ILB What do you think about Stephen Hodge?

[BulletBob]

I know its early but can Stephen Hodge be the next Zach Thomas

Yes, I think from what we've seen so far, it is completely reasonable and logical to think so.

In fact, we should lock him up into a $10+million-a-year long-term contract right now so that no one else lures him away in 5 years.

 

[CF74]

I think that had more to do with Wade having him rush the passer more and using the 46 defense. we saw some of that in Bradie in 2007 than he got better in 2008.

There was talk about how Zack worked out like a beast in camp last year, not just weights but everything else and how Bradie learned a lot from him. Yeah Wade taking over the D made a difference to but you dissed one of the best lb's to play the game, maybe TOP 20-30 range. Currently Bradie might crack top 50, maybe...

 

[Avenging Hayseed]

Dissing zach Thomas is wayyyyyy dumb. The guy played smart, ALL the time. Knew what he was supposed to do instead of being lost in the sauce half the time like some of the others. A real pro's pro. AND........On his WORST day he was still worlds better then that bum he replaced Ayodel. Go check the stats yourself. An entire season for Ayodel is the equivilent to what Zach would normally put up in HALF a season...LMAO. He was surely an upgrade over Ayodel. So is Brooking.

 

[Rampage]

There was talk about how Zack worked out like a beast in camp last year, not just weights but everything else and how Bradie learned a lot from him. Yeah Wade taking over the D made a difference to but you dissed one of the best lb's to play the game, maybe TOP 20-30 range. Currently Bradie might crack top 50, maybe...

Zach wasn't a top 50 linebacker as a cowboy.

 

[jobberone]

Zach is not a Mo at least anymore. But he was far from awful and almost anyone would be better than Akin.

Brooking will be a better Mo if he can stay healthy. We have 14 LBs on board with a lot of competition. Hopefully two or three will step up at the Mo and in SPs.

I'm more worried about the Mike.

 

[PullMyFinger]

Zach is not a Mo at least anymore. But he was far from awful and almost anyone would be better than Akin.

Brooking will be a better Mo if he can stay healthy. We have 14 LBs on board with a lot of competition. Hopefully two or three will step up at the Mo and in SPs.

I'm more worried about the Mike.

Ya me too. I think the Mo will be fine.

 

[jobberone]

Ya me too. I think the Mo will be fine.

I don't know if it will be fine but Brooking will play well. I'm worried that Wade's 3-4 creates vulnerability for the ILBs though. With our NT not covering the interior linemen as much as some 3-4s in the league, they need to be able to get off and/or evade OL well. And the Mo has to do that and cover more than the Mike which is a difficult task for either.

James plays well in our scheme. He's better than solid. But who's behind him?

 

[BAT]

Zach practically lead the team in tackles and his mere presence and work ethic elevated Bradie James' play to the point many felt Bradie got snubbed in the Pro Bowl. It was a huge success because now Bradie is a playing to his full potential, I just hope he doesn't fall back to his old ways of sub-mediocrity...

Zach was not that far behind James in total tackles, and he did that as a TWO down LBer. James played all 3 downs.


Anyone who considers Thomas' performance as a Cowboy a failure is seriously delusional.

 

[theWave21]

Zach wasn't a top 50 linebacker as a cowboy.

Zach is the polar opposite of most of the guys on this team, a hard-nosed, hard-working, smart player who "brings it" each and every day. If he didn't have that approach to the game, he'd never have made it in the NFL. He may have lost a step but if the rest of the guys on the defensive unit shared his approach, maybe they'd be a top 5 unit, which they are on paper every year at this time.

 

[CF74]

Zach was not that far behind James in total tackles, and he did that as a TWO down LBer. James played all 3 downs.


Anyone who considers Thomas' performance as a Cowboy a failure is seriously delusional.

Excellent point and I concur, anyone who says Zach sucks doesn't know what they are talking about.

 

[jobberone]

Zach did lose a step and for a Mo he's too much a liability in the passing game. He also doesn't fit here where the interior OL isn't covered most of the time. He's too small to fight off big lineman consistently. That's not his game.