Linebackers...who makes the roster and PS?

[ghst187]

We have quite a group of LBs now with some very interesting UDFAs getting a look and a few guys we had tucked away from last year....
We currently have at least 13 LBs going into camp...logjammed
How many LBs and which ones do you guys think we end up keeping?

John Saldi, LB, Texas Tech (6-5, 233)
Kai Parham, LB, Virginia (6-3, 253)
Oliver Hoyte, LB, North Carolina St. (6-3, 247)
Demarcus Ware
Rocky Boiman
Bobby Carpenter
Kalen Thorton
Akin Ayodele
Brady James
Kevin Burnett
Ryan Fowler
Scott Shanle
Al Singleton

My guesses:
Carpenter (starter)
Ware (starter)
Ayodele (starter)
James (starter) (Captain obvious on these I know)

Keepers: Boiman (FA signing, he'll be kept), Burnett (gets another year), Singleton (will be there at the beginning of the season but could be on the way out IMO by the end of the season if someone new really steps up)
I don't think we keep more than two of the following: Saldi, Thorton, Fowler, Shanle, Hoyte, Parham.

 

[Vertigo_17]

I agree on Boiman - supposed to be a ST Ace. I also think Saldi moves to the PS

 

[Billy Bullocks]

Shanle will be around, Parcells sweats that kid

 

[Woods]

I'll guess Thornton and Fowler, with Parham and Hoyte on the PS.

Way to early to predict this however.

 

[junk]

My guess:

Carpenter
James
Ayodele
Ware
Singleton
Boiman
Parham
Burnett
Shanle

 

[CooterBrown]

This will be the best training camp battle. Not only who can play, but who makes plays. The best athlete is not always the best football player.

Fowler, Hoyte, and Parham are all strictly ILB players. Shanle played ILB last year, but played outside the year before that, so he could be considered for either. (I'm not a Shanle fan. I believe it was Shanle who whiffed on Brunell that eventually led to the skins first TD in the MNF game.) Hoyte and Parham are probably only two down players so they are going to have to excell at special teams to have a shot at making the roster.

For what its worth (and as an opinion, I understand it isn't worth much), I'm not sure Bradie James is as secure on the roster as some people think. Granted, he made a lot of tackles last year, but numbers don't tell the whole story. I would rate his performance last year as adequate, but not stellar.

Oh, not on the topic of this thread, but I have no idea why Polite has not been released yet, unless the team thinks somebody might offer a future draft choice for him. If not, it would be doing him a favor to give him a chance to find another team.

 

[hendog]

Carpenter
James
Ayodele
Ware
Singleton
Boiman
Burnette
Fowler
Hoyte

That's my early prediction

 

[Eskimo]

For what its worth (and as an opinion, I understand it isn't worth much), I'm not sure Bradie James is as secure on the roster as some people think. Granted, he made a lot of tackles last year, but numbers don't tell the whole story. I would rate his performance last year as adequate, but not stellar.

I agree that James was far from stellar last year - he made most of his tackles down the field. However, he is a much better athlete than most of the other ILB prospects (Ayodele, Fowler, Hoyte, Parham).

I certainly would not advocate breaking the bank to re-sign him after one adequte season.

It'll be interesting to see if he takes a big step up this season.

 

[Future]

I'll guess Thornton and Fowler, with Parham and Hoyte on the PS.

Way to early to predict this however.

i agree with that but i dont really know much about parham and hoyte.

i think thornton has a lot of talent and could be a good pass rush threat, and i love fowlers attitude in the middle.

what about the guy we had from duke, i wanna say love??? is he still around or was he just here for last year

 

[baj1dallas]

I think you guys are crazy saying James didn't play well last year. It wasn't a probowl type season but he was consistently there and made a few big plays. How many times did he screw up? I can't remember any.

Anyway I think Carpenter and Singleton will split time outside early in the season, with Ware on the other side and probably Boiman as the backup.

Inside James and Ayodele are the obvious starters, with Burnett, Fowler, Shanle, and Thornton competing for the last backup spot.

One real weakness I see on this team is if James or Ayodele go down, there's nobody really capable of stepping into the starting role. I don't think Shanle is good enough to make the team but I know they like his coverage ability, so he has a chance to stick. Unfortunately.

 

[jwhardin]

Cooterbrown - where do you live in the hill country. I live in GA now, but I'm from Llano

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Singleton so long.....IMO

 

[junk]

Singleton so long.....IMO

I bet he sticks through camp.

Ireland made comments about this as well.

Who has any real experience outside of Singleton? Need someone to keep an eye on all the young kids. One of the few guys on the team with a ring.

 

[CooterBrown]

Cooterbrown - where do you live in the hill country. I live in GA now, but I'm from Llano

The Cowboy Capitol of the World, Bandera, Texas

 

[CooterBrown]

I agree that James was far from stellar last year - he made most of his tackles down the field. However, he is a much better athlete than most of the other ILB prospects (Ayodele, Fowler, Hoyte, Parham).

I certainly would not advocate breaking the bank to re-sign him after one adequte season.

It'll be interesting to see if he takes a big step up this season.

Exactly right, the ILB should make tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage, not 5 yards down the field.

I'm not a big stats person, but how many "tackles for loss" did James have last year?

 

[Dalmations202]

To begin the year:
My guesses:
Singleton (starter) -- Carpenter by mid - late season
Ware (starter)
Ayodele (starter)
James (starter)

Keepers:
Boiman (FA signing, he'll be kept),
Burnett (gets another year - could be starting by mid season or next year),
Carpenter (will be starting by next season),

I don't think we keep more than two of the following: Saldi, Thorton, Fowler, Shanle, Hoyte, Parham.

If Thorton stays healthy, I am guessing he sticks. If he misses basically any of training camp due to some lingering issue, I think he is gone. Too much talent to let go, but can't seem to keep it healthy.

The other five, I think are in a dogfight for the last position(s), and I am guessing at least 2 on the PS.

 

[ghst187]

To begin the year:
My guesses:
Singleton (starter) -- Carpenter by mid - late season

I don't think we keep more than two of the following: Saldi, Thorton, Fowler, Shanle, Hoyte, Parham.

If Thorton stays healthy, I am guessing he sticks. If he misses basically any of training camp due to some lingering issue, I think he is gone. Too much talent to let go, but can't seem to keep it healthy.

The other five, I think are in a dogfight for the last position(s), and I am guessing at least 2 on the PS.

I actually think Carpenter will be starting by game 3 or 4 if not before. I know BP likes Al S but Carp is going to be too good to keep on the sideline.

I agree on all the other points, definitely about only keeping two of those 6. I think we'll have to cut someone good, which is a nice change.
I agree on Thorton too, very talented. One more injury and he'll see a pink slip. I tell you, if Burnett doesn't come back this time and stay healthy after that, he could be on thin ice too because we're going to have some serious talent right behind him and too few roster spots