Damone Clark was PFF's 3rd-lowest graded LB in Week 16

[VaqueroTD]

For my own part, I'm not crapping on LVE.
My issue is with the front office, who left us so razor thin at such an important position, again.
It's been the same for several years now.
LVE was a huge injury risk, yet we resigned him and then had no back up plan.
Similar to the Tyron situation, where we knew we have a player that will miss time, and had no plan (or at least a poorly thought out plan) in reserve.
I actually don't think LVE was a great on ball LB either. He was better off ball due to his injury risk (he played tentative at times).
So for a team that has lost the last few years by being beaten by a more physical team, that ran the ball on us at key moments to close out games, to address the on ball LB position with a guy who was just OK at it, and a guy who was always a hit away from ending his career, and then have no real back up plan (I guess playing an off ball LB like Clark on ball was the backup plan), is a condemnation of that front office, not of LVE. I respect LVE and wish him the best.

Jerry and his love for wildcatting injured LBs.

LIke you pointed out in the previous post, we'd be better served with just some solid on the ball linebackers.

Don't need a flashy "would have been top 5 or 3-4 rounds higher if healthy" pick. Just get us some freaking stability.

I wrote a thread here about this having the potential to be our death bed with the Defense. Can see it at the other Zone the mods post with the articles. At the time I was worried I was overreacting, but man, it really has hurt us end of year on that D.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds058]

H e l l NO!!!

LOL

 

[CT Dal Fan]

You know, I see and hear a lot of things discussing why there is such a gap between the Cowboys and 49ers. And all those conversations invariably lead back to Dak.

But let me offer this:

Where we have Damone Clark and Markquese Bell, the 49ers have Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw.

 

[kskboys]

So disappointed in his development. Dude has talent, I don’t get it. Is it the scheme? The coaching? Playing out of position? He should have some development in his 2nd year.

Honestly, I ask this because Cox was also a talented player that never developed.

It's the lack of lateral agility and instincts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same w/ Cox.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

It's the lack of lateral agility and instincts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same w/ Cox.

Clark has good instincts. But like you said he does not have the lateral movement or the wheels to get there.

Last year he only started five games, but in those games PFF says he did not register a missed tackle. He's regressed this year, no doubt.

 

[VaqueroTD]

You know, I see and hear a lot of things discussing why there is such a gap between the Cowboys and 49ers. And all those conversations invariably lead back to Dak.

But let me offer this:

Where we have Damone Clark and Markquese Bell, the 49ers have Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw.

 

[kskboys]

I like Damone Clark as long as he’s not expected to be our best LB. He‘s good but not great player that every team needs. He’s got good instincts as a LB, plays hard, is rangy, and has avoided major injury and from what I’ve read is an excellent character guy.

But there are reasons he lasted until round 5 of the draft. He tends to fall for misdirection more easily and sometimes struggles to get off blocks. As I said, I’m glad Clark is a Cowboy but he’s probably not going to ever be more than a decent starter.

IMO one of the biggest mistakes this FO made this off-season and trade deadline is not acquiring more help at LB. LVE is an injury magnet and is just a decent LB. We could find a much better replacement in FA or the draft next year. LB is not a strength for this team. Marvion Overshown will hopefully be healthy next summer but he’s another undersized guy with some skills. We will see.

Not sure about the instincts thing, Bob, it was one of the weaknesses in his scouting report: "Information processing is still developing. Late to recognize route development. Short area quickness is lackluster. Poor lateral mover......"

Translation: Lacks instincts.

 

[kskboys]

Clark has good instincts. But like you said he does not have the lateral movement or the wheels to get there.

Last year he only started five games, but in those games PFF says he did not register a missed tackle. He's regressed this year, no doubt.

Does he? Has trouble processing info and recognizing routes. Sounds like his instincts are weak.

 

[VaqueroTD]

Does he? Has trouble processing info and recognizing routes. Sounds like his instincts are weak.

