LVE played great this year and I hope they find away to keep him

[DuncanIso]

Im probably wrong but he seems like he’s in the kind of position where he may want to stay and make some sacrifices. Not a ton of them but:
-He probably loves Quinn and is finding his best under him
-Dallas seems to have a full understanding of his health issue which is quite specific. He may not want to roll the dice on a change in training and medical staff.
-It probably seems the defensive is on the verge based on improvements the last 2 years.

If Dallas is at least somewhat competitive with an offer, maybe they keep him. I can’t think of another player that wouldn’t prioritize his wallet but LVE seems like he may be that dude.

Use the tag.

 

[dsturgeon]

- LVE is a serviceable band aid… he’s a familiar, experienced warm body until we can eventually get better.
We won’t be at our potential peak if we keep status quo with these decent- serviceable, JAG like players.

- LVE stands out here because anyone else, everyone else on the LB scene has been average to mediocre play.
Anthony Barr, .. Damone Clarke,... Luke Gifford …. So of course, LVE has a chance to stand out more so.

- LVE will occasionally have that solid game per Houston … and even the Niners playoff game.
And I’ve always thought his best forte is how he plays coverage - both in man and in space/zones.
But I get the vibe that the Cowboys could seek to re-sign LVE for a bargain 2 year deal, so it eases the press to draft a LB early on.

- We need playmakers who change how we play defense. How offenses have to play us accordingly.
Imo, we’ve been stuck and content with decent- average-JAG like play at the LB role for far too long.
We stuck around with Jaylon Smith too long, (only cut cuz refusal of pay cut)
..and we were doing the same with LVE, imo.

- We turn down the opportunity to sign FA Bobby Wagner,.. who proved he has juice left with the Rams.
With Clarke, he flashed but consistency, NFL adjustment and that dreaded “rookie wall” seemed to an issue.
The club appeared to stray away from him down the stretch into the playoffs.
But he only became available at around mid season, and he had no camp, no preseason, and he's yet to be in an NFL caliber offseason program.
I’ll await to see what becomes of Clarke in short due time.

Wagner signed a multi year deal around 6 million for last year. LVE was 1 year 2million.

Kearse signed multi year 5million last year
Fowler 1 year 3 million
Armstrong 6 million
Hooker 2 million
Watkins 1.1million
Hankins 1.3 million
Dlaw, Gallup
etc.

In hindsight James Washingtons 1.1 million could have gone towards wagners deal, but who would you not have signed to get Wagner his money. You have to come up with the 4million difference between Wagner and LVE + the multi year deal aspect for Wagner compared to single year with LVE. Would you want him for a multi year deal?

 

[big dog cowboy]

Regular season success after near 30 years without a Super Bowl appearance is a low bar.

Not going to disagree. But you called the Cowboys a dumpster fire and they simply aren't.

 

[stilltheguru]

NO! Get an actual winner in the middle like L David.

 

[Jarntt]

Which i think that's a mistake, imo. Having Parsons playing more full time edge DE, than off the ball LB.

- I'm really worried that we are gonna wear him down, having to pair up with 340+ lb OTs, on down to down, series to series, game to game basis.
If we were exclusively playing a 3-4 scheme ala TJ Watt with Steelers, that would be different,

Even if Parsons' off ball coverage could be just average (mightily because he has not played much off ball and has Not been developed in NFL in that capacity)
- I think it's more necessary to better have him in that Von Miller, ..Hasson Riddick like role to better reserve him,... both short and long term.

I don't disagree with you but I'm just saying what the team seems to be doing more and more of. I loved lining Parsons up as a LB a little more than we did year 2 and letting him freelance/move around more. Plus our LBs are weak so having him there on a few more run downs was better IMO. I thought this past year teams were more easily able to game plan for him and know pre-snap what he was going to do because he mostly lined up as an edge and they knew it. It doesn't mean he wasn't incredible, but it allowed offenses to try and neutralize him as much as possible. I loved it year one when pre-snap he was in a more traditional LB role and then stepped up over the center which resulted in the OL not knowing what they should do exactly and whether or not he was coming. I'd still play him more snaps at edge overall and have him rushing the QB on almost every passing down, but I'd try and force the OL to locate him and adjust in other situations

 

[USArmyVet]

Not going to disagree. But you called the Cowboys a dumpster fire and they simply aren't.

Dallas Cowboys are a dumpster fire regarding post-season success.....

 

[Mr_437]

I would like Micah to play a bit more MLB this season, and put another LB beside him with speed. If LVE is brought back I'd like him playing WILB not Mike because he's too damn soft for it, but in a position to chase down plays he'd be better imo.

Clark, Harper and Cox all have potential and need an opportunity. However, DQ needs to bring in a veteran LB preferably with some thump n dawg to him.

 

[Rockport]

We need an upgrade over LVE. He made some plays, he bombed some plays. I would rate his performance this year as, average. Not terrible, not great.

He was great. Didn’t you see the falloff when he was out?

 

[thunderpimp91]

I would like Micah to play a bit more MLB this season, and put another LB beside him with speed. If LVE is brought back I'd like him playing WILB not Mike because he's too damn soft for it, but in a position to chase down plays he'd be better imo.

Clark, Harper and Cox all have potential and need an opportunity. However, DQ needs to bring in a veteran LB preferably with some thump n dawg to him.

This is an interesting conversation point because of how DQ used LVE this year, and really the defense as a whole. By the end of season, and especially the playoffs we saw a more physical LVE. Was that because he's injury prone? Was that to fit the defense? Did it have more to do with better DT play after Hankins came to town? I have some mixed thoughts there, and not really sure.

