Paging: Akin Ayodele

[parchy]

What is the general consensus on this guy? I was hyped as anything to see him come in here and help anchor what I figured would be one of the better 3-4 LB tandems in the league, but he seems to be disappointing a little bit.

I was absolutely shocked when I looked at the stat sheet to see that he leads all Cowboys linebackers in tackles. Am I crazy or does it seem like Akin just kind of blends into the defense most of the time? I haven't heard anything about him on talk shows or on here, and while it's a nice sign that he isn't making any glaring errors, he doesn't seem to be doing anything particuarly well either.

Is this just how this guy operates? Under the radar? Or should we be looking for him to step up his performance?

 

[Paniolo22]

He must be doing something right. Seems to be a lot of assists rather than solo tackles though, even though the stats don't say so.

 

[Mansta54]

What is the general consensus on this guy? I was hyped as anything to see him come in here and help anchor what I figured would be one of the better 3-4 LB tandems in the league, but he seems to be disappointing a little bit.

I was absolutely shocked when I looked at the stat sheet to see that he leads all Cowboys linebackers in tackles. Am I crazy or does it seem like Akin just kind of blends into the defense most of the time? I haven't heard anything about him on talk shows or on here, and while it's a nice sign that he isn't making any glaring errors, he doesn't seem to be doing anything particuarly well either.

Is this just how this guy operates? Under the radar? Or should we be looking for him to step up his performance?

Sounds like he's playing well to me already!!

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

From the looks of things Akin A. is doing a pretty good job, I'll worry if Parcells is mentioning his name in press conferences for something he DIDN'T do...

 

[Aikbach]

I don't like him, too expensive for an average talent, no big plays, i have seen mistackles and late on closing on the man over the middle he is covering. He's 26, but his price tag was too high for what he has done. His first sack was in garbage time against Carolina and that was when the much hated (according to those on this board) Bobby Carpenter was a half second shy of taking out Delhomme. He just doesn't impress me, it disturbs me that Carpenter has not or can not supplant him.

 

[YoungBuck]

From gimmesix..

Ayodele's stats are not as good as they are supposed to be at that position.

Parcells has pointed out before that Jack linebacker should be the leading tackle spot on the team because the position is largely left unblocked by the offense.

That fact that Bradie James at Mike linebacker, a position that takes on a blocker most of the time, leads the team in tackles is an indication that Ayodele is not doing as well as he is supposed to.

Still, he is learning this scheme, so we shouldn't exactly expect him to excel at his position yet. Parcells said he is improving from game to game, and hopefully that means that down the stretch he will be a major asset to the team.

 

[AdamJT13]

That fact that Bradie James at Mike linebacker, a position that takes on a blocker most of the time, leads the team in tackles is an indication that Ayodele is not doing as well as he is supposed to.

Keep in mind that James plays more downs than Ayodele does. James typically stays in the game on passing downs, while Ayodele often gets replaced by a nickel back. According to STATS Inc., Ayodele has 31 tackles on first and second downs, compared to 27 for James. On third downs, James has eight, and Ayodele has one. So, when he is in the game, Ayodele is making more tackles than James is.

 

[Ben_n_austin]

What is the general consensus on this guy? I was hyped as anything to see him come in here and help anchor what I figured would be one of the better 3-4 LB tandems in the league, but he seems to be disappointing a little bit.

I was absolutely shocked when I looked at the stat sheet to see that he leads all Cowboys linebackers in tackles. Am I crazy or does it seem like Akin just kind of blends into the defense most of the time? I haven't heard anything about him on talk shows or on here, and while it's a nice sign that he isn't making any glaring errors, he doesn't seem to be doing anything particuarly well either.

Is this just how this guy operates? Under the radar? Or should we be looking for him to step up his performance?

The defensive scheme that we are running seems to be working well with him in it.

Personally, I'm not interested in individual stats. I want the defense to stop the offense. And I think that our defense does a pretty good job at stopping the offense.

