LINEBACKER OPTIONS? 3 of 5

[RealCowboyfan]

From the looks of the acquisitions in the off-season, Cowboys has the looks of the best linebacker corps in the NFL, hell we might be talking about the best linebacker depth in the NFL, and we also should see a whole lot of competition.

For The DALLAS COWBOYS LINEBACKER CORPS:::starspin

Demarcus Ware
Akin Adoyle
Bradie James
Bobby Carpenter
Al Singleton
Kevin Burnett
Ryan Fowler
Kai Parham
Scott Shanle
Rocky Boiman
John Saldi
JJ Horne
Oliver Hoyte
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My Predictions

Demarcus Ware- All out starter
Akin Adoyle- All out starter
Bradie James- All out starter
Bobby Carpenter- He beats out Al Singleton for starting position
Al Singleton- Situational Run-Stoper/Back-up Bobby Carpenter
Kevin Burnett- Back-up Bradie James
Scott Shanle- Back-up Akin Adoyle
Rocky Boiman- Back-up Demarcus Ware
John Saldi- Special Teams/Third String
Ryan Fowler- Special Teams/Third-String
Kai Parham- Practice Squad

_________________________________
John Saldi-
Son of former Dallas Cowboy, Jay Saldi, John hopes to follow in his father's footsteps and find success at the next level. The younger Saldi was a four-year letterman at Texas Tech where he finished his career with 213 tackles, 89 tackles for a loss, 29 sacks and nine interceptions. He also had four forced fumbles while recovering one and 12 passes defensed. As a redshirt freshman he was named the MAZDA Tangerine Bowl Team Defensive MVP after helping lead Tech to a 55-15 victory over Clemson and finishing with five tackles, one for a loss, an interception, four passes broken up and a sack. He was also named to the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention each year during his four years with the Red Raiders.
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Your Predictions

 

[Star Struck]

I like those predictions. Theres no questioning that we have some of the best LB depth in the league. I'm very excited to see Carp and Akin in the mix!

 

[RealCowboyfan]

I like those predictions. Theres no questioning that we have some of the best LB depth in the league. I'm very excited to see Carp and Akin in the mix!

Yeah. I want to see what pocket Quarterbacks going to do this year on our defense. Our Defense might be our offense some games.:starspin

 

[AtlCB]

Good write-up!

I beleve the Cowboys will only carry 8, maybe 9 linebackers. Kevin Burnett will backup DeMarcus Ware. Boiman and Shanle/Fowler will backup Ayodole and James. I think the team is very good and deep at OLB (if Burnett can stay healthy). THe starters at ILB are very good, but I don't likr the depth at that position.

 

[mitchell2254]

I think Parham will make the squad. Just a hunch. I like our crew this year. We are going to have all kinds of speed at the linebacker position and putting a healthy Singelton or Carpenter opposite Ware I think tackles are going to dread playing us.

 

[FLcowboy]

From the looks of the acquisitions in the off-season, Cowboys has the looks of the best linebacker corps in the NFL, hell we might be talking about the best linebacker depth in the NFL, and we also should see a whole lot of competition.

______________________________
My Predictions

Demarcus Ware- All out starter
Akin Adoyle- All out starter
Bradie James- All out starter
Bobby Carpenter- He beats out Al Singleton for starting position
Al Singleton- Situational Run-Stoper/Back-up Bobby Carpenter
Kevin Burnett- Back-up Bradie James
Scott Shanle- Back-up Akin Adoyle
Rocky Boiman- Back-up Demarcus Ware
John Saldi- Special Teams/Third String
Ryan Fowler- Special Teams/Third-String
Kai Parham- Practice Squad


Your Predictions

I would tend to agree with most if not all of your predictions except I think it will take Carpenter 3 or 4 games to get the speed of the game down. I look for him to crack the starting lineup then, say,maybe in the 5th game. Parcells has to have the best team on the field, coming out of the blocks as strong as he can because there aren't too many easy games.

The first two games with Jacksonville and Washington are both key. Then the bye. Tennessee, Philadlephia, and Houston then come, and all three will afford Carpenter a lot of playing time. I look for him to start in the Philly game.

 

[RealCowboyfan]

Good write-up!

