Position Review - LB

[xwalker]

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.

Good post. I agree that they either keep 6 DL and 9 LB or 7 DL and 8 LB.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

I can definitely see 9 LB's making the team this year. My guess:

Ware, Spencer, Lee, Connor, Carter, Lemon, Albright, McSurdy, Hamilton

 

[nathanlt]

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

From the combine like stats on the players, the stunning # of sacks Hamilton has compiled, there is no dispute that Dallas has corralled an amazing group of LB with the athleticism to make plays.

The optimist in all of us hopes they achieve that potential, and if they do, the number of starting positions available will increase to accomodate that talent.

Dallas does have an excess of talent at the LB position, some of it unproven, but I think many LB's will be proven by the end of training camp, and rotation of backups will not provide as much dropoff as you 'd expect.

:starspin

 

[Stautner]

From the combine like stats on the players, the stunning # of sacks Hamilton has compiled, there is no dispute that Dallas has corralled an amazing group of LB with the athleticism to make plays.

The optimist in all of us hopes they achieve that potential, and if they do, the number of starting positions available will increase to accomodate that talent.

:starspin

Times and cones and bench presses aren't what constitues an amazing group of linebackers - players who make plays are. Obviously those numbers are factors, and the more of the measurable skills a player has the better, but they aren't the bottom line. Just as WR's who are 6'3" and run a 4.3 40 aren't necessarily amazing receivers, the same applies to LB's with outstanding combine measurables.

 

[CCBoy]

Times and cones and bench presses aren't what constitues an amazing group of linebackers - players who make plays are. Obviously those numbers are factors, and the more of the measurable skills a player has the better, but they aren't the bottom line. Just as WR's who are 6'3" and run a 4.3 40 aren't necessarily amazing receivers, the same applies to LB's with outstanding combine measurables.

No, but when game film has them running all over the field in non-stop hussle, and always around the ball...then those stats do mean something.

 

[xwalker]

All of the guys competing for the 8th and possibly 9th spot were productive in college.

The reasons that they were late round picks or UDFAs are:

Orie Lemon
Limited athleticism. Shorter than ideal.

Caleb McSurdy
Limited athleticism. Shorter than ideal.

Adrian Hamilton
Small college. Multiple college transfers.

Aston Whiteside
Small college. Shorter than ideal at DE/OLB. Limited athleticism.

Alex Albright
Injury history (neck).

 

[Stautner]

No, but when game film has them running all over the field in non-stop hussle, and always around the ball...then those stats do mean something.

I'll accept that for the NFL vets that have proven something, but those aren't the one's in question - we are talking about depth. The unproven players are a different story.

 

[CCBoy]

All of the guys competing for the 8th and possibly 9th spot were productive in college.

The reasons that they were late round picks or UDFAs are:

Orie Lemon
Limited athleticism. Shorter than ideal.

Caleb McSurdy
Limited athleticism. Shorter than ideal.

Adrian Hamilton
Small college. Multiple college transfers.

Aston Whiteside
Small college. Shorter than ideal at DE/OLB. Limited athleticism.

Alex Albright
Injury history (neck).

Fair view...but I wonder if ex-Texas A&I Hall of Famer, John Randle might be chucking loudly here. He was just 'too small,' at 250 pounds as a Viking his first year, to play defensive tackle.

 

[Stautner]

Fair view...but I wonder if ex-Texas A&I Hall of Famer, John Randle might be chucking loudly here. He was just 'too small,' at 250 pounds as a Viking his first year, to play defensive tackle.

There are always exceptions, and very notable ones at that. But the reality is that the exceptions are just that - exceptions .... atypical. Sure players can surprise, but until they do it's unrealistic to assume they are worthy of being discussed as part of an amazing group of LB's as an earlier poster claimed.

I'm sure people are taking me wrong - I like the overall potential of the group. I just tend to try and be realitic. Theoverwhelming bulk of the time players aren't drafted there is a good reason for it.

 

[CCBoy]

I'll accept that for the NFL vets that have proven something, but those aren't the one's in question - we are talking about depth. The unproven players are a different story.

You are now talking about earning their way into action. I couldn't agree more on that aspect.

