Should 2010 be Bradie James' last with the Cowboys?

[realtick]

I'm not putting the team's 1-3 record on Bradie James at all. Nor, do I know James current contract status. This is just some fodder for discussion.

I really believe this team is doing itself a deservice by running out an average/+ ILB out there year after year.

Someone started a thread a week or two ago asking when was the last time Bradie James made a game changing play. I didn't post in the thread, but I sort of agree with the sentiment of the question.

James' strengths and weaknesses are well known. He's a north/south athlete; if the play is in front of him he can generally make the play (although he doesn't tally many TFLs).

He has absolutely no lateral agility. If the ball carrier makes a move or the play goes away from him him, he doesn't have the quickness to mirror; he's automatically in chase mode. Look up the definition of "tight hips" in a scouting dictionary and it will have a picture of James.

Although he's certainly improved in pass coverage, it's by no means a strength of his.

Perhaps Sean Lee will eventually take over his spot in the near future.

My question is, should the Cowboys start looking to draft/replenish its ILB depth.

Or, do you believe Sean Lee and a guy like Jason Williams are still the future?

 

[DOUBLE WING]

I would love if one of the Williams' was the future. Ideally I'd love to cut both Brooking and James in the offseason but I just don't know that we have anyone behind them. Hopefully Sean Lee and Brandon/Jason Williams will be ready to step in. We definitely need some new blood at the ILB spots and FAST.

 

[davidb257]

The way it looks like, we have no quality depth at ILB, just depth. None of the coaches are comfortable even resting Brooking or James, and this is just sad.

Why? Because all we do is draft LB'ers, we're drafting them like they're gonna stop makin' em.

Nobody, at least this year, will be a viable backup for Brookign or James.

 

[realtick]

I would love if one of the Williams' was the future. Ideally I'd love to cut both Brooking and James in the offseason but I just don't know that we have anyone behind them. Hopefully Sean Lee and Brandon/Jason Williams will be ready to step in. We definitely need some new blood at the ILB spots and FAST.

Just an FYI, Brandon Williams is playing OLB. Unless you heard some rumblings about moving him to ILB.

 

[realtick]

The way it looks like, we have no quality depth at ILB, just depth. None of the coaches are comfortable even resting Brooking or James, and this is just sad.

Why? Because all we do is draft LB'ers, we're drafting them like they're gonna stop makin' em.

Nobody, at least this year, will be a viable backup for Brookign or James.

We've drafted a lot of OLBs.

We have drafted two players they are trying to turn into ILBs (Jason Williams and Sean Lee).

I have faith in Lee, but not so much in Jason Williams at this point.

 

[InmanRoshi]

The problem with this team isn't that we have a Bradie James on the team ... the problem is we don't have enough of them. We got a team of all sizzle and no steak underachievers. If we had more Bradie James players on this team we wouldn't be leading the NFL in stupid mistakes.

Bradie James is the type of players we had on the early 90's defenses. Tony Tolbert, Tony Casillas, Thomas Everett, Fred Strickland, Russel Maryland, Chad Hennings. Guys who don't go to Pro Bowls, but guys who overachieve, lead and demand accountability, who know their roles and assignments and do their jobs week in and week out while leaving every ounce of God given talent on the field. When you get 8 or 9 guys on a team like that with 1-2 special players, that's when you get a great unit. That's what we had in the early 90's. That's really what the Superbowl winning Ravens and Patriots defenses were.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

Just an FYI, Brandon Williams is playing OLB. Unless you heard some rumblings about moving him to ILB.

My bad, you're right. I was thinking of Leon Williams, but he'll never be a starter here.

 

[realtick]

Bradie James is the type of players we had on the early 90's defenses. Tony Tolbert, Tony Casillas, Thomas Everett, Fred Strickland, Russel Maryland, Chad Hennings. Guys who don't go to Pro Bowls, but guys who overachieve, lead and demand accountability, who know their roles and assignments and do their jobs week in and week out while leaving every ounce of God given talent on the field. When you get 8 or 9 guys on a team like that with 1-2 special players, that's when you get a great unit. That's what we had in the early 90's. That's really what the Superbowl winning Ravens and Patriots defenses were.

The problem with this team isn't that we have a Bradie James on the team ... the problem is we don't have enough of them. We got a team of all sizzle and no steak underachievers.

I don't necessarily disagree with your sentiments. I think James is a solid and generally reliable.

However, in a 3-4 defense the ILB is a dynamic position that requires a lot of skills I don't believe are James' strengths, such as blitzing and coverage. Although, I'm sure some will say those are indeed his strongsuit(sp?).

