Position Review - LB

[xwalker]

It appears that 7 of 8 are near-locks with 4 being OLB and 3 being ILB.

The options appear to be:

1. Keep 1 additional ILB (4 OLB and 4 ILB).

2. Keep 5 OLB and 3 ILB (Barry Church would basically function as the 4th ILB).

3. Keep 9 total LB.

Alex Albright practiced some at both ILB an OLB in training camp last year. I think he makes it as the 8th LB. He is bigger and more athletic than Orie Lemon or McSurdy and he was very good on Special Teams last year.

Hamilton only makes the active roster in options 2 or 3.

Whiteside practiced at ILB in the Rookie mini-camp but most expected him to be an OLB.

 

[perrykemp]

I can envision a scenario where Butler gets cut. He's not terrible by other means but he hasn't exactly grabbed the bull by the horns in his limited opportunities either.

I suspect he'll get cut to get one of the rookies an opportunity -- the team gets younger and hungrier.

 

[CCBoy]

Myself, I don't think that Butler gets cut for any scenario beyond extreme injury. He has a high performance percentage for plays on the carpet. Until that is matched by someone else...he's not going anywhere. He's still on the cheap side of a journeyman status.

 

[nathanlt]

One thing is clear, Dallas is LOADED at linebacker. To me, that makes it more likely that Dallas will keep 9.

It only makes sense to get as many playmakers on the field as possible.

 

[silverbear]

I can envision a scenario where Butler gets cut. He's not terrible by other means but he hasn't exactly grabbed the bull by the horns in his limited opportunities either.

I suspect he'll get cut to get one of the rookies an opportunity -- the team gets younger and hungrier.

I'd think that either Lemon or Albright would go first...

 

[JohnsKey19]

I'm shocked by Albright's numbers listed here. In the little time i watched him last season, he appeared to be slow and stiff.

 

[jobberone]

I'm shocked by Albright's numbers listed here. In the little time i watched him last season, he appeared to be slow and stiff.

Agreed. Shows you can't just look at one number or forget how they look on tape. He's not playing that fast by my eyeball though. He may be thinking too much though and my looking at him for a second or two isn't anything compared to seeing the tape. I hope he speeds up and the game gets slower for him.

 

[Direwolf63]

I will be really interested in how Hamilton does in training camp. He has a chance to be the 8th LB. Albright has the inside track for now.

 

[cowboys2233]

I'm shocked by Albright's numbers listed here. In the little time i watched him last season, he appeared to be slow and stiff.

I'm a bit surprised by Connor's numbers too -- that 3-cone drill time is sick (in a good way).

 

[Stautner]

I'm shocked by Albright's numbers listed here. In the little time i watched him last season, he appeared to be slow and stiff.

I didn't think he looked speed necessarily, but I thought he seemed to be very agressive and active when he had the chance. He was a quality special teams player.

 

[RastaRocket]

Wow Ware is a monster lol.

Also, Dan Connor has a great 3-cone.

 

[cowboys2233]

Also, Dan Connor has a great 3-cone.

That's what she said.

 

[speedkilz88]

I hate when guys throw out the Jag card, but Albright so far has shown that's about all there is, special teams is the only thing he's good at so far. I don't see how anyone can determine who is better out of McSurdy, Lemon, Whiteside and Albright. They are just names at this point.

 

[btcutter]

One thing is clear, Dallas is LOADED at linebacker. To me, that makes it more likely that Dallas will keep 9.

It only makes sense to get as many playmakers on the field as possible.

I wouldn't call ourselves LOADED at LB. To me LOADED means EXCESS of TALENTED players than number of starting positions available.

We got Ware and Lee as stars, Spencer and Connor are adequate. The rest are unknown or just special team player.

 

[btcutter]

It appears that 7 of 8 are near-locks with 4 being OLB and 3 being ILB.

The options appear to be:

1. Keep 1 additional ILB (4 OLB and 4 ILB).

2. Keep 5 OLB and 3 ILB (Barry Church would basically function as the 4th ILB).

3. Keep 9 total LB.

Alex Albright practiced some at both ILB an OLB in training camp last year. I think he makes it as the 8th LB. He is bigger and more athletic than Orie Lemon or McSurdy and he was very good on Special Teams last year.

Hamilton only makes the active roster in options 2 or 3.

Whiteside practiced at ILB in the Rookie mini-camp but most expected him to be an OLB.

All these numbers proved another thing.


Draft football players who's production match the numbers. Underwear olypmics is pretty meaningless.

 

[cowboys2233]

I hate when guys throw out the Jag card, but Albright so far has shown that's about all there is, special teams is the only thing he's good at so far. I don't see how anyone can determine who is better out of McSurdy, Lemon, Whiteside and Albright. They are just names at this point.

Well, then I think Orie Lemon has the best name. He stays. Everyone else, pack your bags. :laugh2:

 

[RastaRocket]

All these numbers proved another thing.


Draft football players who's production match the numbers. Underwear olypmics is pretty meaningless.

It's hard to draft production matching numbers in the later rounds of a draft lol. One thing you want is a foundation to build on with later round guys. If they were producing they would be gone. At least we have a solid group of UFA's to build on; and we already have a damn good starting core.

 

[tm1119]

Id say 9 LB's for sure. We play a good amount of 4 man fronts and at least 5 of our LB's can play DE in the 4 man front. Ware, Spencer, Wilber, Butler, Lee, Carter, Connor, camp winner between Albright/Lemon/McSurdy, and the winner between Whiteside/Hamilton should make the roster. Ryan plays a diverse amount of schemes and our LB's are more than versatile enough where you can carry 9 with no problem. Especially with the backups being athletic enough to excel on ST.

 

[burmafrd]

I wouldn't call ourselves LOADED at LB. To me LOADED means EXCESS of TALENTED players than number of starting positions available.

We got Ware and Lee as stars, Spencer and Connor are adequate. The rest are unknown or just special team player.

Pretty much what I see. Connor might be more; but Spencer is just above average in the area that is getting more and more important which is pass rush.

I have hope one of the young guys developes into a better SOLB then Spencer; or we find one in next years draft.

 

[Eskimo]

I'd probably go for 9 LBs and 6 DL (Rat, Brent, Lissemore, Hatcher, Crawford, Geathers/Spears).

Most of our OLBs can sub in at DE in 4-man fronts when we go to those looks and most of them were converted college DEs.

I'd keep the following mix:

OLB: Ware, Spencer, Butler, Wilber, Hamilton
ILB: Lee, Carter, Connor, Albright/Whiteside

I'd keep the guy with the highest contribution potential and special teams ability between Albright and Whiteside. I'd give the nod to Albright right now but I'd try to sneak Whiteside onto the PS as I think he does have some potential. He may need to lose some weight and work on his quickness and flexibility with Woicik to convert to ILB. I do love his potential as a pass rusher and run defender from his slot if he can master the reads and manage his coverage resposibilities.

Overall, I think this is a good group of LBs and I really hope that Carter emerges this year at ILB, Wilber shows he can be a everydown player and Hamilton shows he can rush the passer at this level.