But as a group, I like the 'rooks' in camp this year. My contention, isn't with yourself here. In the recent past, people would run off into the woods to howl that the Cowboys brought in and drafted a bunch of special team's players. Well, that is part of the deal in not being an immediate starter. Almost all teams now include job descriptions for special teams in addition to positional considerations.

At the collegiate levels, teams are pushing special team's plays on to established starters. Even informing them that this will elevate their transitioning once arriving at the next level and the NFL.

My point, is that talent pushing towards carpet time, is improving and a certain style of player is now making a regular role model entrance for our Cowboys.

Short of wide spread injury, this group of Cowboy linebackers will be among the best in the NFL. And I include those struggling for rotational and 'rook' status in that group.

 

[CCBoy]

There are always exceptions, and very notable ones at that. But the reality is that the exceptions are just that - exceptions .... atypical. Sure players can surprise, but until they do it's unrealistic to assume they are worthy of being discussed as part of an amazing group of LB's as an earlier poster claimed.

I'm sure people are taking me wrong - I like the overall potential of the group. I just tend to try and be realitic. Theoverwhelming bulk of the time players aren't drafted there is a good reason for it.

I'll have to apply the stereotyped player that Dallas has raised up from humble beginings. That would include: Jay Ratliff, Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Stephen Bowen, and even Kevin Kowalski, Phil Costa, Jermey Parnell, Clifton Geathers, Barry Church, Danny McCray....I'd say there is much more than lip service going into 'camp fodder' these days at Valley Ranch.

 

[Stautner]

You are now talking about earning their way into action. I couldn't agree more on that aspect.

But as a group, I like the 'rooks' in camp this year. My contention, isn't with yourself here. In the recent past, people would run off into the woods to howl that the Cowboys brought in and drafted a bunch of special team's players. Well, that is part of the deal in not being an immediate starter. Almost all teams now include job descriptions for special teams in addition to positional considerations.

At the collegiate levels, teams are pushing special team's plays on to established starters. Even informing them that this will elevate their transitioning once arriving at the next level and the NFL.

My point, is that talent pushing towards carpet time, is improving and a certain style of player is now making a regular role model entrance for our Cowboys.

Short of wide spread injury, this group of Cowboy linebackers will be among the best in the NFL. And I include those struggling for rotational and 'rook' status in that group.

No, I'm not NOW talking about earning their way into action - that's what I've been saying all along. I guessed you missed the point, which was that measurable stats don't tell the tale, what a player does on the field is what tells the tale.

I'll have to apply the stereotyped player that Dallas has raised up from humble beginings. That would include: Jay Ratliff, Tony Romo, Miles Austin, Stephen Bowen, and even Kevin Kowalski, Phil Costa, Jermey Parnell, Clifton Geathers, Barry Church, Danny McCray....I'd say there is much more than lip service going into 'camp fodder' these days at Valley Ranch.

1st, Kowalski, Parnell, Geathers and McCray have yet to be raised up to anything. They are guys that found a way to make the team and it remains to be seen if they prove to be anything more than a warm body filling a roster spot.

2nd, Costa and Church have pretty much gotten playing time by default.

Nevertheless, I never said undrafted players never make a team, nor even that they never make an impact. I merely said that the odds are against them to make a team, and longer still that they will develop into a player that makes an impact.

Look at the guys you named - only 4 of which have thus far made an imnpact with the Cowboys. Romo started with the Cowboys in 2003, Ratliff in 2005, Bowen and Austin in 2006. 9 years and you came up with 4 (3 undrafted and 1 drafted late). How many hundreds do you think didn't even make the team let alone make an impact in all those years?

 

[nathanlt]

I'll accept that for the NFL vets that have proven something, but those aren't the one's in question - we are talking about depth. The unproven players are a different story.

I'm not saying that the Cowboys rookie LB's are proven, what I am saying, specifically, is that Adrian Hamilton flashes more exciting plays in his highlight reel, bending around OT's in a similar fashion to Demarcus Ware.

Do you see any resemblance? I am honestly gunning for him to pan out over any draft pick this year not named Claiborne.