FWST Blog: Now What? Middle Linebacker

[jobberone]

Jasper Brinkley. I just think he's going to go a lot higher than everyone thinks.

I wish.

 

[BAT]

I take King w/ our 1st, 4th rounder and not look back

you sacrifice girth for speed w/ him, but this D is built on speed anyways, he would be deadly in our 1-gap scheme, because he has extraordinarily quick hands to slap away blockers, to redirect inside, combine that w/ his non-stop motor, and you'll be needing to give him extra attention

I was surprised at how violent his hand punches/slaps were. He plays like a raging beast, we need more of that. He would fit in well with Rat & Ware.



I would not use the first 4th on him, maybe not even any of the 4ths (too many needs), but I would burn the first 5th and not look back either. Cowboys need more "football playing dudes", they have enough "talent" (whatever the heck that means).



Measurables are overrated IMO.

 

[NextGenBoys]

It happens with other LBs.

It doesn't happen with guys who record 20 sacks, especially when no one else on the line is a particular threat.

Again, my original point wasn't that it could never happen, it was that if it did someone screwed up large - beyond just being outschemed on a particular play.

Its like single covering TO - sure it happens, SF tried it. Look what happened - nobody else did.

Why is this so hard to understand that certain players you are just not going to "scheme" to be un-accounted for, unless you have multiple other threats to worry about, which we don't, or the other guy is an idiot?

And LT did fine in Parcell's system....

Shawn Merriman recorded 17 sacks in 12 games I believe.

Ever see the video of him getting stoned by MJD in the backfield? Guess what, he came in clean on that play. Its the whole point of drawing up exotic blitzes, is to get your best pass rusher a free target or a mismatch.

And for the record, Belichick was the defensive mind on those Giants teams, not Parcells. LT's success is due to Parcells motivating him, and staying on him, and Belichick's X's and O's

 

[NextGenBoys]

I was surprised at how violent his hand punches/slaps were. He plays like a raging beast, we need more of that. He would fit in well with Rat & Ware.



I would not use the first 4th on him, maybe not even any of the 4ths (too many needs), but I would burn the first 5th and not look back either. Cowboys need more "football playing dudes", they have enough "talent" (whatever the heck that means).



Measurables are overrated IMO.

I think drafting King would be like back in 06 when people wanted us to draft Chad Greenway. I love my Hawkeyes, but they're just not a good fit. King is already undersized for a 4-3 DT, let alone a 3-4.

Now your original statement about him playing MLB is intruiging. Like I said he did play it in high school, but watching him play every week I see a different story. I think he would playing out of position on this team, almost like Bobby Carpenter, but even more so.

Actually, you just gave me a idea for a feature story that I can write for our athletics website. I'll try to get a quick interview w/ him over the phone.

 

[wileedog]

Shawn Merriman recorded 17 sacks in 12 games I believe.

Ever see the video of him getting stoned by MJD in the backfield? Guess what, he came in clean on that play. Its the whole point of drawing up exotic blitzes, is to get your best pass rusher a free target or a mismatch.

One example of someone screwing up. Again, I never said it doesn't happen, I said it doesn't happen unless someone made a terrible mistake, and I'm pretty darn sure the plan wasn't to have a RB one on one with Merriman. Did it happen again that game? Did it happen again all season?

And for the record, Belichick was the defensive mind on those Giants teams, not Parcells. LT's success is due to Parcells motivating him, and staying on him, and Belichick's X's and O's

I'm so not starting a Parcells argument again. You can't make me!

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Shawn Merriman recorded 17 sacks in 12 games I believe.

Ever see the video of him getting stoned by MJD in the backfield? Guess what, he came in clean on that play. Its the whole point of drawing up exotic blitzes, is to get your best pass rusher a free target or a mismatch.

And for the record, Belichick was the defensive mind on those Giants teams, not Parcells. LT's success is due to Parcells motivating him, and staying on him, and Belichick's X's and O's

Remember that MNF game where Merriman got multiple sacks against the Raiders? It was amazing how often he was singled up on a TE or even a little running back. Once, the center had to try to get out to the edge and wasn't able to for a total gimme sack. That's scheming specifically to get favorable matchups. I remember watching that game and thinking, "Why don't we ever do that?"

Now the Raiders OC stunk, I admit that. But it's not the only time that's happened, either.

And I was just kidding, wilee. I was afraid you'd take a Parcells comment personally!

 

[wileedog]

Now the Raiders OC stunk, I admit that. But it's not the only time that's happened, either.

My entire point.

And IIRC wasn't Merriman still a rookie that season? Not necessarily someone like Ware is now who would be schemed against specifically.

Also keep in mind that SD had multiple pass rushers who were very good. We have Ratlif who is good up the middle, but really just coming into his own this season, and Brady seemed to come on late when Wade took over. Ellis slid considerably this year and Spencer certainly doesn't scare anyone yet.

Seriously, what scheme are you going to create next season that is going to make me take my eye off Demarcus Ware to make sure Keith Brooking doesn't come free?

And I was just kidding, wilee. I was afraid you'd take a Parcells comment personally!

I know, it was pure reflex that I answered.

It might take me a few years to get over T.O. threads too....

 

[BAT]

I think drafting King would be like back in 06 when people wanted us to draft Chad Greenway. I love my Hawkeyes, but they're just not a good fit. King is already undersized for a 4-3 DT, let alone a 3-4.

Now your original statement about him playing MLB is intruiging. Like I said he did play it in high school, but watching him play every week I see a different story. I think he would playing out of position on this team, almost like Bobby Carpenter, but even more so.

Actually, you just gave me a idea for a feature story that I can write for our athletics website. I'll try to get a quick interview w/ him over the phone.

I hope you post it here as well, or let me know where I can find it. I wish the kid luck, there are not enough people with his kind of intensity, let alone football players.