Starting LB's this year

[Nors]

Problem is Howard is the same size as Burnett/Al who BP has said is much smaller than what he's use to at SOLB.

Weaknesses from link provided:
Struggles taking on bigger blockers, lacks instincts, not the best tackler.

He'll end up in a cover 2 scheme.

And he STILL drafted Burnett! All prospects have some wart unless they are top 10 overall. Ray Lewis was too small too coming out...... Odell Thurman too small.


Howard could be a Derrick Thomas OLB type - JMO

 

[Nors]

Manny Lawson is bigger, and can get to the QB alot better

I DO LIKE MANNY A LOT. Howard brings 4.38/4.47 speed that can go sideline to sideline and cover. All on a 6-3 240 frame - and has edge rush skills.

Imagine a QB having to deal with speed coming at him on both sides! Lawson or Howard. Carpenter is reaching EPIC overration on this board.


http://www.nflfans.com/x/2006/showplayer.php?key=Manny Lawson

 

[Nors]

Hey Nors,
How does your top 5 go in regards to possible prospects at OLB if one is drafted?

I'm close to releasing first Top 100, working Top 200

Top 5 overall is a different animal from Dallas Top 5

Dallas Top 5)
1) Howard
2) Lawson
3) Carpenter

Sleepers - others

Pierre Woods
Spencer Havnor
Nick Reid
Parys Harelson
Chris Cocong
Abdul Hodge

 

[Jarv]

Don't forget about Kalen Thornton..I'm telling ya the kid has a little something to him

What injury did he have ? He made some plays in 2004...

 

[Nors]

What injury did he have ? He made some plays in 2004...

Kalen had chronic and lingering Knee injury I believe that IR'd him.

 

[Zaxor]

What injury did he have ? He made some plays in 2004...

I believe Nors is right and I believe they did the same surgery on him and Beriault it was also done on Al Johnson...where they drill a hole in the bone hoping to grow some cartilige back...I could use that surgery myself if it works

 

[Clove]

What round are you hoping to land this guy in? If your saying first then the boys should go with Lawson, a proven passrusher. 2nd or 3rd I could live with that.

Yeah, Lawson is a faster Ware, he was clocked at 4.43, and has the agility of a LB and the INSTINCTS.

He's projected as a DE but he has the skill to be an OLB, and could blow by TAckles as good or better than Ware. He's listed at 6'5 248, and is very agile and instinctive. But I didn't want to give up this information yet, I was preparing a list of OLB in the draft I would take that could absolutely be dominant, but I couldn't resist. Stay tuned.

 

[Clove]

Ware, James, Derek Smith, Carpenter

Burnett/Shanle as nickel backers.

Burnett and Fowler have the perfect size to play in this defense with both at 6'3 249 ish. Fowler I think started that final game against St.Louis and absolutely dominated that game.

I think he had around 9 tackles and 2 for losses. I'd not seen a LB'r knife thru the line like that in a while. I do like Carpenter, I would put him on the inside.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Ware
James
Burnett
Thomas Howard 4.47 speed - 6-3 240 with edge rush skills


Shanle of course in Nickel.

Actually I would take that Nors.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Shanle sucks in coverage.

Boy he does that.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

This is a very deep draft at Tackle..... I might try and get a WR/FS day 1 also.

Exactly. I'm sick to death of FS's that can't cover.

 

[junk]

Burnett and Fowler have the perfect size to play in this defense with both at 6'3 249 ish. Fowler I think started that final game against St.Louis and absolutely dominated that game.

I think he had around 9 tackles and 2 for losses. I'd not seen a LB'r knife thru the line like that in a while. I do like Carpenter, I would put him on the inside.

I think, eventually, that ILB spot opposite James will be Burnett's. I like Smith as a potential bridge in the event Burnett isn't fully healed/ready.

Plus, with the potential losses of Dat and Singleton, I'd like an established vet leader with experience in the 3-4. Lots of youth at the LB position.

 

[Nors]

Boy he does that.

i love the bz well not thought out blanket statements.

The "he sucks" comment!

Now back to reality......

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=F1376BA0-F0A6-165F-56F7E3C6D715B0F3

Short Shots

Petitti and Sean Ryan (foot) rode stationary bikes on the sideline during practice. Ryan is expected to miss 4-5 weeks with a fractured fifth metatarsal in his left foot . . . Parcells said he is impressed with linebacker Scott Shanle, who started the final three games of 2004 at strong-side linebacker in place of Al Singleton (abdominal/groin) and currently is playing behind Dat Nguyen at the Jack linebacker spot weak side) inside. Parcells said Shanle is better in pass coverage than Bradie James, who is working with the first team at the Mike linebacker spot . .


SCOUTING
LINEBACKER SCOTT SHANLE
Year: Third
What you need to know: At first glance, Shanle seems to be in a bad spot. He is behind Dat Nguyen on the depth chart as the weakside inside linebacker in the 3-4 defense. But Shanle, who was one of coach Bill Parcells' projects from last season, is obviously doing something right. The coaches rave about him.
"I think Shanle is doing very well," Parcells said. "I like him as a player. He makes plays in the game. He can run. I like him."
Shanle likely will be utilized in nickel situations because he is a better pass defender than Bradie James, who is currently the starter at the strongside inside linebacker, and some of the other young players in training camp.
Parcells said a big factor in determining which linebackers he will keep is what players can not do. The best-case scenario is finding a group of linebackers who are good defenders, good pass defenders and good special-teams players.
These players are also called "starters."
The linebackers who will be backing them up are the ones who can do one or two of those roles really well and are not a liability in the other. Which is a big reason why the coaches are high on Shanle.
He has quickness, he is pretty good in coverage, and he showed some aptitude at getting to the quarterback last season.