Another thing is, it seems that we have a good all-around, solid group of players on our defensive unit. It's harder for individual players to get the fame and recognition in our defensive sheme.

Parcells wants solidity througout, and the defensive unit is built to function as a whole. And it's built to be flexible.

You don't need the bling bling (if you will ) sort of players to make this defense "tick" or to be effective. Take Anthony Henry as an example....

He doesn't get the fame and glory that Roy Williams does, but he's just as important to our defense. The same could be said for Greg Ellis.

The defense functions as, well, a unit. That's how it should be.

I don't think we should get out the shovels just yet. If there's one thing that I like about Parcells' 2006 Cowboys team, it's his defense.

If Tony Romo can get this offense going a little bit, I think we'll be in good shape.

 

[TwoSteppinJJ]

Akin has played solid hes been a great addition to the run D, I often see him blowing things up in the middle. He hasnt made any gamechanging or noticeable big plays but he has played solid football.

 

[cowboyed]

From gimmesix..

Ayodele's stats are not as good as they are supposed to be at that position.

Parcells has pointed out before that Jack linebacker should be the leading tackle spot on the team because the position is largely left unblocked by the offense.

That fact that Bradie James at Mike linebacker, a position that takes on a blocker most of the time, leads the team in tackles is an indication that Ayodele is not doing as well as he is supposed to.

Still, he is learning this scheme, so we shouldn't exactly expect him to excel at his position yet. Parcells said he is improving from game to game, and hopefully that means that down the stretch he will be a major asset to the team.

Interesting point. While we are on it, anyone else wondering why Burnett seems to be playing in a limited role or in obscurity?

 

[Cowboy4ever]

I think some people get to fired up about Stats. Last week, ROY W, didn't make one tackle,, does that mean he played a horrible game? Akin is learning a new system and is just now becoming comfortable in it. As far as sacks go.. I haven't seen a lot of times that we send the LBs on 1st or 2nd down. The only stat that I think you can really look at is the 3rd down converts. We are one of the better teams in that regard. This tells me that we are getting teams in 3 and long a lot.. which means the D is playing good on 1st and 2nd down.. so Akin is doing fine and will get better. I like the signing,, especially since he is from the area and grew up a Cowboys fan and has said it is an Honor to play with the Star on his helmet.

By the way, Akin has a regular spot on Sirus Radio's "the opening drive" every friday morning at around 7:15 am cst, if anyone wants to listen to him.

 

[TwoSteppinJJ]

I think some people get to fired up about Stats.

Aint that the truth...

 

[BlueStar22]

Akin had some big plays in the Carolina game. I recommend if you have DVR, Tivo, etc., record the game because when you see the games a 2nd and 3rd time, you undoubtedly miss A LOT of stuff that individual players do.

 

[theebs]

What is the general consensus on this guy? I was hyped as anything to see him come in here and help anchor what I figured would be one of the better 3-4 LB tandems in the league, but he seems to be disappointing a little bit.

I was absolutely shocked when I looked at the stat sheet to see that he leads all Cowboys linebackers in tackles. Am I crazy or does it seem like Akin just kind of blends into the defense most of the time? I haven't heard anything about him on talk shows or on here, and while it's a nice sign that he isn't making any glaring errors, he doesn't seem to be doing anything particuarly well either.

Is this just how this guy operates? Under the radar? Or should we be looking for him to step up his performance?

If you look at the scheme closely, listen to what the coaches and players say this defense is designed for that position to have alot of tackles.

In fact last year when glover left for st.louis he did an interview with randy galloway complimenting our defense. He said we needed an inside linebacker to replace dat at that spot because that is the tackles spot, that linebacker will have the most opportunities, so he said we needed a smart tackling machine.

So I am not suprised that he has so many tackles. He is not a flashy player but he is a solid player and is not caught out of position so that is good.