Future at Linebacker

[Galian Beast]

Honestly, I'd still love to see McClain become a fixture on this team, but let's be honest, it isn't going to happen.

I think the future is Lee and Smith, and Smith needs to go on the outside, which means returning Lee to the middle for better or worse.

I would have loved to see what we could do with Smith at the strong side, coming off the blitz and covering tight ends and backs. With Smith playing opposite of Lee, they really could have dominated the edge, while McClain dominated the middle.

I wish this guy could get his head straight about football. We have two butkus award winners on our defense, that's a big deal. Anyways very excited about Jaylon Smith.

 

[speedkilz88]

“He just leaps off the screen,” Marinelli said of Smith. “He is really good. He is really athletic in space, great hands, great tackler, great blitzer. He is just a real ballplayer. He fits anybody, but in our system with the way we will use him, he will be pretty special.”

“We see him as a natural [middle linebacker], but he also has a physical ability to play [weakside linebacker],” coach Jason Garrett said. “He just has some great traits. He’s a big guy. He’s 240-plus pounds. He’s long. He’s quick. He’s fast. He’s instinctive. He’s a great tackler. He’s physical. He makes plays on the ball. We don’t see that he has limitations at either of those spots. I think he’d be very natural at either one of them, and has the traits to do it.”

http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas-cowb...-time-jaylon-smith-made-rod-marinelli-say-wow

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

I think Hitchens is a good player I'm MORE than fine with Lee Jaylon and Hitch. Yeah there's some ifs with injuries but if they're all healthy wow

 

[big dog cowboy]

Still think we need defense early and often next draft on all 3 levels. Going LB at 32 would be fine with me.

 

[jobberone]

Need some depth.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Smith is a Mike to me. Lee is a Mike as well but he has no sustain there. Not quite as good as a Will but still very good and it keeps him on the field.

 

[erod]

Watch Damien Wilson this year.

 

[KingintheNorth]

With the exception of McClain and maybe Wilber (who is not a 4-3 LB) we have a bunch of guys who's best NFL position is WILL.

Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith, Anthony Hitchins, Damien WIlson, Mark Nzeocha, Andrew Gachkar, and even Deon King are all best suited for the weakside backer spot IMO.

 

[Scandri100]

Build around Jaylon Smith...I'm not too fond of Lee's lack of speed but he is a worker and can get it done more often than not.

 

[Scandri100]

Besides the fact I don't think Lee will ever be capable of playing a full season in his career.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Need some depth.

Assuming McClain and Lee start you have Hitchens and Gachkar who have played well for us backing them up. Wilber is a decent 2 down roleplayer who can at least jam receivers. Wilson and Nzeocha are decent prospects to go along with them.

They are telling Keith and Rod Smith to play FB because they feel they couldn't beat out the above. I thought Keith Smith played pretty well with an arrow pointing up when given opportunity; they likely didn't like his lack of speed in coverage. If Jaylon plays then we have more than we need.

I cannot bring myself to worry about the SAM anymore. OVerall I am more concerned about the starters particularly McClain.

 

[Jstopper]

With the exception of McClain and maybe Wilber (who is not a 4-3 LB) we have a bunch of guys who's best NFL position is WILL.

Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith, Anthony Hitchins, Damien WIlson, Mark Nzeocha, Andrew Gachkar, and even Deon King are all best suited for the weakside backer spot IMO.

Marinelli said that they view jaylon as a natural middle linebacker

 

[jobberone]

Assuming McClain and Lee start you have Hitchens and Gachkar who have played well for us backing them up. Wilber is a decent 2 down roleplayer who can at least jam receivers. Wilson and Nzeocha are decent prospects to go along with them.

They are telling Keith and Rod Smith to play FB because they feel they couldn't beat out the above. I thought Keith Smith played pretty well with an arrow pointing up when given opportunity; they likely didn't like his lack of speed in coverage. If Jaylon plays then we have more than we need.

I cannot bring myself to worry about the SAM anymore. OVerall I am more concerned about the starters particularly McClain.

Safety is another problem. We are above average with Lee and McClain. I like Hitchens but we'll see what we have after TC with him. The rest are marginal starters at best and I'd say they are merely backups. We need more athleticism and speed as well as coverage ability at LB.

LB is a changing position as was safety. We must have more coverage ability along with speed to go with some football talent. There is not enough of this being developed.

