Cowboys LB Data

[xwalker]

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.

I've reviewed them on-the-field.

http://cowboyszone.com/threads/dekoda-watson-all-22-review.317694/

http://cowboyszone.com/threads/jasper-brinkley-all-22-review.317660/

http://cowboyszone.com/threads/andrew-gachkar-quick-all-22-review.317644/

 

[Sportsbabe]

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

That's for other teams (our new signees). That doesn't necessarily mean they will have the same production for us. There are lots of examples of players changing teams and not having the same success. I'll save my accolades until I see them play for us (just like I did RoMc).

 

[cowboys1981]

It looks like we got players who will be consistent with putting out effort on the field. For example Gachkar seems to have a high motor vs what we saw in Carter. Rivers is a cheaper option than Durant at this point. Brinkley will be a good two down LB, but there's no doubt RoMc is the upgrade here. Once he can come to his senses he may end up on our roster.

 

[BAT]

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.

The production stats actually confirm the exact opposite. Lee, Durant and McClain are CLEARLY the best players not because of their athleticism stats but by what they have accomplished on the field. All 3 guys are not just better tacklers and generating turnovers, they are exponentially better. Rivers, Watson, Gachkar and Brinkley are athletically similar, some cases test better, but those measurables do not translate to the field.

It's almost embarrassing to compare them.

 

[dallasdave]

Lee is the best LB hands down.

 

[CF74]

Lee is the best LB hands down.

I've been salivating about a LB core of Lee, Ro Mc, and Carter all winter..

Hitchens is good and these other cats look good on paper, we'll see...

 

[Bluestang]

That's for other teams (our new signees). That doesn't necessarily mean they will have the same production for us. There are lots of examples of players changing teams and not having the same success. I'll save my accolades until I see them play for us (just like I did RoMc).

Good post. Despite all the opinions saying that player X was not utilized correctly in certain schemes or whatever excuse it is that they seem to find for recently singed players it all boils down to what they do game day doesn't it?

Heck, alot of fans seem to think that Hardy is a homerun but the facts say that he hasn't played football in a long time.

 

[Nightman]

The production stats actually confirm the exact opposite. Lee, Durant and McClain are CLEARLY the best players not because of their athleticism stats but by what they have accomplished on the field. All 3 guys are not just better tacklers and generating turnovers, they are exponentially better. Rivers, Watson, Gachkar and Brinkley are athletically similar, some cases test better, but those measurables do not translate to the field.

It's almost embarrassing to compare them.

We are only counting on Brinkley to start right now. Hitchens and Lee are the other 2 starters.

Durant and Carter did not produce consistently either.

 

[Bullflop]

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.

Apparently so. I'm hearing their confidence in him has dwindled drastically. It's been said the staff doesn't feel comfortable with his propensity to miss games. They question both his durability and mental commitment to play. The drug issue doesn't help matters either. To top it all off, he's demanding way too much money. Not good.

 

[BAT]

We are only counting on Brinkley to start right now. Hitchens and Lee are the other 2 starters.

Durant and Carter did not produce consistently either.

Durant was more consistent and more productive than Brinkley. Carter may have been a flake at times but Watson and Gachkar would kill to have Carter's resume. For all their athleticism, neither Rivers, Gachkar or Watson have 5 INTs for their entire careers, Carter had 5 of those game changers just last season. Heck add all 3 guys total INTs, throw in Brinkley for giggles too, and they still trail Carter.

 

[Nightman]

Durant was more consistent and more productive than Brinkley. Carter may have been a flake at times but Watson and Gachkar would kill to have Carter's resume. For all their athleticism, neither Rivers Gachkar or Watson have 5 INTs for their entire careers, Carter had 5 of those game changers just last season. Heck add all 3 guys total INTs, throw in Brinkley for giggles too, and they still trail Carter.

I disgree with the levels of production you ascribe to Carter and Durant

 

[BAT]

I disgree with the levels of production you ascribe to Carter and Durant

I'm not making it up. Watson and Gachkar are not even starters and have been in the league at least 5 seasons. Watson about 8 seasons. Durant was a starter with Jax, with Detroit and with Dallas. Carter has been a starter since his second year with Dallas. In just 4 seasons, Carter's best season in tackles surpasses River's best season in tackles. Comparatively, Carter and Rivers have equal amount of total sacks, Carter easily has more career INTs all with Rivers playing 2 more seasons than Carter.

