DC: 20 Questions: Which Linebacker Wins Competition For Starting “Sam” Position?

silver · Jul 1, 2015

Me thinks Rivers wins that spot with Hitchens and Lee manning the other two spots. I dont see McClain making it nor the coaches having patience with him.

conner01 · Jul 1, 2015

Going to be an interesting camp
Lots of spots up for grabs and when you have this much competition on a team with a good roster that's really a great thing
LB will be very interesting as well as WR
Though WR is more about the bottom of the depth chart
This will make the second half of pre season games really interesting

Idgit · Jul 1, 2015

conner01 said:
Going to be an interesting camp
Lots of spots up for grabs and when you have this much competition on a team with a good roster that's really a great thing
LB will be very interesting as well as WR
Though WR is more about the bottom of the depth chart
This will make the second half of pre season games really interesting

The bottom of the roster has really gotten better the last two years. It's amazing how much of a difference that really makes for how a team plays.

xwalker · Jul 1, 2015

silver said:
Me thinks Rivers wins that spot with Hitchens and Lee manning the other two spots. I dont see McClain making it nor the coaches having patience with him.

They guaranteed 500K of McClain's contract.

JackOfNoTrades · Jul 1, 2015

xwalker said:
They guaranteed 500K of McClain's contract.

I hope that quickly becomes money well spent.....when McClain is on, he can be a difference maker. A very nice turn of events for me this upcoming season would be McClain showing up, fulfilling his potential and being re-upped for 3 more years.

silver · Jul 1, 2015

xwalker said:
They guaranteed 500K of McClain's contract.

That's not a whole lot. I read somewhere the coaches didnt want him back.

guag · Jul 1, 2015

Idgit said:
The bottom of the roster has really gotten better the last two years. It's amazing how much of a difference that really makes for how a team plays.

We might actually win some preseason games.

gmoney112 · Jul 1, 2015

Idgit said:
The bottom of the roster has really gotten better the last two years. It's amazing how much of a difference that really makes for how a team plays.

Especially LB's. I'm not sure of the exact statistics, but it looked like teams specifically targeted Cameron Lawrence every time he was on the field.

Given the amount of injuries we always suffer at the position, the depth there is really refreshing.

Can't forget about DE either. We are completely loaded on the ends and at LB. Below average defense no more!

Brooksey · Jul 2, 2015

silver said:
Me thinks Rivers wins that spot with Hitchens and Lee manning the other two spots. I dont see McClain making it nor the coaches having patience with him.

Doubt it. If McClain is healthy he's the starter.

Bullflop · Jul 2, 2015

Eeny, meany, miney, moe . . . pick a linebacker by the toe -- if he mistackles, let him go . . .

conner01 · Jul 2, 2015

Idgit said:
The bottom of the roster has really gotten better the last two years. It's amazing how much of a difference that really makes for how a team plays.

Very true and so important
In the cap era it's so important to have a guy ready to replace those that leave not to mention quality depth in case of injuries
That's where good drafting really shows up
Everyone knows the stars in the draft but getting those depth and developmental guys later in the draft is just as important

CashMan · Jul 2, 2015

Wolfpack said:
There is also the yet unseen "Otto" role that probably is better suited for Wilbur, given his DE play in college.

A made-up position by a team, who can not win games.

BigStar · Jul 2, 2015

"Nick Eatman: Obviously this question would be higher on the list if this were a position that played a bigger role in the defense. Yes, a starting job is a starting job but this is really more of a two-down position considering the Sam linebacker comes off the field during nickel and dime packages. Because of that, I can see Kyle Wilber winning this spot, saving Anthony Hitchens more for the nickel. Plus, Hitchens to me, will end up playing more in the Mike. Wilber has a good role as the Sam and on special teams and this coaching staff likes his game and progress. So I would say it goes to Wilber, only because Hitchens will be used in other ways."

This doesn't make a lot of sense to me seeing as Hitchens is stronger as the Mike in nickle downs compared to McClain (tad slow). Wouldn't Hitchens replace McClain in the nickle and be paired with Lee? Why would that prevent him from playing 1st and 2nd down as the starting Strong side backer?

Verdict · Jul 2, 2015

xwalker said:
Keep in mind that the person that started the Swaim humor said at this time last year that Hitchens was a wasted pick.

They traded up and gave up a lot to get Swaim. I am not sure why but they didn't trade up to get a guy that they intend on cutting. They have something in mind for him, for sure. If not it doesn't make any sense, and flies in the face of the other sound decisions that we have been pretty consistent with recently.

dallasdave · Jul 2, 2015

visionary said:
They disappear so fast from stores it's like they were never there

Millions at a time.

dallasdave · Jul 2, 2015

xwalker said:
Keep in mind that the person that started the Swaim humor said at this time last year that Hitchens was a wasted pick.

Hey, you got me all wrong, I think Swaim is going to be the man.

dallasdave · Jul 2, 2015

Idgit said:
They're called Swaimsuits. I think they're on backorder.

I heard the press operators are working over time to try to fill orders.

BAT · Jul 2, 2015

BigStar said:
"Nick Eatman: Obviously this question would be higher on the list if this were a position that played a bigger role in the defense. Yes, a starting job is a starting job but this is really more of a two-down position considering the Sam linebacker comes off the field during nickel and dime packages. Because of that, I can see Kyle Wilber winning this spot, saving Anthony Hitchens more for the nickel. Plus, Hitchens to me, will end up playing more in the Mike. Wilber has a good role as the Sam and on special teams and this coaching staff likes his game and progress. So I would say it goes to Wilber, only because Hitchens will be used in other ways."

This doesn't make a lot of sense to me seeing as Hitchens is stronger as the Mike in nickle downs compared to McClain (tad slow). Wouldn't Hitchens replace McClain in the nickle and be paired with Lee? Why would that prevent him from playing 1st and 2nd down as the starting Strong side backer?

Unless they expect the SAM to rush the passer in nickel situations. But I agree with you, Wilber is a stop gap and his upside is nil. Would not be surprised if he was replaced by a cheaper player who is more effective STer (I'm looking at you Obada). If the Nickel SAM is replaced with a DB, then a guy like Nzeocha has the most upside, since he is extremely athletic and a former safety.

Enlightened32 · Jul 3, 2015

Im pretty sure Hitch will start at Sam. I cant see how they could justify taking him off the field.

DC: 20 Questions: Which Linebacker Wins Competition For Starting “Sam” Position?

silver

Well-Known Member

conner01

Well-Known Member

Idgit

Fattening up

xwalker

Well-Known Member

JackOfNoTrades

sunbum

silver

Well-Known Member

guag

Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix 01

gmoney112

Well-Known Member

Brooksey

Well-Known Member

Bullflop

Cowboys Diehard

conner01

Well-Known Member

CashMan

Well-Known Member

BigStar

Stop chasing

Verdict

Well-Known Member

dallasdave

Well-Known Member

dallasdave

Well-Known Member

dallasdave

Well-Known Member

BAT

Mr. Fixit

Enlightened32

Active Member