I respect yours and others' opinions but we are behind on defense.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Need some depth.

I can think of a couple of starters that shouldn't be.

 

[jobberone]

I can think of a couple of starters that shouldn't be.

Who is that?

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Safety is another problem. We are above average with Lee and McClain. I like Hitchens but we'll see what we have after TC with him. The rest are marginal starters at best and I'd say they are merely backups. We need more athleticism and speed as well as coverage ability at LB.

LB is a changing position as was safety. We must have more coverage ability along with speed to go with some football talent. There is not enough of this being developed.

I respect yours and others' opinions but we are behind on defense.

Nzeocha and Gachkar are 4.5 guys. Nzeocha didn't run at the combine etc due to injury but all accounts I have read put him in that range. Nawrocki who is light with his praise as opposed to most pundits had this to say:

Strengths: Very good athlete with loose hips and exceptional timed speed to run and cover. Is agile and light enough on his feet to run with backs, tight ends and slot receivers. Very quick to arrive on the blitz, with outstanding closing speed. Secure, wrap up tackler. Very intelligent.

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2015/4/22/8465857/cowboys-2015-draft-targets-wyoming-olb-mark-nzeocha

Below are Gachkar's pro day numbers. I think he might be the most underrated LB on the roster. He is a plus in coverage and a good tackler to go along with the athletics.

Dates: 03/17/11 03/04/11
Height: 6023
Weight: 233
40 Yrd Dash: 4.56
20 Yrd Dash: 2.70
10 Yrd Dash: 1.60225 Lb. Bench Reps: 18
Vertical Jump: 34
Broad Jump: 09'10"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.29
3-Cone Drill: 6.95


Wilson, Wilber and Hitchens are the 4.6+ guys and I agree there on your point. Wilson's metrics are all over the place. 4.7 40 but 4.21 shuttle. Jumps are pretty good too. Pretty much pigeonholes him at SAM but we need one pretty badly. Wilber is a slug.

 

[jobberone]

Nzeocha and Gachkar are 4.5 guys. Nzeocha didn't run at the combine etc due to injury but all accounts I have read put him in that range. Nawrocki who is light with his praise as opposed to most pundits had this to say:



http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2015/4/22/8465857/cowboys-2015-draft-targets-wyoming-olb-mark-nzeocha

Below are Gachkar's pro day numbers. I think he might be the most underrated LB on the roster. He is a plus in coverage and a good tackler to go along with the athletics.

Dates: 03/17/11 03/04/11
Height: 6023
Weight: 233
40 Yrd Dash: 4.56
20 Yrd Dash: 2.70
10 Yrd Dash: 1.60225 Lb. Bench Reps: 18
Vertical Jump: 34
Broad Jump: 09'10"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.29
3-Cone Drill: 6.95


Wilson, Wilber and Hitchens are the 4.6+ guys and I agree there on your point. Wilson's metrics are all over the place. 4.7 40 but 4.21 shuttle. Jumps are pretty good too. Pretty much pigeonholes him at SAM but we need one pretty badly. Wilber is a slug.

Forgot Nzeocha was that fast. Can he play? Gachkar doesn't play that fast but maybe that was just thinking too much.

 

[JohnsKey19]

They need either Wilson or Nzeocha to emerge as players.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Forgot Nzeocha was that fast. Can he play? Gachkar doesn't play that fast but maybe that was just thinking too much.

I haven't seen Nzeocha play NFL football so I couldn't say if he can or cannot. If he is as smart as they say he is then he should know the playbook but the speed of teh game and whatnot is typically the limiting factor.

Gachkar played mostly at MIKE and we typically don't have them run downfield covering guys where you could see his speed really stand out. What impressed me about him was limiting throws throws to the perimeter where I watched Bradie James fail repeatedly over the years. Where James couldn't get there, Gachkar was limiting those throws to 2 yard gains or less pretty consistently.

In limited play last year, he stood out to me. I thought he was our second best LBer after Lee. McClain is too hot and cold for my taste although he peaked better.

 

[KingintheNorth]

Marinelli said that they view jaylon as a natural middle linebacker

Two things.

1. Marinelli viewed Nick Hayden as a serviceable starting defensive tackle soooo....

and 2. Smith is a talented athlete. He's not really the guy you want taking on second level blocks in the interior. He's a guy you want flying around, being athletic, making plays.