How crazy of an idea is it to move Lee to WLB

[tm1119]

With Carter's struggles and Lee's inability to stay healthy I think this move makes sense. Plus I think it highlights Lee's strengths of playing in space rather than taking bigger blockers on 1-on-1. We would need to plug someone in the middle of course, but I think some rookies in the 2nd or 3rd could fill that hole well. Plus it would create a competition at SLB between Carter, Wilber, and Holloman. Helping us get the best 11 on the field.

So too ballsy of a move or does any of that rambling make sense?

 

[jobberone]

Why would you want to move a Pro Bowl equivalent player to another position when that's one of the most important on the club? Second who are you going to put at that critical spot that will play as well or nearly as well as the current Mike?

You need to get Carter to play better or replace him. The Will has to be able to support the run and cover well. They all do. You can't put Ray Nitschke in there these days. You have to cover to play LB and play the run well.

Teaching a rookie to play the Mike in this defense is problematic.

 

[Redball Express]

With Carter's struggles and Lee's inability to stay healthy I think this move makes sense. Plus I think it highlights Lee's strengths of playing in space rather than taking bigger blockers on 1-on-1. We would need to plug someone in the middle of course, but I think some rookies in the 2nd or 3rd could fill that hole well. Plus it would create a competition at SLB between Carter, Wilber, and Holloman. Helping us get the best 11 on the field.

So too ballsy of a move or does any of that rambling make sense?

I think Lee needs to stay on the stationary bike until after the trade deadline..

..then maybe he will be ready to play the last 9 games or so for a change healthy.

 

[sbark]

I've thought Carter, who fared well at a MLB'r spot last yr in the 3-4, the strong side Idurants) spot would be a better fit for him............and Holloman, a college safety and lots of speed, nose for the ball would be a fit at the weak side, Leaving Lee in the Middle.

 

[tm1119]

Why would you want to move a Pro Bowl equivalent player to another position when that's one of the most important on the club? Second who are you going to put at that critical spot that will play as well or nearly as well as the current Mike?

You need to get Carter to play better or replace him. The Will has to be able to support the run and cover well. They all do. You can't put Ray Nitschke in there these days. You have to cover to play LB and play the run well.

Teaching a rookie to play the Mike in this defense is problematic.

That's kinda my point. One could rather easily argue that the WIL is a more important position than MLB in Rod's scheme. More responsibility and more ground to cover that could utilize Lee better.

 

[jobberone]

I've thought Carter, who fared well at a MLB'r spot last yr in the 3-4, the strong side Idurants) spot would be a better fit for him............and Holloman, a college safety and lots of speed, nose for the ball would be a fit at the weak side, Leaving Lee in the Middle.

Carter is having problems in coverage and also getting stuck in traffic. When he makes a play its electric. What I get rather annoyed at is watching him trotting after his receiver whom everyone else is chasing.

 

[jobberone]

That's kinda my point. One could rather easily argue that the WIL is a more important position than MLB in Rod's scheme. More responsibility and more ground to cover that could utilize Lee better.

Well, I suppose you can look at it that way but actually the Mike has more responsibility. However, all the LBers have to cover. Teams look for slow LBers to match up on and will change a play in a skinny minute to take advantage of it. They see a nickel or dime then they may run at it. That's why teams like SF who have very good or better read 3 down LBers do well. Those guys don't grow on trees.

I thought Carter was going to be able to deliver that. Well not last year.

 

[RS12]

Not crazy at all if they draft Mosley from Bama. Strengthens the D in two spots.

 

[tm1119]

Well, I suppose you can look at it that way but actually the Mike has more responsibility. However, all the LBers have to cover. Teams look for slow LBers to match up on and will change a play in a skinny minute to take advantage of it. They see a nickel or dime then they may run at it. That's why teams like SF who have very good or better read 3 down LBers do well. Those guys don't grow on trees.

I thought Carter was going to be able to deliver that. Well not last year.