BTW, Tony Tolbert, Tony Casillas and Russell Maryland all made it to the Pro Bowl during their time with the Cowboys. I believe Chad Hennings did as well, but I could be wrong about that.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

I don't necessarily disagree with your sentiments. I think James is a solid and generally reliable.

However, in a 3-4 defense the ILB is a dynamic position that requires a lot of skills I don't believe are James' strengths, such as blitzing and coverage. Although, I'm sure some will say those are indeed his strongsuit(sp?).

Yeah, basically - Bradie isn't so bad that we should be actively looking to get rid of him, but he's not so good that we shouldn't be looking for his replacement. That's how I view it.

 

[realtick]

Yeah, basically - Bradie isn't so bad that we should be actively looking to get rid of him, but he's not so good that we shouldn't be looking for his replacement. That's how I view it.

That's roughly my feeling as well.

 

[Future]

I've been wanting to replace him for about 3 years now. At least in the nickel anyways. God he's terrible in space. I bet Leonard Davis, Kyle Kosier, and Doug Free would beat him in a foot race.

 

[The Realist]

We need to draft another ILB bad. If we happen to hit on Lee, JW and 2010 draft pick, oh well......we'll just have 3 good ones.

 

[theogt]

 

[ABQcowboyJR]

I've been on this train since the beginning, booked the first seat. ILB has been a problem for us for a long time IMO. Not a huge problem, but needs to be addressed.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I have been saying this for years....our 3-4 will go to the next level when our ILB play comes close to matching our NT and OLB.....that is where it is all at in the 3-4....LBer play and NT

If you recall..the first thing Wade THOUGHT he was going to do when he got here was replace Bradie James....and I truly believe that was his thought after he watched James on film

in back to back years the first player we chose was an ILB (Williams) and the next year the second player we chose was an ILB(Lee)

so I strongly believe the organization KNOWS the position needs upgrading

 

[67CowboysFan]

The problem with this team isn't that we have a Bradie James on the team ... the problem is we don't have enough of them. We got a team of all sizzle and no steak underachievers. If we had more Bradie James players on this team we wouldn't be leading the NFL in stupid mistakes.

Bradie James is the type of players we had on the early 90's defenses. Tony Tolbert, Tony Casillas, Thomas Everett, Fred Strickland, Russel Maryland, Chad Hennings. Guys who don't go to Pro Bowls, but guys who overachieve, lead and demand accountability, who know their roles and assignments and do their jobs week in and week out while leaving every ounce of God given talent on the field. When you get 8 or 9 guys on a team like that with 1-2 special players, that's when you get a great unit. That's what we had in the early 90's. That's really what the Superbowl winning Ravens and Patriots defenses were.

You forgot to mention he is one of the best on the team when it comes to stripping the ball. I think Ware and Spencer are the only two that might be better at it than him.

 

[Idgit]

You forgot to mention he is one of the best on the team when it comes to stripping the ball. I think Ware and Spencer are the only two that might be better at it than him.

I don't think either of those guys are better. They just strip QBs from behind (and do it well).

Why we'd want to replace Bradie before his time is beyond me. He should have been in the probowl two years ago, and played really, really well last year, too. This year, he's made several big plays for us that apparently don't get him enough attention.

Frankly, I thought the post asking why we don't rush him more was a really good one. There must be a reason, but he's got a good feel for the delayed rush from that inside position.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Having guys like Bradie is good, but you can't have 2 of them at ILB. Either you pair someone quick who can move around with him, or you pair whomever with Brooking.

 

[casmith07]

The problem with this team isn't that we have a Bradie James on the team ... the problem is we don't have enough of them. We got a team of all sizzle and no steak underachievers. If we had more Bradie James players on this team we wouldn't be leading the NFL in stupid mistakes.

Bradie James is the type of players we had on the early 90's defenses. Tony Tolbert, Tony Casillas, Thomas Everett, Fred Strickland, Russel Maryland, Chad Hennings. Guys who don't go to Pro Bowls, but guys who overachieve, lead and demand accountability, who know their roles and assignments and do their jobs week in and week out while leaving every ounce of God given talent on the field. When you get 8 or 9 guys on a team like that with 1-2 special players, that's when you get a great unit. That's what we had in the early 90's. That's really what the Superbowl winning Ravens and Patriots defenses were.

:clap2:

 

[CCBoy]

I have no problems with both Bradie James and Keith Brooking in the middle of the Dallas defense. I am even looking forward to Sean Lee and Jason Williams maturing quickly behind those two. I feel the heart is well cared for in this entire group of Dallas linebackers.