Smaller, quicker MLB's vs. Bradie and Akin

[khiladi]

Examples please? Because if you're talking about Donnie Edwards, I think he played at 236. Burnett is in the 230s. James is in the low 240s. Ayodele is in the low 240s. I just don't know that 10lbs make that much of a difference.

Besides I'm not sure why folks want to replace Bradie. He had an outstanding year.

Ayodele was solid. I can accept that the 'boys can't have steak at every position. And it wasn't like him being on the field was hurting more than ehlpeing.

Oh, 10 lbs. makes a huge difference in performance. Bradie lost close to ten pounds last offseason, and that was one of the reasons he had an 'outstanding year'. As far as Akin, I'm not to keen on. The guy seems to get confused in zone-coverage.

 

[AbeBeta]

I could see replacing Ayodele, but not James at this point. We don't need steak, but something better than basic would be nice. CB and WR are still bigger needs, IMO.

Ayodele is a solid player but he's the Kyle Kosier of the defense - not someone you actively look upgrade over but if a late round pick can take his job ....

James had a better season than several of our pro-bowl players. Wade was able to get him off the field in situations that didn't match his skills. He's one of the few defenders on this team who care to lead. Frankly, his 2006 wasn't as bad as people make it out to be -- he stank in coverage at times but he was great against the run. He's a keeper.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

It seems to me that those who want to replace Akin, are the same ones who want Carpenter to replace him. It's more about being a Carpenter homer than Akin's abilities.

 

[DallasDomination]

Bobby Carpenter is a pretty fast LB...

No He's not lol...

 

[btcutter]

I am just disappointed that our LBs can't cover a lick except maybe Burnett. We got to be one of the few teams that do not have a LB without an interception for the year.

 

[theogt]

No He's not lol...

Since when is 4.6 speed not fast for a linebacker, particularly one his size?

 

[DallasDomination]

Since when is 4.6 speed not fast for a linebacker, particularly one his size?

since when is a 40 yard dash translate into football speed?...Football speed is alot more then going straight...it's all about burst, change of direction, reaction and Straight line speed.


Carpenter is not football fast...That's just my opinion. I dont want a guy stumbling around..Keep that 40 yard dash.

 

[theogt]

since when is a 40 yard dash translate into football speed?...Football speed is alot more then going straight...it's all about burst, change of direction, reaction and Straight line speed.


Carpenter is not football fast...That's just my opinion. I dont want a guy stumbling around..Keep that 40 yard dash.

If you can't tell he has speed on the field, I don't know what to tell you. His problem isn't speed, it's recognition, reaction and confidence. He has plenty of speed and athleticism.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Donnie Edwards was 228, not 238.

Stephen Cooper is about 6-1, 235.

There are plenty of others, if I had more time to search for them.

It's not that smaller LBs are better -- it's just that we don't have to eliminate some good players who were "too small" before. I remember reading that our scouts liked guys like Leroy Hill, but they wouldn't have fit before. Now they will.

 

[wileedog]

If you can't tell he doesn't have speed on the field, I don't know what to tell you. He's problem isn't speed, it's recognition, reaction and confidence. He has plenty of speed and athleticism.

Doesn't seem to come off blocks very well either in the limited time we've seen him, nor does he seem very physical for a 250lb LBer..

But I agree he looks pretty quick on Special Teams.

 

[hendog]

Donnie Edwards was 228, not 238.

Stephen Cooper is about 6-1, 235.

There are plenty of others, if I had more time to search for them.

It's not that smaller LBs are better -- it's just that we don't have to eliminate some good players who were "too small" before. I remember reading that our scouts liked guys like Leroy Hill, but they wouldn't have fit before. Now they will.

Exactly. Give me a "Dameco Ryans" or" Lofa" and I'll be happy.

 

[Doomsday101]

Wade has had a history of having some smaller, faster middle linebackers. I think his defense relies on speed more than Parcells did. Do you think we'll add a mlb thru FA or the draft. I'd love to replace Akin with Lance Briggs.

James is smaller than Wilhelm who Wade had in SD. Wilhelm 6-4 245 to James 6-2 239.

 

[AbeBeta]

Donnie Edwards was 228, not 238.

Stephen Cooper is about 6-1, 235.

There are plenty of others, if I had more time to search for them.

It's not that smaller LBs are better -- it's just that we don't have to eliminate some good players who were "too small" before. I remember reading that our scouts liked guys like Leroy Hill, but they wouldn't have fit before. Now they will.

Those guys are small but you've got to look at what is in front of them -- a 350 lb NT who is among the best in the league. Different story of those guys if game after game they have a sub-300lb NT in front of them.

 

[wileedog]

It seems to me that those who want to replace Akin, are the same ones who want Carpenter to replace him. It's more about being a Carpenter homer than Akin's abilities.

I want to replace Akin because he is a JAG. His impact on games is minimal compared to most ILBs in a 3-4.

Carpenter hasn't shown he is anything more either.

Not a fan of Brady either at the end of the day. He is night and day better than last year, which gets him a pass with a lot of folks, but like Akin he's not really a difference maker at a position where the defense is built for him to make a difference. I'd keep him over Akin though.

I don't see a 'problem' per se with either of them, but I don't see a truly dominant defense with either or both still in place either.

But Carpenter needs a serious light bulb to go off in training camp if he is going to replace either though.

 

[superpunk]

Mostly I'd like Burnett or Carpenter to take Akin or Bradie's spot. Despite having a better year, Bradie is still more solid than dynamic - I think Carpenter and Burnett at least have the potential to be more than solid.

I think we'll see one of them pushing Akin for PT in the base defense this season. Probably Carpenter. I have a feeling he's going to be a nice surprise next season. Outside of Ware, he's probably our most athletic LB. Now...if he just wasn't afraid of contact....

 

[hendog]

I'd like for Carpenter to play well enough to warrant some playing time. He showed in the Seattle playoff game that he was actually very good in coverage. He needs to cut that hair and grow a pair.

 

[theogt]

Doesn't seem to come off blocks very well either in the limited time we've seen him, nor does he seem very physical for a 250lb LBer..

But I agree he looks pretty quick on Special Teams.

I think that's part of his tentativeness. Toward the end of '06 he seemed to play more agressively and then he didnt' have a problem getting off blocks then.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

Exactly. Give me a "Dameco Ryans" or" Lofa" and I'll be happy.

Oh, really? Nothing more than a Ryans or Lofa? yeah, you and the fans of about 30 other NFL teams.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Those guys are small but you've got to look at what is in front of them -- a 350 lb NT who is among the best in the league. Different story of those guys if game after game they have a sub-300lb NT in front of them.

It's still a one-gap defense, though. Main reason the Parcells ILBs had to be so big was that they had to take on 300-lb guards every play. Now they don't.

Wade had smaller ILBs than Parcells even before SD, when he had smaller NTs than Williams.

 

[BBQ101]

Mostly I'd like Burnett or Carpenter to take Akin or Bradie's spot. Despite having a better year, Bradie is still more solid than dynamic - I think Carpenter and Burnett at least have the potential to be more than solid.

I think we'll see one of them pushing Akin for PT in the base defense this season. Probably Carpenter. I have a feeling he's going to be a nice surprise next season. Outside of Ware, he's probably our most athletic LB. Now...if he just wasn't afraid of contact....

I just can't count on Burnett to be an every down lb. That guys gets nicked up more than a razor blade cutting concrete.

Hopefully Carpenter can get a fair shot. He may or may not have skills, but as a first round player, you got to at least get him on the field in "real" game situations and see what happens. It's time to let the kid play. He did a decent job on special teams, maybe he can do a decent job on the defense.


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