Durant and Lee are the only LBs with 100 plus tackle seasons. Brinkley's best season, he had 90 plus tackles. Carter and Ro also only have one 90 plus tackle season. Ro does have 2 other seasons with 80 plus tackles, no 80 plus tackle seasons for either Brinkley or Carter. Rivers' best seasons were his first 2 years in league then struggled for starts the next 4 seasons. Brinkley became a starter his 3rd season in Minny, next year went to AZ and rode bench for a season before returning to start at Minny last season.

 

[JBell]

Carter is head and shoulders better than any of his replacements. He was the best player on this defense the last quarter of the season. Despite the measurables, I don't think any of them will bring to the table what Carter brought in coverage. Watson is a 4.56 guy (going off his combine numbers which are probably more accurate than the 4.4 listed on the table), but is not known for his coverage ability. And from Watson's lack of defensive snaps last year even with all of the injuries to our linebackers, it appears dude is on the roster solely for his Special Teams ability. Rivers is another athletic dude who doesn't excel in coverage either.

Fast 40 times =/= good coverage ability

 

[xwalker]

The production stats actually confirm the exact opposite. Lee, Durant and McClain are CLEARLY the best players not because of their athleticism stats but by what they have accomplished on the field. All 3 guys are not just better tacklers and generating turnovers, they are exponentially better. Rivers, Watson, Gachkar and Brinkley are athletically similar, some cases test better, but those measurables do not translate to the field.

It's almost embarrassing to compare them.

Tackles per start:
Dekoda Watson 17.14
Andrew Gachkar 15.00
Sean Lee 9.19
Jasper Brinkley 7.52
Anthony Hitchens 6.82
Rolando McClain 6.54
Justin Durant 6.45
Keith Rivers 5.82

 

[xwalker]

Carter is head and shoulders better than any of his replacements. He was the best player on this defense the last quarter of the season. Despite the measurables, I don't think any of them will bring to the table what Carter brought in coverage. Watson is a 4.56 guy (going off his combine numbers which are probably more accurate than the 4.4 listed on the table), but is not known for his coverage ability. And from Watson's lack of defensive snaps last year even with all of the injuries to our linebackers, it appears dude is on the roster solely for his Special Teams ability. Rivers is another athletic dude who doesn't excel in coverage either.

Fast 40 times =/= good coverage ability

Carter was out in the Nickel defense in weeks 12 though 16. He was probably out of the Nickel some other weeks, but in weeks 12 though 16 they started the game in the Nickel with Hitchens and RoMc as the starters and Carter on the bench.

 

[Crown Royal]

Wow, how many LBers actually make it 16 games on a regular basis?

 

[xwalker]

Wow, how many LBers actually make it 16 games on a regular basis?

The primary reason that I posted the stats was to look at the games played/missed.

Gachkar and Brinkley have been active for about 98% of all possible games. Watson is next at 88% and most of his missed games came after he joined the Cowboys mid-season. I don't know if all of those were due to injury or him just not knowing the scheme well enough to be active.

 

[Crown Royal]

The primary reason that I posted the stats was to look at the games played/missed.

Gachkar and Brinkley have been active for about 98% of all possible games. Watson is next at 88% and most of his missed games came after he joined the Cowboys mid-season. I don't know if all of those were due to injury or him just not knowing the scheme well enough to be active.

Good. Makes me think they are trying to get some reliability and consistency. The injuries didn't kill us last year, but that's because we got lucky, and honestly it still got close at times. Still, glad to see that they are being proactive about this.

 

[Sportsbabe]

Wow, how many LBers actually make it 16 games on a regular basis?

God forbid if a "football player" should get hurt and not be 100% at the end of the season. No way that could be the norm

(Point well taken.)

 

[Sportsbabe]

It looks like we got players who will be consistent with putting out effort on the field. For example Gachkar seems to have a high motor vs what we saw in Carter. Rivers is a cheaper option than Durant at this point. Brinkley will be a good two down LB, but there's no doubt RoMc is the upgrade here. Once he can come to his senses he may end up on our roster.

RoMc coming to his senses is asking a lot at this point in time. I'm sure Dallas/Jerry has presented him with all the best scenarios. Jerry & Marinelli are on record as loving the player. I've already accepted the fact that he most likely will not be back. I'll remove him from my signature once off season work outs start and he's not there. I'm not with that.