Linebacker

[xwalker]

The Linebacker position is a question mark.

I focused on Brinkley in the Vikings game. He has been the biggest disappointment in the preseason from the perspective that they've had him as 3rd string. He actually looked OK against the Vikings. He plays a very conservative style almost like he feels like the last line of defense against the run. He has good size and can really jolt OLinemen when they block him and he discarded a block by a TE easily for a nice hit on a RB. He also had a nice blitz to get in on a sack. He appears to have a decent feel for zone coverage and he's moving around OK. I need to review the first 2 games but I recall him being out of position or slow to react. That was better against the Vikings but maybe he was more fired up because it was his old team. Some have said he didn't play special teams but I did see him out there a couple of times. It could have been more but I don't really focus on ST in the preseason. He was guaranteed 2M, so it won't be an easy decision to cut him.

Wilson is the opposite of Brinkley. He is overly aggressive which can be exciting but he also allows himself to get boxed out which is bad.

Gachkar looked his best at MLB but is probably in line to play SLB unless Hitchens is not ready for game 1.

Wilber is often the target of criticism by people here, but he generally looks like a steady but limited player.

Keith Smith has a shot to make the team. He appears to be really good on special teams and has looked decent at LB. I would prefer him over McCray as special teams only type player.

Lee is obviously terrific. Hopefully playing WLB will be the key to keeping him healthy.

Hitchens has missed a lot of time. He was really good last season in both the base and the Nickel. He started 5 games with Carter on the bench at the beginning of those games. He is still a young player so missing this much time is not good.

RoMc will be out for 4 games. He is a bonus if he comes back and plays but I don't think anybody is depending on him at this point. It's interesting to get reinforcements back in week 5 with him and Hardy.

 

[conner01]

Keith smith seems to be a better lb than McCray is a safety
Smith has really improved his game
Not a star but not a huge liability
Brinkley played good against his old team which makes me wonder about him being motivated
You struggle all camp and come on against your old team. Is he finally getting back into the flow of the game or finally get motivated to play

 

[jazzcat22]

Hope Hitchins can recover and play in time for game 1. Have not heard much about this lately. Will watch the pregame show tonight and see what they say.

I think Ro will be fine and give it a full effort during games like last year.

Brinkley has been the disappointment, and he was to be the guy to step in for depth, and Gachkar be more of the STs type player. Turning out Gachkar also the better more reliable player.

Been liking what I seen from K. Smith. the team and Jason like Wilber and his willingness to switch positions or what ever it takes. I been waiting to get some one to replace him. It won't happen this year, unless that person is Smoth, once. Ro returns, or most likely Brinkley goes.

Lee could excel even more at OLB than at MLB. If all goes well at DL

 

[BAT]

Brinkley and Wibur (to a lesser extent) are definitely the weak links. At least Wilber plays with aggression, Brinkley is just tiptoeing out there.

 

[John813]

I think as long as we have Lee and Hitchens out there, we'll be set at linebacker.

Lee-Hitchens-Gachkar.
Fine with me till Ro suits up.

It's a shame Brinkley was given all that money to be a dud so far

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I was surprised when I looked up Smith's running metrics. He looks more like a 4.60 than a 4.98 guy.

Brinkley is struggling to make his reads. Him and Wilson are about the same in that regard. Of the contenders to make the roster only Wilber is worse. They all stare down a lot of plays which is to me the cardinal sin of LB.

Gachkar has been excellent. Quick reads, better tackling. Good short area quickness and run speed.

 

[speedkilz88]

I was surprised when I looked up Smith's running metrics. He looks more like a 4.60 than a 4.98 guy.

Brinkley is struggling to make his reads. Him and Wilson are about the same in that regard. Of the contenders to make the roster only Wilber is worse. They all stare down a lot of plays which is to me the cardinal sin of LB.

Gachkar has been excellent. Quick reads, better tackling. Good short area quickness and run speed.

According to this pdf his first one was 4.63 and the second was 5.03 which is where that 4.98 comes from.

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...f/2013-14/misc_non_event/ProDayMarksTimes.pdf

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

According to this pdf his first one was 4.63 and the second was 5.03 which is where that 4.98 comes from.

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...f/2013-14/misc_non_event/ProDayMarksTimes.pdf

That makes more sense. I figured that since he came from tiny San Jose State that he might not have been properly trained to run well in those sprints compared to his peers. Certainly seems that may be the case. He does not play in the 4.9s.

 

[JBell]

I was hoping to see more analysis on Gachkar.

He seems to diagnose plays really quickly, he reminds me of a poor man's version of Sean Lee.

He definitely appears to be everything Chargers fans said he was at LB. He was supposed to be a ST ace too, so hopefully we see that sooner rather than later with the current state of our coverage units.

 

[Bluefin]

He was guaranteed 2M, so it won't be an easy decision to cut him.

Yes, they did.

But maybe not.

Jasper Brinkley was given $1.25M as a signing bonus, which will count $625K this year and next.

The remaining guaranteed money is $750K of Brinkley's $1M base salary.

He's going to get that money, but not necessarily all of it will be paid by Dallas.

If Brinkley gets released and doesn't sign with another NFL team this season, he would get the entire $750K from the Cowboys.

If he signs with another NFL team, Dallas would only have to pay Brinkley the difference, if any, between the LB's salary with the new team and his $750K guarantee.

The veteran minimum for Brinkley looks like $730K.

So the difference could be as little as $20K if Brinkley gets picked up before week 1.

Whatever it might turn out to be, I don't think there's enough money at stake to matter when it comes to determining his roster spot.

He's not making my roster unless an injury tonight paves the pay.

 

[xwalker]

Yes, they did.

