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Ranking the Cowboys: Linebackers
5:30 PM Mon, Jun 30, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon
BLOGGER'S NOTE: In an attempt to fill the deadest time of offseason with something resembling meaningful football conversation, we'll run a series debating where each Cowboys positional unit ranks among their league peers.
DeMarcus Ware is a definite Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Perhaps even the favorite. His presence alone makes the Cowboys' corps one of the league's elite.
Greg Ellis is coming off his first Pro Bowl berth. Ware was the league's only linebacker with more sacks last season despite Ellis sitting out the first month. Add in Anthony Spencer, and the Cowboys have the NFL's top OLB trio.
Bradie James considers himself Pro Bowl material, but the reality is he's an above-average but not elite ILB.
If Zach Thomas stays healthy, this unit belongs in the conversation about the league's best linebacking corps. He's not worried about the concussion problems that caused him to miss the Dolphins' last 11 games, and there are no signs that he's slowing down in his mid-30s. According to stats available in the Pro Football Prospectus, Thomas was in on 21.7 percent of the defensive plays last season when he was active. That's the highest percentage of any LB in the league.
But what if Thomas is wrong about his head injuries? Uh-oh. The Cowboys will have to count on first-round bust Bobby Carpenter and undersized Kevin Burnett, who has had injury issues, to fill the void.
Follow the jump for the top five, assuming No. 55 stays healthy.
1. Baltimore -- Ray Lewis and Co. held opponents to a league-low 2.8 yards per carry last season. Bart Scott gives Baltimore another beast inside, and Terrell Suggs is a terrific edge rusher.
2. Tampa Bay -- The Bucs' linebackers are perfect fits for the Tampa-2 scheme. MLB Barrett Ruud is a rising star. Derrick Brooks, one of the best LBs of his era, is still playing at a high level. Cato June, like Brooks, isn't big but has tremendous speed. This group played a large role in Tampa Bay having the league's top passing defense.
3. Dallas -- Sack totals should increase with upgrades at cornerback.
4. Pittsburgh -- Not a big-name bunch (James Harrison was only Pro Bowler), but this is the heart of the league's No. 1 defense. James Farrior and Larry Foote make a lot of plays behind NT Casey Hampton.
5. Seattle -- Seahawks edged Chargers, who have an outstanding outside tandem but are so-so in the middle. MLB Lofa Tatupu and OLB Julian Peterson, perhaps the most versatile defensive player in the league, are Pro Bowlers.
5:30 PM Mon, Jun 30, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon
BLOGGER'S NOTE: In an attempt to fill the deadest time of offseason with something resembling meaningful football conversation, we'll run a series debating where each Cowboys positional unit ranks among their league peers.
DeMarcus Ware is a definite Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Perhaps even the favorite. His presence alone makes the Cowboys' corps one of the league's elite.
Greg Ellis is coming off his first Pro Bowl berth. Ware was the league's only linebacker with more sacks last season despite Ellis sitting out the first month. Add in Anthony Spencer, and the Cowboys have the NFL's top OLB trio.
Bradie James considers himself Pro Bowl material, but the reality is he's an above-average but not elite ILB.
If Zach Thomas stays healthy, this unit belongs in the conversation about the league's best linebacking corps. He's not worried about the concussion problems that caused him to miss the Dolphins' last 11 games, and there are no signs that he's slowing down in his mid-30s. According to stats available in the Pro Football Prospectus, Thomas was in on 21.7 percent of the defensive plays last season when he was active. That's the highest percentage of any LB in the league.
But what if Thomas is wrong about his head injuries? Uh-oh. The Cowboys will have to count on first-round bust Bobby Carpenter and undersized Kevin Burnett, who has had injury issues, to fill the void.
Follow the jump for the top five, assuming No. 55 stays healthy.
1. Baltimore -- Ray Lewis and Co. held opponents to a league-low 2.8 yards per carry last season. Bart Scott gives Baltimore another beast inside, and Terrell Suggs is a terrific edge rusher.
2. Tampa Bay -- The Bucs' linebackers are perfect fits for the Tampa-2 scheme. MLB Barrett Ruud is a rising star. Derrick Brooks, one of the best LBs of his era, is still playing at a high level. Cato June, like Brooks, isn't big but has tremendous speed. This group played a large role in Tampa Bay having the league's top passing defense.
3. Dallas -- Sack totals should increase with upgrades at cornerback.
4. Pittsburgh -- Not a big-name bunch (James Harrison was only Pro Bowler), but this is the heart of the league's No. 1 defense. James Farrior and Larry Foote make a lot of plays behind NT Casey Hampton.
5. Seattle -- Seahawks edged Chargers, who have an outstanding outside tandem but are so-so in the middle. MLB Lofa Tatupu and OLB Julian Peterson, perhaps the most versatile defensive player in the league, are Pro Bowlers.