 

[Rush 2112]

And he STILL drafted Burnett! All prospects have some wart unless they are top 10 overall. Ray Lewis was too small too coming out...... Odell Thurman too small.


Howard could be a Derrick Thomas OLB type - JMO

Drafted him to play inside quite obviously.

Remember "bubble backer" and 5 other comments to that end?

 

[Clove]

I think, eventually, that ILB spot opposite James will be Burnett's. I like Smith as a potential bridge in the event Burnett isn't fully healed/ready.

Plus, with the potential losses of Dat and Singleton, I'd like an established vet leader with experience in the 3-4. Lots of youth at the LB position.

I think it's important to have people like Lawson who can seriously get after the QB like Ware.

Can you imagine having Ware and Lawson opposite lining up in a standup rushing position in a 3-4 not knowing which guy (if not both) is coming. They could do just like the Steelers, and have Ware or Lawson come to the middle of the line, to add a threat of a blitz thru the middle.

These 2 with addition of a huge DT and RW close to the line of scrimmage would be an absolute mad-house defense. Also, Lawson is faster than Ware and more agile, so you can't stand him up if you're a tight end, he can cover anyone (except receivers deep, but receivers within 10 yards). No running back or TE or FB or QB will outrun this cat.

The best news is, you can get him in the 3rd, since he's only built to play in a 3-4 as an OLB. He's way too small at 6'5 248 to play an every down DE in a 4-3, and would absolutely be wasted as an OLB in a 4-3. Only 8 teams are playing the 3-4 including us, and most are looking at other needs and the others are already set in that position.

 

[Nors]

Drafted him to play inside quite obviously.

Remember "bubble backer" and 5 other comments to that end?

Size is obviously not an issue. You are not alone listening to all the PC's. We need playmakers.

He took an ILB in Banks and moved him outside. Go figure.

Howard can play in this scheme just fine. Lawson also a thought.

 

[Zaxor]

i love the bz well not thought out blanket statements.

The "he sucks" comment!

Now back to reality......

http://www.dallascowboys.com/news.cfm?id=F1376BA0-F0A6-165F-56F7E3C6D715B0F3

Short Shots

Petitti and Sean Ryan (foot) rode stationary bikes on the sideline during practice. Ryan is expected to miss 4-5 weeks with a fractured fifth metatarsal in his left foot . . . Parcells said he is impressed with linebacker Scott Shanle, who started the final three games of 2004 at strong-side linebacker in place of Al Singleton (abdominal/groin) and currently is playing behind Dat Nguyen at the Jack linebacker spot weak side) inside. Parcells said Shanle is better in pass coverage than Bradie James, who is working with the first team at the Mike linebacker spot . .

Nors didn't Parcells also say Dalroy Stewart was the man..so forth ect.

 

[Clove]

Size is obviously not an issue. You are not alone listening to all the PC's. We need playmakers.

He took an ILB in Banks and moved him outside. Go figure.

Howard can play in this scheme just fine. Lawson also a thought.

Not to mention Nors, that we have the smallest front line of the 3 power house 3-4 teams. Our weight on the front line is a combined weight of 899 pds, while the Steelers (922 lbs) Patriots (942 lbs) and the Chargers (960 lbs).
So adding a big tackle, will help James and Fowler/Burnett make way more plays. I do like Howard, but if his agility is not good, he could be a liability in coverage.

 

[Nors]

Nors didn't Parcells also say Dalroy Stewart was the man..so forth ect.

Who?

Stalewart never made it 3 seasons with Parcells like Shanle has.......


Thats what I listen to. Here's hoping Shanle is fully recovered from his ankle injury. He played throught it so should be fine by camp.


Add Lawson/Howard and maybe a FA ILB and we have a NASTY LB unit......

 

[neosapien23]

I think it's important to have people like Lawson who can seriously get after the QB like Ware.

Can you imagine having Ware and Lawson opposite lining up in a standup rushing position in a 3-4 not knowing which guy (if not both) is coming. They could do just like the Steelers, and have Ware or Lawson come to the middle of the line, to add a threat of a blitz thru the middle.

These 2 with addition of a huge DT and RW close to the line of scrimmage would be an absolute mad-house defense. Also, Lawson is faster than Ware and more agile, so you can't stand him up if you're a tight end, he can cover anyone (except receivers deep, but receivers within 10 yards). No running back or TE or FB or QB will outrun this cat.

The best news is, you can get him in the 3rd, since he's only built to play in a 3-4 as an OLB. He's way too small at 6'5 248 to play an every down DE in a 4-3, and would absolutely be wasted as an OLB in a 4-3. Only 8 teams are playing the 3-4 including us, and most are looking at other needs and the others are already set in that position.

Problem is that the Oline is a huge glaring weakness. RT and C are our biggest needs. If the Boys are are able to land both Bentley and Barry in FA, then I wouldn't mind taken Lawson at 18. He is worth the pick, but we have other glaring needsright now. I don't know if we have a real shot at Bentely as he might draw the franchise tag. I wouldn't mind spending on Fonotui either. He could easily take over for LA and BP could make him loose weight. Fonutui and Mike Williams have serious weight issues. They both need to start getting in shape so that by July they can both cut about 20-30lbs. Williams is another possibility as he might be a salary cap cut.