I beleve the Cowboys will only carry 8, maybe 9 linebackers. Kevin Burnett will backup DeMarcus Ware. Boiman and Shanle/Fowler will backup Ayodole and James. I think the team is very good and deep at OLB (if Burnett can stay healthy). THe starters at ILB are very good, but I don't likr the depth at that position.

Thanks. I just heard Parcells say don't be suprise if he carries up to 10 Linebackers into the season. That would be the 10 I think would make it.

 

[AsthmaField]

Thanks. I just heard Parcells say don't be suprise if he carries up to 10 Linebackers into the season. That would be the 10 I think would make it.

Yeah, and the 10 that I think will make it are:

ROLB - Ware, Boiman
RILB - Ayodele, Burnett, Shanle
LILB - James, Fowler, Parham
LOLB - Carpenter, Al Singleton

I think that Burnett will give Ayodele a run for his money at the RILB position. Burnett is the most athletic LB we have on the roster, and he has the ability to be a true difference maker at that spot, which allows the player to simply flow to the ball. Something that Burnett would do exceptionally well. When Burnett blitzes, it's like he's shot out of a cannon. I remember a play last year where he was in for Ware and he came on a delay. He held up his man for a couple of beats and then, BAM, went right after the QB. He closed the gap like a CB and was on top of the QB before he had time to do anything but chunk the ball out of bounds. That one play showed what Kevin can be capable of if he stays healthy. He's dynamite. He doesn't have Ayodele's NFL experience, but he has more experience in our 3-4... and he's more gifted athletically than Akin... so it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see him take the spot. At the least, I think he'll be in on passing downs because of his excellent coverage skills. It very well might end up with Akin in on the first couple of downs and Burnett in on 3rd downs... and that'd be fine by me.

I don't think Parcells wants James replaced in the lineup. He has turned out to be very good in the 3-4 and just like at LSU, he's a terrific leader. So I don't see Bill lining up Burnett behind Bradie. I think Fowler and perhaps Parham will end up at the strongside ILB spot. Both are stout at the point of attack and both can take on guards as often as you like. I think either Parham or Fowler (or a combo of both) will give James breathers during games, keeping him fresh. I don't think Bradie will be out of the game very often though.

Ware should play nearly every down. He's a difference maker and as long as he's not too gassed, I think Bill will leave him in. Boiman has the smarts to play WOLB, and I think he has more athleticism than most think he does. Still, he'll play only to give breathers and of course he'll probably play on every special teams unit there is, and I think he'll be particularly good on kickoff coverage.

Carpenter is just such a great fit that I think he steps in from day 1 like Ware did last year. Plus, he did everything we'll ask of him while he was at The Ohio State University... so he's familiar with his assignments. He's smart, has NFL size and coverage ability already, plus he should be able to physically hold up... something that many rookie 3-4 SOLB's don't have. Behind him, Al Singleton has the experience and work ethic to play well anytime he gets the chance. Last season showed that he was playing better than anyone gave him credit for. When Al went out with his collar bone, there was a sharp dropoff from him to Scott "Nors loves me" Fujita. The run defense went to poo. Neither Scott nor Al was effective getting after the passer, so the dropoff there wasn't as noticable... but the run defense went to hell in a handbasket once Al went out. Carpenter is in a whole other galaxy when it comes to rushing the QB... and he should be very stout at the point of attack too... So I don't see him sitting for long. He should be stouter at the point of attack than Al... just as good if not better against the run... and light years ahead when it comes to rushing the QB.

Finally, I didn't list him, but Hoyte is a player I'm going to keep an eye on. He's slow like Parham, and like Parham he is simply a good football player. Put on pads and his 40 time gets a lot closer to the faster LB's times. He carries his pads extremely well, is afraid of nothing, and loves to play the game. He might not make it on the roster... but he just might make it too though.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Thanks. I just heard Parcells say don't be suprise if he carries up to 10 Linebackers into the season. That would be the 10 I think would make it.

Another reason why we'll only carry 8 DL.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

When Al went out with his collar bone, there was a sharp dropoff from him to Scott "Nors loves me" Fujita.

 

[ghst187]

i like how much bigger we got at LB...
Ayodele, Carp, Parham....
we also got MUCH deeper...last year we could barely field 4 quality LBs
If Burnett plays this year we should have a decent backup behind every starter at LB.