Yeah but typically the mike covers less ground and I don't think it would be a problem for Lee to continue to call the defense from the WLB position. I'm not saying Lee hasn't been a very good MLB, but I'm just looking at ways to utilize his talents while trying to preserve him. Lee probably plays right around 230 which is pretty undersized for MLB, he's going to get beat up playing in the middle and he doesn't really have the frame for it.

 

[tm1119]

Not crazy at all if they draft Mosley from Bama. Strengthens the D in two spots.

Mosely, Skov, Borland, and Smallwood could all fill the role very well in my opinion.

 

[dcstands4]

With Carter's struggles and Lee's inability to stay healthy I think this move makes sense. Plus I think it highlights Lee's strengths of playing in space rather than taking bigger blockers on 1-on-1. We would need to plug someone in the middle of course, but I think some rookies in the 2nd or 3rd could fill that hole well. Plus it would create a competition at SLB between Carter, Wilber, and Holloman. Helping us get the best 11 on the field.

So too ballsy of a move or does any of that rambling make sense?

It's not the worst thing that could happen however I would still feel comfortable if he was able to make the calls at wlb . I think Holloman could be the Mike but keep Lee with the green helmet.

 

[Nirvana]

I think Holloman can start at Will over Carter, at least in the nickel. Wilber at Sam looks fine and should continue to improve. Lee is an excellent Mike, if he can just stay healthy. We need more depth in case something goes wrong, as it usually does. Durant is enough at Sam, Carter can back up the Will and Mike (and rotate in routinely - one of our better blitzers and pretty good against the run.) We need a high draft pick used on another LB. I am not a fan of Sims' play and hope an upgrade occurs.

 

[Zekeats]

Not that crazy cause Carter plays better in the middle

 

[Irvin88_4life]

I just think Carter needed more then a year to get back to 4-3 LB. He was coming on strong in a 3-4, but with the change maybe he was a slow learner. That said I fully expect him to be better this season.

He played like he was thinking too much, a year under his belt he will be better.

I still think we need to draft another LB

 

[jobberone]

Yeah but typically the mike covers less ground and I don't think it would be a problem for Lee to continue to call the defense from the WLB position. I'm not saying Lee hasn't been a very good MLB, but I'm just looking at ways to utilize his talents while trying to preserve him. Lee probably plays right around 230 which is pretty undersized for MLB, he's going to get beat up playing in the middle and he doesn't really have the frame for it.

Some of the time the Mike in Kiffin's D has to drop deep and cover 1/3 deep. He's also important in the intermediate patterns esp crossing the middle. I don't know how often the Mike will be in a traditional Tampa 2 deep coverage.

 

[Nirvana]

I just think Carter needed more then a year to get back to 4-3 LB. He was coming on strong in a 3-4, but with the change maybe he was a slow learner. That said I fully expect him to be better this season.

He played like he was thinking too much, a year under his belt he will be better.

I still think we need to draft another LB

I'm willing to keep Carter around and all that but I question if this guy is doing all he can in the film room or study of the playbook. He has all the talent and raw skill in the world. Something is off. I bet it's work ethic. I'd like to know more.

 

[Little Jr]

I would just switch lee and carter. The mlb in the 43 is close to what he was doing in the 34 than wlb in the 43.

 

[RW31]

Dump this crap...what a dumb idea.

 

[tm1119]

Dump this crap...what a dumb idea.

Thanks for the insight. Quality post here

 

[Fredd]

I'm willing to keep Carter around and all that but I question if this guy is doing all he can in the film room or study of the playbook. He has all the talent and raw skill in the world. Something is off. I bet it's work ethic. I'd like to know more.

It's Romo's fault...

seriously though, it is difficult to imagine putting Lee any place other than the Mike. I think the problem is more with Carter owning one of the LB spots and then letting the rotation take care of the rest...I would hope that they pick a LB in the draft but not before the 4th, so I don't see an impact there...I am not opposed to them taking one much higher as long as they are worthy of that pick, but I wouldn't want them to pick a LB with the intent of starting next year, unless they use a 1st or 2nd on a guy that deserves it (in other words, no reaches).