Start Jaylon? Replacing Hitchens

[theebs]

When we have done this in the past we get someone like LaVarr Arrington. MAybe there is a Brice Butler quality player at the position but given how often defensive players are injured I don't think they devalue depth as much as you claim.

And of course Smith would need to be rotated. I would feel more comfortable finding a platoon mate than I would a starting quality middle linebacker.

well if they think smith can handle platooning all these snaps then Durant is the guy.

Step back and look at this linebacking group though and how fragile it is. You have lee and durant who have had a lot of unfortunate injuries and smith who is an unknown to me. I fear teams isolating him and attacking him when the real games start. If wilson gets suspended the linebacking group is really in trouble here.

I have to imagine the best bet trade wise is finding a team who has a backer that does not fit their scheme but fits in Dallas scheme.

 

[theebs]

Trade the Bills for Reggie Ragland

the bills need wr help. Not sure where they stand on ragland or if he could play mlb here but they seem to be the type of team to maybe look at since they have a void where we have seemingly 9 guys that could wr in the nfl.

 

[big dog cowboy]

With Hitchens out at MIKE the team needs to figure out who replaces him.

I am of the mind that you might as well start the Smith era now.

Did you forget he can't play any more? Bunch of crow eaters round here after whiffing on that prediction.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

I'd imagine Wilson eats a lot of those snaps. You're only using two for most of the game and they ran him out there in place of Hitch in nickel some last season.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

well if they think smith can handle platooning all these snaps then Durant is the guy.

Step back and look at this linebacking group though and how fragile it is. You have lee and durant who have had a lot of unfortunate injuries and smith who is an unknown to me. I fear teams isolating him and attacking him when the real games start. If wilson gets suspended the linebacking group is really in trouble here.

I have to imagine the best bet trade wise is finding a team who has a backer that does not fit their scheme but fits in Dallas scheme.

He's been isolated onto OG, C, and TE already and stacks and sheds better than anyone else we have including Lee or Hitchens. Hitchens still gives up ground trying to disengage. Lee can get stuck on blocks although most of the time he diagnoses and flanks. McClain did it better but you have to go back more than a decade outside of him to find someone better.

In pass coverage with as much underneath zone and cover 3 we have been running I think you will be hard pressed to isolate LB without a cap over top.

I get that they have their progression. He will likely be capped at 30 snaps next game and frankly I don't want any LBer taking more than 50 snaps in a game as it is. Fragile or not it is what it is and worrying about it is not going to change the fact that you have to play them.

Sure scour the waiver wire and work the phones but expecting someone much better than a LaVarr Arrington is setting yourself up for disappointment. Arrington was a decent rotational piece and mad ea fair amount of plays but if you want a starting quality LB Jaylon is the best chance we have.

 

[theebs]

He's been isolated onto OG, C, and TE already and stacks and sheds better than anyone else we have including Lee or Hitchens. Hitchens still gives up ground trying to disengage. Lee can get stuck on blocks although most of the time he diagnoses and flanks. McClain did it better but you have to go back more than a decade outside of him to find someone better.

In pass coverage with as much underneath zone and cover 3 we have been running I think you will be hard pressed to isolate LB without a cap over top.

I get that they have their progression. He will likely be capped at 30 snaps next game and frankly I don't want any LBer taking more than 50 snaps in a game as it is. Fragile or not it is what it is and worrying about it is not going to change the fact that you have to play them.

Sure scour the waiver wire and work the phones but expecting someone much better than a LaVarr Arrington is setting yourself up for disappointment. Arrington was a decent rotational piece and mad ea fair amount of plays but if you want a starting quality LB Jaylon is the best chance we have.

i feel like I am missing something with the Arrington references.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I'd imagine Wilson eats a lot of those snaps. You're only using two for most of the game and they ran him out there in place of Hitch in nickel some last season.

Wilson already plays SAM and I do not want him on the nickel. He simply has no range in space. I'd rather play Durant or Nzeocha on the nickel.

 

[CF74]

I'd go mlb by committee until Jaylon can go full time.

 

[theebs]

Wilson already plays SAM and I do not want him on the nickel. He simply has no range in space. I'd rather play Durant or Nzeocha on the nickel.

they must just end up giving nzochea a shot considering he knows the system.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Wilson already plays SAM and I do not want him on the nickel. He simply has no range in space. I'd rather play Durant or Nzeocha on the nickel.

Nzeocha is awful. I'd rather give Jones a shot.

 

[theebs]

I wonder if the colts would part with Sean Spence? I think he is a scheme fit and has the ability to cover that the mlb needs here.

Im not sure what his status in indianapolis is however or what it would take.

 

[EPL0c0]

With Hitchens out at MIKE the team needs to figure out who replaces him. Here are the candidates:

Durant: Veteran experience but has not played since he was activated this past week.
Nzeocha: Athletic and proficient in coverage but misses tackles like JJ Wilcox circa 2015.
Wilson: Already the starting SAM, he struggles carrying RB and TE in space.
Smith: Needs to square up more consistently on pursuit outside but athleticism and range stands out.
Jones: Raw and misses reads. Struggles taking on blocks. Excellent athlete with exceptional coverage range. Solid tackler and pursuer. Have been hiding him. Likely to be on PS.

I am of the mind that you might as well start the Smith era now. He will take time to fully adjust and need to be rotated early but I suspect by the time October is winding down he will start making plays consistently.

I expect that they start Durant and rotate the other guys in. Curious to see how many LB they keep now.

Wilson *WILL* be suspended at some point b/c of the July 4 incident.

the hand is kind of forced here...gotta go w/ Jaylon Smith

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

i feel like I am missing something with the Arrington references.

I transposed the name and cannot recall the correct one. We traded for a DE several year ago and he was a rotational guy. I cannot remember his name though. Trades don't often render much is the point I am making.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Nzeocha is awful. I'd rather give Jones a shot.

He was better this past game but I don't disagree.

 

[theebs]

Wilson *WILL* be suspended at some point b/c of the July 4 incident.

the hand is kind of forced here...gotta go w/ Jaylon Smith

Brad Sham tonight seemed to be pretty concerned with Damien Wilson's roster spot because of how late he was still in the game. He was just having conversation but you never know.

 

[theebs]

I transposed the name and cannot recall the correct one. We traded for a DE several year ago and he was a rotational guy. I cannot remember his name though. Trades don't often render much is the point I am making.

they dont at this time of year because of the types of players you are dealing with but it has worked here and there in the past. Scott Fujita was a trade that helped back in 05 at linebacker. Apples and Oranges and a different staff but its possible to find someone who can help.

most likely they go the route of keeping nzochea and durant and rotate all these guys. The problem with this is how much it cold affect the gameday 46. I imagine lee, Wilson, Wilber, Smith, durant are always active and it will probably depend on tight end/wr/o-line where the other inactive comes from but carrying more than 5 linebackers on gameday seems like a stretch. I honestly wasnt sure how durant would be on the roster on gameday before the hitchens injury.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Brad Sham tonight seemed to be pretty concerned with Damien Wilson's roster spot because of how late he was still in the game. He was just having conversation but you never know.

Maybe but I saw that as a combination of people moving up from Hitchen going out and them hiding Joe Jones. He has gotten maybe a dozen snaps since he played well in halves the first two games.

 

[ilykdrama]

Jaylon. Mark it. This kid is special. Takes Hitchens job and never looks back.

 

[Rogerthat12]

 

[JBell]

Be nice for McClay to work some of that waiver wire magic.