 

[HDC]

I don't think we'll carry 10...8 or 9 more likely. Anyhow, 1 or 2 of your 10 will likely be injured during preseason.

 

[baj1dallas]

I don't quite think they're all that good, there's a lot of unprovens. Ware will be good but he's not quite there yet. James should be solid but he's not a game changer. Ayodele will sweep up a lot of trash but he's not a difference maker either. That leaves Carpenter and Singleton to get the job done at the other side, one rookie and one guy who doesn't fit the system. Burnett and Boiman should be decent backups/special teams players and occasional situation players but that's it.

Nowhere near the experience and productivity of say New England or Pittsburgh.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Nice post.....you sure know our LB's

 

[big dog cowboy]

Nowhere near the experience and productivity of say New England or Pittsburgh.

NE's LB's......

LOLB Mike Vrabel - Eric Alexander
LILB Tedy Bruschi - Larry Izzo - Ryan Claridge
RILB Rosevelt Colvin - Tully Banta-Cain - Jeremy Mincey
ROLB Monty Beisel - Don Davis

I think our LB corp will production will come pretty close to matching that unit. Their starters are pretty good but overall I think we are not that far away any more.

Pitt's LB's........

LOLB Clark Haggans - James Harrison
LILB James Farrior - Clint Kriewaldt - Ronald Stanley
RILB Joey Porter - Andre Frazier - Arnold Harrison
ROLB Larry Foote - Rian Wallace - Richard Seigler

This is a group I admit I know very little of past their starters. I do know they are pretty darn good. It's interesting matching those groups to ours.

 

[RealCowboyfan]

LOLB Mike Vrabel
LOLB Demarcus Ware
LOLB Clark Haggans

WHO'S BETTER?_____
My Prediction:: MIKE VRABEL


Tedy Bruschi LILB
Akin Adoyle LILB
James Farrior LILB

WHO'S BETTER?_________
My prediction:: James Farrior



RILB Rosevelt Colvin
RILB Bradie James
RILB Joey Porter

WHO'S BETTER?__________
My Prediction:: Bradie James


ROLB Monty Beisel
ROLB Bobby Carpenter
ROLB Larry Foote

WHO'S BETTER?____________
My Prediction:: N/A From looking at Bobby Carpenter clips I would say him but it's premature to do so.

 

[RealCowboyfan]

LOLB Mike Vrabel
LOLB Demarcus Ware
LOLB Clark Haggans

WHO'S BETTER?_____
My Prediction:: MIKE VRABEL


Tedy Bruschi LILB
Akin Adoyle LILB
James Farrior LILB

WHO'S BETTER?_________
My prediction:: James Farrior



RILB Rosevelt Colvin
RILB Bradie James
RILB Joey Porter

WHO'S BETTER?__________
My Prediction:: Bradie James


ROLB Monty Beisel
ROLB Bobby Carpenter
ROLB Larry Foote

WHO'S BETTER?____________
My Prediction:: N/A From looking at Bobby Carpenter clips I would say him but it's premature to do so.

We have the best depth at linebacker in the NFL.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I think the depth at DL and LB will allow us to rotate players frequently and freely, specially with all the versatility we have. then we can pressure the opposing offense the whole game and wear them out by the 4th quarter. we did that with our depth on defense in 92 and 93. this defense is going to come after you full force the whole game. one mistake and the offense pays.

much like the offense, this defense can run multiple formations using the same personnel, which makes it much harder for the offense to get set and run their plays.

but given the youth, they will make mistakes early one. this is going to be a top 5 defense by the end of the season.

 

[RealCowboyfan]

I think the depth at DL and LB will allow us to rotate players frequently and freely, specially with all the versatility we have. then we can pressure the opposing offense the whole game and wear them out by the 4th quarter. we did that with our depth on defense in 92 and 93. this defense is going to come after you full force the whole game. one mistake and the offense pays.

much like the offense, this defense can run multiple formations using the same personnel, which makes it much harder for the offense to get set and run their plays.

but given the youth, they will make mistakes early one. this is going to be a top 5 defense by the end of the season.

That's a pretty good point.:starspin

 

[Yakuza Rich]

My only thing is that I believe that Oliver Hoyt will beat out John Saldi and become a special teams demon.



Rich.......