace and Watson and Rivers are very athletic.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

Is that accurate on Rivers vertical jump? If so, he is better than most elite WRs

 

[Woods]

I wouldn't mind picking up one more top quality 3-down LB this Draft to round out the group.

 

[CF74]

I wouldn't mind picking up one more top quality 3-down LB this Draft to round out the group.

I still want to draft the best LB available that falls to us in the first 3 rounds assuming he's also BPA....

 

[AsthmaField]

Good work X.

Looks to me like Dallas brought in Brinkley to play the big, physical masher role that McClain did. I think he will be fine at that if that's what they want from him. He will be off the field in the nickle/dime anyway. If he can just go in on certain downs and knock the **** out of people, he will bring that physical attitude to the defense that McClain did.

On another note... How the heck is Dakoda Watson not a better player than he is? The dude is a physical freak. Give him some simple assignments and let him play on special teams and you will get your money's worth out of him.

 

[Sportsbabe]

Another great post. I am less worried about losing Carter, Durant and maybe RoMc.

Brinkley is very solid and never injured(knock on wood), Gachkar can play on the outside and is a ST ace and Watson and Rivers are very athletic.

Beware of playing the game on paper. To me, it's the same as predicting who's going to win the Div's & SB before one single game ha played.

 

[Woods]

I still want to draft the best LB available that falls to us in the first 3 rounds assuming he's also BPA....

I think a player like Eric Kendricks could be interesting, esp with a small trade down. He could likely play all 3 downs. He is apparently a player the Cowboys have interest in as well.

 

[dallasdave]

Here are the measurable(s) and career stats for current and some past Cowboys LBs. I wanted to review how the new guys compared to others.

The column Max games is the number of seasons since drafted times 16. The column Percent Games Played is the Percentage of Games played relative to the Max possible. This is to see how many games they were active relative to how many possible games they could have been active.

One thing I noticed is that Watson had 2 forced fumbles in 120 tackles and Brinkley had 5 in 248 tackles.

Keep in mind that Brinkley and McClain were over 10 pounds heavier than all of the others when the measured times were recorded.

Watson is the best overall athlete (4.4, 40 vert at 240 pounds) followed by Rivers (4.54, 42 vert at 241 pounds).

Brinkley is close to McClain in the forty and ten with slightly better agility measurements.

All of them have good arm length for 4-3 LBs.

Brinkley, Gachkar and Watson have been active a high percentage of all games since they came into the league.

Good stuff, thanks for sharing with the rest of the board.

 

[Nightman]

Beware of playing the game on paper. To me, it's the same as predicting who's going to win the Div's & SB before one single game ha played.

They have game tape to back it up, the stats are just for comparisons sake.

 

[AsthmaField]

I think a player like Eric Kendricks could be interesting, esp with a small trade down. He could likely play all 3 downs. He is apparently a player the Cowboys have interest in as well.

Have you looked at Davis Tull, OLB from Chattanooga? He is obviously a small school guy but he has some big time measurables.

He played DE in Chatt. but he will move to OLB in the pros. Probably best suited for a 34 OLB but still his athleticism is intriguing.

6-2, 246
Ran his 40 with a slight hamstring strain and still ran: 4.57 seconds.
42.5 Vertical Jump
11.00 Broad jump
26 reps at 225 lbs.

He's not just a workout warrior either, he apparently had a nice career at Chattanooga.

I was interested in him when it looked like he'd go in the 5th or 6th... but now I think he goes late 3rd early 4th. I'm still not sure I'd want to take him in the 3rd, which we probably would in order to get him... but I really do like him as a player.

 

[texbumthelife]

Great post X! I appreciate your work.

As I expected, Brinkley looks like he could certainly fill in suitably as a two down linebacker. Add to that an improved defensive line and there is really no reason for me to believe the loss of McClain will really sting that much.

I really wish we could have re-upped Durant though. His versatility along with Hitchens would have been huge for us if the injury bug hits again.

 

[xwalker]

Good work X.

Looks to me like Dallas brought in Brinkley to play the big, physical masher role that McClain did. I think he will be fine at that if that's what they want from him. He will be off the field in the nickle/dime anyway. If he can just go in on certain downs and knock the **** out of people, he will bring that physical attitude to the defense that McClain did.

On another note... How the heck is Dakoda Watson not a better player than he is? The dude is a physical freak. Give him some simple assignments and let him play on special teams and you will get your money's worth out of him.

He looked OK in the 1 game he started last year for Jax which happened to be the game against the Cowboys. He reminds me of Bruce Carter in that he has terrific physical ability was will occasionally zone out mentally.

Jax signed him to play some complicated hybrid LB role that Bradley calls the Otto which included being a pass rusher. He is not the guy that you want playing a complicated position/scheme.

 

[Woods]

Have you looked at Davis Tull, OLB from Chattanooga? He is obviously a small school guy but he has some big time measurables.

He played DE in Chatt. but he will move to OLB in the pros. Probably best suited for a 34 OLB but still his athleticism is intriguing.

6-2, 246
Ran his 40 with a slight hamstring strain and still ran: 4.57 seconds.
42.5 Vertical Jump
11.00 Broad jump
26 reps at 225 lbs.

He's not just a workout warrior either, he apparently had a nice career at Chattanooga.

I was interested in him when it looked like he'd go in the 5th or 6th... but now I think he goes late 3rd early 4th. I'm still not sure I'd want to take him in the 3rd, which we probably would in order to get him... but I really do like him as a player.

I haven't really looked at him. Pretty incredible athlete though. Thanks.

 

[xwalker]

Have you looked at Davis Tull, OLB from Chattanooga? He is obviously a small school guy but he has some big time measurables.

He played DE in Chatt. but he will move to OLB in the pros. Probably best suited for a 34 OLB but still his athleticism is intriguing.

6-2, 246
Ran his 40 with a slight hamstring strain and still ran: 4.57 seconds.
42.5 Vertical Jump
11.00 Broad jump
26 reps at 225 lbs.

He's not just a workout warrior either, he apparently had a nice career at Chattanooga.

I was interested in him when it looked like he'd go in the 5th or 6th... but now I think he goes late 3rd early 4th. I'm still not sure I'd want to take him in the 3rd, which we probably would in order to get him... but I really do like him as a player.

He was a DE in college.

 

[jobberone]

Thanks X!

At this point I would l'm not sure Ro Mc is even wanted by the Cowboys. Brinkley is the guy at MLB for 1st and 2nd down.

IDK but it appears right now they don't. Maybe they are miles apart or maybe they don't want him for 'X' reason. He's really a two down back and as you said we have one now. I liked Brinkley when he came out for SC. He is a serviceable two down Mike.

 

[AsthmaField]

He was a DE in college.

Yeah, I know. His ideal position might be 34 OLB but with his athleticism I think he could play 43 LB. If he learned to play, he would probably be a nice blitz option. Maybe even put him at WDE in a couple of instances, if you just want some pure speed there but don't have to worry about the run game.

I worry because of his competition but I for sure want Dallas to take a shot at him if he's there in the late, mid round area of the draft (say 4th or 5th).

He is not a Jason Williams though, who was all athleticism and no football player. This guy is a player, IMO.

 

[CCBoy]

As always, X...a good read.

Looks less and less that either Rolando McClain or Anthony Spencer will remain a Cowboy. But I do like the projection of a pounder in the middle and who should bring short yardage strength as well.

I'm thinking that the draft will strongly consider the following positions:

safety, cornerback, running back, and interior offensive line

 

[SuspectCorner]

Beware of playing the game on paper. To me, it's the same as predicting who's going to win the Div's & SB before one single game ha played.

True that. The body serves the mind.