You look at film early on, the first Washington game is a great example of this, but LVE bailed out on outside runs to essentially play the safety role. Meanwhile, DQ was using his Safeties up in the box and played more aggressively with them. Wilson/Kearse were used more as that downhill thumper, fill-the-gap player and LVE was more the conservative approach take on 2nd level olineman head on and make the ball carrier commit.

It's not that LVE played poorly early in the year, but what he was asked to do was different than the traditional MLB position that all of us grew up with and understand it to be. I'm sure anyone who played MLB in high school absolutely struggles to watch LVE as 90% of us were taught the basics of read and fill out of that position. The Cowboys defense worked so well early on in the year because pretty much every player was some sort of hybrid. As the year went on that changed, partially due to injuries and partially due to offenses catching on. LVE was essentially a cover first MLB. It could be my memory is going bad but I believe early on in the season LVE was off the field on a lot of run downs with Micah at LB? I need to double check some of that information.

Anyways, I took a long and semi off topic route to essentially ask the question of what type of MLB DQ really wants? In some ways I think LVE fits perfectly, but is that because it's what DQ wants or did he adapt the defense to fit LVE's (our our lack of interior dlineman) limitations?

 

[Mr_437]

This is an interesting conversation point because of how DQ used LVE this year, and really the defense as a whole. By the end of season, and especially the playoffs we saw a more physical LVE. Was that because he's injury prone? Was that to fit the defense? Did it have more to do with better DT play after Hankins came to town? I have some mixed thoughts there, and not really sure.

You look at film early on, the first Washington game is a great example of this, but LVE bailed out on outside runs to essentially play the safety role. Meanwhile, DQ was using his Safeties up in the box and played more aggressively with them. Wilson/Kearse were used more as that downhill thumper, fill-the-gap player and LVE was more the conservative approach take on 2nd level olineman head on and make the ball carrier commit.

It's not that LVE played poorly early in the year, but what he was asked to do was different than the traditional MLB position that all of us grew up with and understand it to be. I'm sure anyone who played MLB in high school absolutely struggles to watch LVE as 90% of us were taught the basics of read and fill out of that position. The Cowboys defense worked so well early on in the year because pretty much every player was some sort of hybrid. As the year went on that changed, partially due to injuries and partially due to offenses catching on. LVE was essentially a cover first MLB. It could be my memory is going bad but I believe early on in the season LVE was off the field on a lot of run downs with Micah at LB? I need to double check some of that information.

Anyways, I took a long and semi off topic route to essentially ask the question of what type of MLB DQ really wants? In some ways I think LVE fits perfectly, but is that because it's what DQ wants or did he adapt the defense to fit LVE's (our our lack of interior dlineman) limitations?

I can agree with the question of "what does DQ want?" because I think he has a lot in place and just needs to put the finishing pieces to an elite defense by today's standards. Adding a good NT will help any LB, and Hankins may have benefited LVE. I'm interested to see who they get on defense I want: NT, DT, LB in FA nothing fancy just guys that do their jobs at a above average level.

 

[removed_20241105]

I think (and hope) this is accurate. Really if you go back and study the cowboys defense last year DQ basically created a middle backer role for LVE that fit his skill set and kept the big collisions to a minimum.

Smart take and I agree. DQs benefit seems far more than just running a good defense. This LVE discussion possibly uncovers some of the more nuanced benefits of good leadership on that side of the ball.

 

[AyeAtey]

LVE played great??? This is why we don't get far. Selective favorites......LVE played decent. His lack of lateral speed is still a liability and to say he played great must mean the applause on this board is at a lower standard. Obviously there is a Fan Club.

I like your perspective fwiw.
Agreed with the speed thing.
He is a tough player sans injury and
But in imo the kid hustles and is a tough player, fwiw.

 

[Cmac]

I like your perspective fwiw.
Agreed with the speed thing.
He is a tough player sans injury and
But in imo the kid hustles and is a tough player, fwiw.

fwiw....he does hustle and is a tough player.....but it don't do anything for the lateral speed a LB needs. Nor do I think he played "great". IMO.

 

[Whyjerry]

He played great? Really? His best year was his rookie season. Slightly above average last year. Couple terrible years in there. Easily replaceable. I am excited to see year 2 of Clark.

 

[shabazz]

He played great this year and I hope they find away to keep him. Seemed like he really figured things out this year. He ended up being a key player on defense. He’s going to get some offers this off-season and I doubt Jerry will match which is going to be another mistake that he’s made.

Rock…..we finally agree on something. Other teams are aware of his injury issues as well so hopefully there won’t be a bidding war.

I don’t know the man but I would guess that he stays here if the bids from other teams are close to Jerry’s bid.

 

[shabazz]

He could get a tag.

LVE and Schultz are both worthy of the tag.

I like both but wouldn’t tag either. Both are solid players but not worthy of a tag

we already have 2 young promising tight end waiting to step up And I wouldn’t use a tag on a player like LVE with injury issues.

 

[Mannix]

For ^$*#^*@ sake....can we not just consider ourselves lucky for once to have gotten a decent season out of him and MOVE ON....why do we do this same stupid S year after year after year after year....next it will be how we NEED to try and keep Noah Brown around at a decent price.....I know, I know....I have a great idea....lets suffer through 5 more years of Dak, just so we have more money to sign trash....pffftttt....I give up!!!

 

[Jason 82 Witten]

Everyone hated him, but you see what happened when he wasn’t in the game

 

[plasticman]

Somebody will pay him and it won't be the Cowboys.

 

[Pass2Run]

If they don't keep him; there's a hole at LB.