But maybe not.

Jasper Brinkley was given $1.25M as a signing bonus, which will count $625K this year and next.

The remaining guaranteed money is $750K of Brinkley's $1M base salary.

He's going to get that money, but not necessarily all of it will be paid by Dallas.

If Brinkley gets released and doesn't sign with another NFL team this season, he would get the entire $750K from the Cowboys.

If he signs with another NFL team, Dallas would only have to pay Brinkley the difference, if any, between the LB's salary with the new team and his $750K guarantee.

The veteran minimum for Brinkley looks like $730K.

So the difference could be as little as $20K if Brinkley gets picked up before week 1.

Whatever it might turn out to be, I don't think there's enough money at stake to matter when it comes to determining his roster spot.

He's not making my roster unless an injury tonight paves the pay.

The Cowboys pay the 1.25M with or without him on the roster. Like you said the 750K is likely near the veteran minimum and could be paid by another team if he did sign elsewhere; although I don't know if a team would want him if he is not good enough to make it here. The Cowboys would likely assume they'll have to pay all 2M.

 

[conner01]

Yes, they did.

But maybe not.

Jasper Brinkley was given $1.25M as a signing bonus, which will count $625K this year and next.

The remaining guaranteed money is $750K of Brinkley's $1M base salary.

He's going to get that money, but not necessarily all of it will be paid by Dallas.

If Brinkley gets released and doesn't sign with another NFL team this season, he would get the entire $750K from the Cowboys.

If he signs with another NFL team, Dallas would only have to pay Brinkley the difference, if any, between the LB's salary with the new team and his $750K guarantee.

The veteran minimum for Brinkley looks like $730K.

So the difference could be as little as $20K if Brinkley gets picked up before week 1.

Whatever it might turn out to be, I don't think there's enough money at stake to matter when it comes to determining his roster spot.

He's not making my roster unless an injury tonight paves the pay.

I agree
In the great scheme of things the money means very little
One year money is much different than a long term deal
I would gladly toss the money out the window before cutting a guy who has more potential

 

[Bluefin]

Like you said the 750K is likely near the veteran minimum and could be paid by another team if he did sign elsewhere; although I don't know if a team would want him if he is not good enough to make it here. The Cowboys would likely assume they'll have to pay all 2M.

Agreed.

I don't foresee the phone ringing off the hook if Jasper Brinkley gets released.

But he is a proven veteran with scheme versatility with special teams experience (even if he isn't an ideal option now).

And injuries are going to happen.

If Brinkley ends up on the street, he may not get signed right away, but it probably wouldn't take too long.

I wouldn't go long at LB, and if it comes down to Brinkley or Keith Smith, it isn't even close.

 

[BAT]

Agreed.

I don't foresee the phone ringing off the hook if Jasper Brinkley gets released.

But he is a proven veteran with scheme versatility with special teams experience (even if he isn't an ideal option now).

And injuries are going to happen.

If Brinkley ends up on the street, he may not get signed right away, but it probably wouldn't take too long.

I wouldn't go long at LB, and if it comes down to Brinkley or Keith Smith, it isn't even close.

Great! That's another DL we get to keep, or sign another RB.

 

[speedkilz88]

They should probably hold onto Brinkley until Ro comes back. Unless someone on the waiver wire catches their eye.

 

[StarBoyz83]

I'm not too confident in the lb core. Wish they'd sign a vet.

 

[Bluefin]

They should probably hold onto Brinkley until Ro comes back. Unless someone on the waiver wire catches their eye.

Jasper Brinkley was signed in free agency 16 days before Rolando McClain.

That's why the contract has $2M in guarantees. Brinkley was looked at as a potential starter, McClain wasn't assured of re-signing.

But Brinkley isn't working as the second team MLB.

Anthony Hitchens has that spot and Andrew Gachkar is running third team.

Brinkley can play some special teams, but it isn't his forte, he wasn't signed to do that.

I wondered during the off-season if Brinkley would be active for games once McClain's suspension was over.

Now, I'm wondering if he would would even be active during McClain's suspension.

Where's the value?

Why keep Brinkley?

 

[chris1995]

Yes, they did.

But maybe not.

Jasper Brinkley was given $1.25M as a signing bonus, which will count $625K this year and next.

The remaining guaranteed money is $750K of Brinkley's $1M base salary.

He's going to get that money, but not necessarily all of it will be paid by Dallas.

If Brinkley gets released and doesn't sign with another NFL team this season, he would get the entire $750K from the Cowboys.

If he signs with another NFL team, Dallas would only have to pay Brinkley the difference, if any, between the LB's salary with the new team and his $750K guarantee.

The veteran minimum for Brinkley looks like $730K.

So the difference could be as little as $20K if Brinkley gets picked up before week 1.

Whatever it might turn out to be, I don't think there's enough money at stake to matter when it comes to determining his roster spot.

He's not making my roster unless an injury tonight paves the pay.

Should never have signed Brinkley !

 

[Aven8]

The Cowboys pay the 1.25M with or without him on the roster. Like you said the 750K is likely near the veteran minimum and could be paid by another team if he did sign elsewhere; although I don't know if a team would want him if he is not good enough to make it here. The Cowboys would likely assume they'll have to pay all 2M.

That hurts. Nobody said McClay was the Messiah.

 

[Rogerthat12]

They are hopeful Hitch will be available game one, if he is not Gach will probably man the middle with Wilber at Sam, Lee obviously at Wlb.

Wilson will probably back up but could work his way into the line up, he needs some seasoning.

Brinkley is very slow, that was the word in Minn, one dimensional with no flex and slow.

Keith Smith has upside and youth, I would keep him over Brinkley.