Is LB the weakest part of our defense?

[JoeyBoy718]

Just saw another thread showing how the lowest rated players on defense last year were Wilber, Holloman and Carter. Not to mention, Sean Lee hasn't played a full season since high school.I'm just wondering if LB might be the weakest part of our defense.

If I was a betting man, I'd say Lee misses 4+ games this season. Carter has the potential to be a bust and off the roster mid season. And our only other LBers are 2nd year Holloman and a guy without a true position in Wilber.

I'm starting to think we're much more set on DL and the secondary than LB. And I think we're awful on DL and secondary.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Just saw another thread showing how the lowest rated players on defense last year were Wilber, Holloman and Carter. Not to mention, Sean Lee hasn't played a full season since high school.I'm just wondering if LB might be the weakest part of our defense.

If I was a betting man, I'd say Lee misses 4+ games this season. Carter has the potential to be a bust and off the roster mid season. And our only other LBers are 2nd year Holloman and a guy without a true position in Wilber.

I'm starting to think we're much more set on DL and the secondary than LB. And I think we're awful on DL and secondary.

There's some merit in thinking that the worst unit on the team is the linebacking corp. Outside of Lee it didn't perform well last season.

But here's something to keep in mind, the only defensive lineman on the roster who had a positive rating (per PFF) in 2013 is Jeremy Mincey.

Really.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

There's some merit in thinking that the worst unit on the team is the linebacking corp. Outside of Lee it didn't perform well last season.

But here's something to keep in mind, the only defensive lineman on the roster who had a positive rating (per PFF) in 2013 is Jeremy Mincey.

Really.

Man, our defense is in bad shape. I want to have hope but it's hard. There's almost no position of strength.

 

[Alexander]

I'm starting to think we're much more set on DL and the secondary than LB. And I think we're awful on DL and secondary.

If I am ranking the units, the LB corps is actually second to the DL. The front seven was the biggest problem we had last year. No pressure from the first level, poor diagnosis on the second level and the third level was just trying to survive what was coming at them.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

If I am ranking the units, the LB corps is actually second to the DL. The front seven was the biggest problem we had last year. No pressure from the first level, poor diagnosis on the second level and the third level was just trying to survive what was coming at them.

Starting to think Shazier wouldn't be a bad idea if Barr and Donald are gone at 16.

 

[Alexander]

Starting to think Shazier wouldn't be a bad idea if Barr and Donald are gone at 16.

Carter was a problem whether people want to admit it or not. Since I am all but convinced Barr/Donald are pipe dreams, I would be okay with Shazier, but only after trading down. He has the potential to be a Lavonte David type player, I am just not willing to gamble that choice on that. He is more of a trade down option for me.

 

[LatinMind]

The weakest part of the defense has been replaced. That was Kiffin.

There are bigger weaknesses than OLB

1tech
WDE
SDE
4thCB
FS

Kiffin played Carter in Dime situations because the CB posistion had 3 guys most of the yr. BW wasnt trusted. Thats like keeping Dunbar in to pass block. Something that just shouldnt be done. It seems like everybody involved in the NFL screamed about this every week. Just seems like the majority fo this forum doesnt understand that you cant have a OLB playing a CB posistion in passing downs and expect to be successful.

Carter had some bonehead plays, but Kiffin left him out to dry last yr.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Carter was a problem whether people want to admit it or not. Since I am all but convinced Barr/Donald are pipe dreams, I would be okay with Shazier, but only after trading down. He has the potential to be a Lavonte David type player, I am just not willing to gamble that choice on that. He is more of a trade down option for me.

I agree. If we could trade down and walk out with Shazier and Easley, that would be a huge win.

 

[Alexander]

The weakest part of the defense has been replaced. That was Kiffin.

If you are expecting a big difference in scheme with Marinelli, I hate to break the bad news to you. We will be doing the exact same things.

But maybe now the catchy and empowering nicknames will be attached to players other than the DL.

 

[LatinMind]

If you are expecting a big difference in scheme with Marinelli, I hate to break the bad news to you. We will be doing the exact same things.

But maybe now the catchy and empowering nicknames will be attached to players other than the DL.

The scheme is the exact same thing. Its the coaching that is changing. Marinelli's adjustments are whats changing.

 

[Risen Star]

The team lacks a ton of talent on the defensive side of the ball and they're weakest where it matters most. To lay it all on Monte Kiffin is a cop out.

 

[Idgit]

LBs were an issue once injuries accumulated, but that was mostly because of the weakness of the DL and the multiple players playing out of position. And, for the record, the PFF ranking data is not definitive.

If you are expecting a big difference in scheme with Marinelli, I hate to break the bad news to you. We will be doing the exact same things.

But maybe now the catchy and empowering nicknames will be attached to players other than the DL.

We didn't play, schematically, the defense we wanted to play much of last season. I fully expect to see more press/bail coverage if we improve the quality of DL snaps, have better S play somehow, aren't decimated with our coverage LBs, and can keep three CBs capable of playing adequate press coverage on the field. What we did against the Saints when Lee went out, for example, is not the defense we planned to go with at the start of the offseason when we switched to the Kiffin/Marinelli model.

 

[TrailBlazer]

The whole front seven was horrendous. But it starts upfront. Fix the dline first. Considering all the money and resources Jerry has put into LB's, he will give carter and lee all the chances he can.

 

[Bullflop]

No, linebacker isn't the weakest part of our defense -- the weakness is evenly distributed throughout.

 

[WhizKid]

Fix that line, play will improve throughout the D.

 

[pgreptom]

I'd say defensive line.

 

[dcowboysfan76]

Man, our defense is in bad shape. I want to have hope but it's hard. There's almost no position of strength.

Our defense is the weakest part of our defense, but fixable!

 

[Beast_from_East]

Just saw another thread showing how the lowest rated players on defense last year were Wilber, Holloman and Carter. Not to mention, Sean Lee hasn't played a full season since high school.I'm just wondering if LB might be the weakest part of our defense.

If I was a betting man, I'd say Lee misses 4+ games this season. Carter has the potential to be a bust and off the roster mid season. And our only other LBers are 2nd year Holloman and a guy without a true position in Wilber.

I'm starting to think we're much more set on DL and the secondary than LB. And I think we're awful on DL and secondary.

For last year I agree. However, for this year we have a gigantic hole at RDE.

Even Broaddus on the Draft Show mentioned that the team is really targeting RDE and that is where they see guys like Barr or Kony Ealy playing.

I will be very surprised if our 1st or 2nd round pick is not a RDE.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

For last year I agree. However, for this year we have a gigantic hole at RDE.

Even Broaddus on the Draft Show mentioned that the team is really targeting RDE and that is where they see guys like Barr or Kony Ealy playing.

I will be very surprised if our 1st or 2nd round pick is not a RDE.

Agreed.

I don't expect a Ware replacement... you know a guy who can come in and give you 14 sacks and 850 snaps.

No... I think a guy who can give maybe 400 snaps and 6 sacks while sharing the position with Selvie.

Plus I think another RDE will be drafted at some point, offering a 3 man rotation and possible splitting some time over on the left side.

 

[Leadbelly]

No, linebacker isn't the weakest part of our defense -- the weakness is evenly distributed throughout.

We'd like to be more balanced. More balanced in all three phases of the defense. We need to stack less embarrassing games on top of less embarrassing games. Our guys are competitors and they want to be adequate every Sunday. They just need to focus on the task at hand and work within their role, week in and week out. But we're focused on playing the San Diego Chargers August 7th. That's what we're focused on.