FWST Blog: Now What? Middle Linebacker

[Mr Cowboy]

It's another offseason, which means it's time for the Cowboys to find another linebacker.

Ever since Bill Parcells walked in the door they can't draft or sign enough linebackers. Keith Brooking joins the club now, and will start next to Bradie James.

Brooking is another version of Zach Thomas; his best days are gone, he's probably not going to make many plays. He'll know where to be, but physically his body won't let him do what it did when he was 28. This is what happens to older players - they know what to do and how to do it, but the body says no.

So Brooking will step in and start, and expect the Cowboys to draft yet another linebacker.

This also means that Kevin Burnett's days with the Cowboys are over, which is probably the way he wants it.

Burnett has burned to start for years, and the Cowboys from either Parcells to Wade Phillips see him as a nickel linebacker. And they don't trust he can stay healthy for an entire season.

So Burnett will likely go somewhere, he's scheduled to visit the Raiders, and get the money he wants, and start, too.

- Mac Engel

P.S. - Please don't say Bobby Carpenter. It's obvious by now Phillips doesn't like him in his scheme. Period. So Carpenter will remain a special teams guy, and that's about it.

 

[Rampage]

carp sure is one of the best paid special teamers in the league.

 

[CF74]

When is his rookie contract over? It seems like he's been here for 10 years:laugh2:

 

[Big Country]

It's another offseason, which means it's time for the Cowboys to find another linebacker.

Ever since Bill Parcells walked in the door they can't draft or sign enough linebackers. Keith Brooking joins the club now, and will start next to Bradie James.

Brooking is another version of Zach Thomas; his best days are gone, he's probably not going to make many plays. He'll know where to be, but physically his body won't let him do what it did when he was 28. This is what happens to older players - they know what to do and how to do it, but the body says no.

So Brooking will step in and start, and expect the Cowboys to draft yet another linebacker.

This also means that Kevin Burnett's days with the Cowboys are over, which is probably the way he wants it.

Burnett has burned to start for years, and the Cowboys from either Parcells to Wade Phillips see him as a nickel linebacker. And they don't trust he can stay healthy for an entire season.

So Burnett will likely go somewhere, he's scheduled to visit the Raiders, and get the money he wants, and start, too.

- Mac Engel

P.S. - Please don't say Bobby Carpenter. It's obvious by now Phillips doesn't like him in his scheme. Period. So Carpenter will remain a special teams guy, and that's about it.

I still can't believe we got Keith Brooking... unfreaking real

That's just not an upgrade over Zach Thomas.

Dallas needs to find a big body ILB ... like a Ray Lewis or maybe a Levon Kirkland...

 

[Hoovie]

I still can't believe we got Keith Brooking... unfreaking real

That's just not an upgrade over Zach Thomas.

Dallas needs to find a big body ILB ... like a Ray Lewis or maybe a Levon Kirkland...

6'2" 241lbs Brooking

6'1" 250lbs Lewis

You're right... Lewis is SO much bigger than little old Brooking....

 

[Rampage]

6'2" 241lbs Brooking

6'1" 250lbs Lewis

You're right... Lewis is SO much bigger than little old Brooking....

and he's a lot bigger than 5'2 240 lbs Zach Thomas

 

[BAT]

I still can't believe we got Keith Brooking... unfreaking real

That's just not an upgrade over Zach Thomas.

Dallas needs to find a big body ILB ... like a Ray Lewis or maybe a Levon Kirkland...

So you lobbying for Brinkley? When I think Kirkland, I think Mitch King though. That kid can lose 20 lbs (get down to 260) and probably run faster than Bradie James.


I would love to see King at SILB on goal line and especially in the 46 (the way Wade uses James).

 

[Big Country]

6'2" 241lbs Brooking

6'1" 250lbs Lewis

You're right... Lewis is SO much bigger than little old Brooking....

Lewis is bigger and he plays bigger...

The size is really secondary now that he's here, Brooking just doesn't seem like a guy that is made for a 3-4... I know he played it before, but it seems like he's much more fit for a 4-3.

I'm just saying that I don't see any upgrade by losing Zach and gaining Brooking.

and he's a lot bigger than 5'2 240 lbs Zach Thomas

:laugh2: that's funny right thar

So you lobbying for Brinkley? When I think Kirkland, I think Mitch King though. That kid can lose 20 lbs (get down to 260) and probably run faster than Bradie James.


I would love to see King at SILB on goal line and especially in the 46 (the way Wade uses James).

Dude, honestly I haven't even looked over draft prospects except for the few I read about here... Thanks for the names I'm going to check them out...