I think you have to be a former high-level coach or player to really get a good read on if he has improved his instincts. The obvious stuff will show up, but everything else is just seconds and understanding complex offenses/defenses.

For things like that I usually rely on the coach press conferences. I've never heard DQ discuss it, but I don't get a chance to listen to all of them. Biggest excitement with DQ going into the year with Clark was his physical skills. Since he came off an injury, that was a plus.

But even with him playing out of his natural role, if dude just doesn't have the instincts that made some of our smaller LBs like Dat and Dexter so good, it's over. LB more than other positions needs it.

 

[kskboys]

Where are y'all seeing that Clark has good instincts? I'm not seeing it and not reading it in his scouting report.

Clark didn't play all that much for 3 yrs at LSU due to poor instincts. I didn't mind him coming on, due to us only spending a 5th on him, but where is all the upside talk coming from?

 

[kskboys]

I think you have to be a former high-level coach or player to really get a good read on if he has improved his instincts. The obvious stuff will show up, but everything else is just seconds and understanding complex offenses/defenses.

For things like that I usually rely on the coach press conferences. I've never heard DQ discuss it, but I don't get a chance to listen to all of them. Biggest excitement with DQ going into the year with Clark was his physical skills. Since he came off an injury, that was a plus.

But even with him playing out of his natural role, if dude just doesn't have the instincts that made some of our smaller LBs like Dat and Dexter so good, it's over. LB more than other positions needs it.

A LB w/o instincts is.........................well Bruce Carter. 4.3 forty and he wasn't any good. Lacked instincts.

 

[mardwin]

He's being man handled and held, he's too light against the run.

Clark has poor recognition of the football, reacts late very similar to Jaylon.

 

[mardwin]

Where are y'all seeing that Clark has good instincts? I'm not seeing it and not reading it in his scouting report.

Clark didn't play all that much for 3 yrs at LSU due to poor instincts. I didn't mind him coming on, due to us only spending a 5th on him, but where is all the upside talk coming from?

Honestly we need to stop drafting players from LSU and Michigan

 

[Creeper]

Overshown is exactly the player you are describing. He'll be a major addition next season.

I am not doubting you, but we said the same thing about Jabril Cox two years ago and Clark last year. Overshown looked good in preseason, but after two previous flops I am not holding my breath for him to develop. I think we have to assume LVE is not coming back - ever.

 

[JohnsKey19]

I am not doubting you, but we said the same thing about Jabril Cox two years ago and Clark last year. Overshown looked good in preseason, but after two previous flops I am not holding my breath for him to develop. I think we have to assume LVE is not coming back - ever.

I agree, you never know how these guys will pan out. But it's very likely that Overshown compares favorably to most if not all of the top off-ball LBs in this year's draft.

 

[JohnsKey19]

It's the lack of lateral agility and instincts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same w/ Cox.

Clark doesn't see the field well at all IMO. Im not sure if it's poor vision or just lacking the natural instincts to understand or "feel" the development of the play. But it costs him dearly in both the run and pass game.

I thought Cox played with better instincts but lacked physicality.

 

[Alexander]

A minor nuance of the Dolphins game was that they went right at him on multiple occasions.

And not via the pass or even the run. Just a random OL going out there to flatten and lay on him.

 

[kskboys]

I am not doubting you, but we said the same thing about Jabril Cox two years ago and Clark last year. Overshown looked good in preseason, but after two previous flops I am not holding my breath for him to develop. I think we have to assume LVE is not coming back - ever.

I did not. Overshown possesses what neither Cox nor Clark do. Instincts. Completely different player.

Can't put players all in the same box.

 

[kskboys]

Clark doesn't see the field well at all IMO. Im not sure if it's poor vision or just lacking the natural instincts to understand or "feel" the development of the play. But it costs him dearly in both the run and pass game.

I thought Cox played with better instincts but lacked physicality.

Cox lacks lateral agility.

 

[Adiba1977]

33 is horrible.