Linebacker roles starting to become defined

[Galian Beast]

Brinkley's contract: 2 year, $4.5 Million, with $1.25 Million signing bonus. $750,000 of his first year base salary is guaranteed. Total $2M guaranteed. He'll definitely make the team.

Gachkar's contract: 2 year, $5.2 Million, with $1.2 Million signing bonus. Base salaries $1M first year, $3M second year. Total $1.2 Million guaranteed. He's likely to make the team at least one year.

Those contracts aren't peanuts, especially Brinkley's. They're planning on using those guys.

Both of them were brought in to fill specific roles. Brinkley is backup veteran depth He makes the team this year, but his guarantee doesn't help him moving forward. Gackhar was specifically brought in to help the special teams. He is supposed to be a special teams ACE.

 

[Galian Beast]

And the first thing Matt Eberflus said today is that Nickel LBs need to be able to play all 3 downs.

LBs now have to be athletic enough to do everything.



Very true.

My question is how many MIKEs will dress each week?

Will Jasper Brinkley suit up when Rolando McClain does also, or just when he doesn't or is questionable with an injury?

The team typically takes 6 LBs to the game.

1. Sean Lee
2. Rolando McClain
3. Anthony Hitchens
4. Andrew Gachkar
5. Damien Wilson
6. ?

Will Brinkley offer enough versatility to claim the last spot over the option(s)?

I think you'll see Brinkley suit up more than Wilson in year 1.

 

[BAT]

Brinkley is a solid veteran 2 down LB. He is not nearly as bad in coverage as Bradie James. Brinkley can carry receivers across the formation reasonably well, he's just never going to be a Nickel LB.

I agree that when they signed him they were not expecting RoMc to return.

Being described as a 2 down LB does not bode well for Brinkley. Especially when there are 3 guys who can back up Ro AND play all 3 downs, 4 if you include Gachkar. But from Eberflus' comments Lee, Hitchens and Wilson are clearly in front of Brinkley. How it shakes out in TC and preseason is another story.

 

[gmoney112]

And the first thing Matt Eberflus said today is that Nickel LBs need to be able to play all 3 downs.

LBs now have to be athletic enough to do everything.



Very true.

My question is how many MIKEs will dress each week?

Will Jasper Brinkley suit up when Rolando McClain does also, or just when he doesn't or is questionable with an injury?

The team typically takes 6 LBs to the game.

1. Sean Lee
2. Rolando McClain
3. Anthony Hitchens
4. Andrew Gachkar
5. Damien Wilson
6. ?

Will Brinkley offer enough versatility to claim the last spot over the option(s)?

Brinkley and Wilber will be a good training camp battle, although personally I hope Keith Rivers shows up, that guy is really athletic.

 

[Galian Beast]

Being described as a 2 down LB does not bode well for Brinkley. Especially when there are 3 guys who can back up Ro AND play all 3 downs, 4 if you include Gachkar. But from Eberflus' comments Lee, Hitchens and Wilson are clearly in front of Brinkley. How it shakes out in TC and preseason is another story.

His money is guaranteed for the year. He is making the team. We have a lot of linebackers and that will help fill roles that he can not fill himself.

The biggest question mark on this roster is who is going to play the SAM. Nzeocha might be able to start there as a rookie with his makeup.

 

[BAT]

His money is guaranteed for the year. He is making the team. We have a lot of linebackers and that will help fill roles that he can not fill himself.

The biggest question mark on this roster is who is going to play the SAM. Nzeocha might be able to start there as a rookie with his makeup.

Unless he is part of a trade. Looking forward to the competition at SAM too.

 

[Galian Beast]

Unless he is part of a trade. Looking forward to the competition at SAM too.

Not sure anyone is going to trade for this guy.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

This isn't Madden.....is it?


The talent on the roster is like fantasy.

 

[jobberone]

I think its these 8, barring injury. Gachkar and Wilson are primarily Special Teamers and we keep an extra player at LB to take the Dwayne Harris jack of all trades ST roster spot.

Lee
McClain
Hitchens
Wilson
Gachkar
Brinkley
Rivers
Kyle Wilber

I'm not certain how long we go at LB if any. It appears we will go 7 but I think they will still cut some players with guaranteed money like Brinkley if they have younger players who show enough promise esp if they can cover.

It seems we are weak enough at DT and CB that we could go long at both positions. Jones can play CB/S but people need to remember he's a rookie. They make mistakes some big ones.

If you have 25 on D then you only have so much pie. You have to have 8 DL, 6 LBs, 5 CBs, and 4 S. That gives you 2 maybe 3 more players on D. I seriously doubt they will count on Jones as both a CB and a S. Too green.

 

[Awakened]

I'm not certain how long we go at LB if any. It appears we will go 7 but I think they will still cut some players with guaranteed money like Brinkley if they have younger players who show enough promise esp if they can cover.

It seems we are weak enough at DT and CB that we could go long at both positions. Jones can play CB/S but people need to remember he's a rookie. They make mistakes some big ones.

If you have 25 on D then you only have so much pie. You have to have 8 DL, 6 LBs, 5 CBs, and 4 S. That gives you 2 maybe 3 more players on D. I seriously doubt they will count on Jones as both a CB and a S. Too green.

So you think Jerry would give a guy $2M guaranteed and cut him before the season starts??? You cra cra.

 

[jobberone]

So you think Jerry would give a guy $2M guaranteed and cut him before the season starts??? You cra cra.

I think its unlikely but the team and league are trying harder to find cover LBs who can play the run. That's difficult. As far as Brinkley goes I'm a fan but he's not a cover LB so he's limited. The league demands you be able to cover all three downs now.

I see Brinkley as a backup who is primarily a thumper. Everytime he hits the field good teams ie QBs are going to look to expose him with a mismatch.

It's just basically impossible to have six guys who can play the run and cover as well. It's hard to have three. You can see the acquisition of talent at LBer and notice they are looking for more guys who are athletic enough to cover and at least play the Nickel and other SPs. The league's offenses are creating niches for LBers.

While I'm not offended at all, others may be with the cra cra thingy.

 

[Awakened]

I think its unlikely but the team and league are trying harder to find cover LBs who can play the run. That's difficult. As far as Brinkley goes I'm a fan but he's not a cover LB so he's limited. The league demands you be able to cover all three downs now.

I see Brinkley as a backup who is primarily a thumper. Everytime he hits the field good teams ie QBs are going to look to expose him with a mismatch.

It's just basically impossible to have six guys who can play the run and cover as well. It's hard to have three. You can see the acquisition of talent at LBer and notice they are looking for more guys who are athletic enough to cover and at least play the Nickel and other SPs. The league's offenses are creating niches for LBers.

While I'm not offended at all, others may be with the cra cra thingy.

Glad you're not offended!

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Brinkley and Wilber will be a good training camp battle, although personally I hope Keith Rivers shows up, that guy is really athletic.

Keith Rivers has problematic hamstring and soft tissue problems a la Matt Johnson if not to that degree. From what I understand he shortened his stride and doesn't run all out anymore

 

[xwalker]

Keith Rivers has problematic hamstring and soft tissue problems a la Matt Johnson if not to that degree. From what I understand he shortened his stride and doesn't run all out anymore

That's what Miles Austin did. He quit running full speed in an attempt to prevent the hamstring injuries.

 

[jobberone]

Not running fast when you need to is such a sound idea.