Mitch King from Iowa? He's a DLineman...

 

[big dog cowboy]

I still can't believe we got Keith Brooking... unfreaking real

That's just not an upgrade over Zach Thomas.

Dallas needs to find a big body ILB ... like a Ray Lewis or maybe a Levon Kirkland...

Dude..............

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

The size is really secondary now that he's here, Brooking just doesn't seem like a guy that is made for a 3-4... I know he played it before, but it seems like he's much more fit for a 4-3.

He had some of his best years working in Wade's 3-4. Are you insane?

 

[BAT]

Mitch King from Iowa? He's a DLineman...

Yup. He's a tweener. No real position, he's just a football playing fool. The real interesting thing about the guy is that he was recruited to Iowa to play LB.


He grew into a DL, at the college level. But he is real physical, mean, quick, explosive, intense and plays 1000% all the time. He has off the chart intangibles. Very vocal leader.


Tom Landry tried to make Randy White a MLB, I think Landry would try to do the same with Mitch King. And maybe succeed this time.


Mitch King was running 4.7's at 270, that is the same 40 that James ran in school (but he was 30 lbs lighter).

 

[jobberone]

Yup. He's a tweener. No real position, he's just a football playing fool. The real interesting thing about the guy is that he was recruited to Iowa to play LB.


He grew into a DL, at the college level. But he is real physical, mean, quick, explosive, intense and plays 1000% all the time. He has off the chart intangibles. Very vocal leader.


Tom Landry tried to make Randy White a MLB, I think Landry would try to do the same with Mitch King. And maybe succeed this time.


Mitch King was running 4.7's at 270, that is the same 40 that James ran in school (but he was 30 lbs lighter).

Sounds like a 4-3 DE to me. Not many LBs have ever played at that weight successfully before. Kirkland but he was a freak's freak physically. You have to have instincts at LB and have decent lateral movement along with quickness. Not all 4.7s are the same.

 

[Vintage]

We are going to have an awesomely slow LB group that cannot cover.

Ware and Ellis on the outside; Brooking and James on the inside.

Good thing Ware is closing in on diety status. We're gonna need that.

 

[Bluefin]

In an effort to leave no stone unturned, what about taking Corey Mays to camp for the minimum and see if he can play inside in the 3-4?

He's a good special teams player at the least, might be worth a look.

 

[dallasfaniac]

You could add Marques Harris and Keyaron Fox to that list. Both are standout special team players and Keyaron was very good at coverage in college, with some suggesting he move to safety, although he's bulked up since.

 

[TheCount]

When is his rookie contract over? It seems like he's been here for 10 years:laugh2:

You ain't kidding. I think there's 6 more years left on his contract... wait, it just went to 7.

 

[Big Country]

Dude..............

I just want to see an dominating inside force in the middle, if it happens this year, color me happy

He had some of his best years working in Wade's 3-4. Are you insane?

I guess so. I just don't remember much of his playing in the 3-4 at Atl, and I haven't compared any stats yet in his playing seasons... KB had some good years and is a quality guy, but I'm just thinking like some that he's not going to be much of an upgrade. He's played for Wade before and in a 3-4 so obviously there's some familiarity. If he proves me wrong, fine. I'll be glad to thaw out some crow next season if he plays good.

Yup. He's a tweener. No real position, he's just a football playing fool. The real interesting thing about the guy is that he was recruited to Iowa to play LB.


He grew into a DL, at the college level. But he is real physical, mean, quick, explosive, intense and plays 1000% all the time. He has off the chart intangibles. Very vocal leader.


Tom Landry tried to make Randy White a MLB, I think Landry would try to do the same with Mitch King. And maybe succeed this time.


Mitch King was running 4.7's at 270, that is the same 40 that James ran in school (but he was 30 lbs lighter).

sounds like a non-stop kind of guy... those are good to stock up on...

 

[unionjack8]

Tom Landry did nOT try to make Randy White a MLB. He was a MLB coming out of college who transitioned into a DT after his first season in the pros.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Randy was a lineman at Maryland. Brandt and Landry envisioned him as a Butkus-type MLB, but it just wasn't his natural position.

 

[speedkilz88]

Tom Landry did nOT try to make Randy White a MLB. He was a MLB coming out of college who transitioned into a DT after his first season in the pros.

Uh no, Randy White played DE at Maryland. The Cowboys already had Harvey Martin and Ed Jones at end so he tried to make him a MLB. When he finally realized he couldn't play there he tried him at DT and the rest was history.