Leighton Vander Esch

[OmerV]

Where were the tackles? I don't recall exactly, but sometimes that is misleading. 7 tackles 12 yards downfield is different than 7 at or behind the LOS. Not a criticism, just a question.

Some were when he was back in pass coverage and he peeled off his area to tackle a receiver, so those naturally were a little further beyond the line of scrimmage (5-8 yards?), but some where at or near the line of scrimmage, and at least one was at the sideline where he showed his range. He obviously is still learning, but he definitely showed the athleticism the team anticipated when they drafted him, and the thing that struck me was how sure his tackles are. He breaks down instead of overrunning plays, and he wraps up the ball carrier.

 

[Mr_437]

More snaps

 

[glimmerman]

I didn't realize this but he had 7 tackles in the game against the Giants.

Not too bad for his second game.

He was tackling barkley better than anyone else. I was so sick of us having him for a loss and the first guy don’t get him down and he would make it back to the LOS.

 

[Redball Express]

I didn't realize this but he had 7 tackles in the game against the Giants.

Not too bad for his second game.

Seems like he was in on passing downs as a Spy LBer.

He is a very important player that needs as many reps as he can get.

 

[T-RO]

Plus Lee is nearing retirement possibly

Yeah. He’s 32. Lotta hits on that body.

 

[CATCH17]

Leighton Vander Esch is not surprising me, would love to see him start forcing some turn-overs.

Yeah.

I think it's going to be tough for him to really perform as long as Lee and Jaylon are on the field.

I'm sure he will be called a bust several more times throughout this process but if he plays he's going to be pretty good.

2 minute drill I think i'd rather have him on the field then either of our backers. He's just too good in space.

 

[cern]

give him a year and he'll be really good. Plus Lee is nearing retirement possibly

if vander esch continues to play well, it could extend lee's career. nice to give him a rest and not see a discernible drop in production.

 

[cern]

Yeah.

I think it's going to be tough for him to really perform as long as Lee and Jaylon are on the field.

I'm sure he will be called a bust several more times throughout this process but if he plays he's going to be pretty good.

2 minute drill I think i'd rather have him on the field then either of our backers. He's just too good in space.

against the giants he played at all 3 of the lb positions. I see his opportunities increasing. most surprising was the play of Damien Wilson. it's as if someone lit a fire under his butt.

 

[CATCH17]

if vander esch continues to play well, it could extend lee's career. nice to give him a rest and not see a discernible drop in production.

I would love to see us keep Lee around and just make him a limited player.

Who knows how long he could play if he was just limited more.

 

[jrumann59]

Only issue I saw was he was fast to the ball a little slow on the tackle. My guess he is still thinking instead of playing.

 

[Knotamus]

According to nfl play by play
2 yards (run)
11 yards (pass)
4 yards (pass)
11 yards (pass)
7 yards (pass)
5 yards (pass)
8 yards (pass)

So they used LVE as a coverage LB. Wow! What a concept. That’s exactly why they drafted him. Predraft reviews stated he would be very good as a coverage Lb. In this league, Lbers at his height and size that can still run in coverage is held to a premium. Now of course we’d like to see him make plays like Jaylons big hit on Eli, but he is a rookie and will continue to learn and get stronger. Till then, Dallas (Marenilli or Richard) played him to his current strength perfectly.

Nice job young man.

 

[texbumthelife]

Where were the tackles? I don't recall exactly, but sometimes that is misleading. 7 tackles 12 yards downfield is different than 7 at or behind the LOS. Not a criticism, just a question.

He's a coverage backer being asked to read and react from a back pedal. At least this season, I would expect most of his tackles to be 3-5 yards beyond the LOS.

 

[Fontaine]

Our LBs are looking great.

They need get as much knowledge from Lee now as they can before he calls it a career.

 

[HungryLion]

I was impressed by his tackling.

He isn’t a thumper. He doesn’t seem like the type that is going to blow somebody up. However, he used excellent form. He kept his face up, wrapped up and drove through the body to take people down.

Excellent form.

 

[ghst187]

Yeah.

I think it's going to be tough for him to really perform as long as Lee and Jaylon are on the field.

I'm sure he will be called a bust several more times throughout this process but if he plays he's going to be pretty good.

2 minute drill I think i'd rather have him on the field then either of our backers. He's just too good in space.

He's already contributing positively with no complaints, even on this board, about his play thus far. So right now looking like a draft win. As long as he keeps improving, avoids major injuries, he looks like a good decision.

 

[OmerV]

I was impressed by his tackling.

He isn’t a thumper. He doesn’t seem like the type that is going to blow somebody up. However, he used excellent form. He kept his face up, wrapped up and drove through the body to take people down.

Excellent form.

The one's intent on blowing someone up are often the ones that miss tackles. Not a LB, but Wilcox was like that. He definitely could blow someone up, but in his zeal to do so he often missed tackles or took bad angles or wasn't ready when a cut was made.

 

[blueblood70]

dude only played like 2 quarters as well..so he showed up pretty well with limited snaps..we went from 2017 crying about Depth and Lack of ability at LB and now after letting Hitch and what 2 others walk, and add a much criticized draft pick in Jsmith/ LVE, bring back what was joke at first in Joe Thomas and Wilson sucked posts etc to this is a strong group..capable backups and interchangeable starters..not bad for a FO that was ripped for not paying Hitch..Hitch is playing well but we saved 9mil per to use somewhere else..Wilson has done well in his place, SO FAR..

 

[TheRomoSexual]

LVE may never be some all-world player, but I think his floor is pretty high and I have little doubt he'll a cornerstone of our defense for many years a la Ellis

 

[McKDaddy]

And most of those were him tackling Barkley by himself down at first contact. No I didn’t see him miss a single tackle

I thought he kinda missed one (hit, guy spun, hanging on to a foot til next guy got there) but i could be wrong

I will give him credit though as I believe he was the only person who made a solo tackle on Barkley

 

[OmerV]

I thought he kinda missed one (hit, guy spun, hanging on to a foot til next guy got there) but i could be wrong

I will give him credit though as I believe he was the only person who made a solo tackle on Barkley

I don't consider hanging on to the ball carrier until help gets there a missed tackle. It's an assisted tackle statistically.