This board is overlooking our needs at linebacker

[AsthmaField]

I've got a theory that he either doesn't want to be playin football or he don't wanna play it for the Cowboys or it's just not his priority right now.

I have a theory that Carter is a devout coward and hates the contact.

 

[Alexander]

I have a theory that Carter is a devout coward and hates the contact.

Not sure about the coward part, but I think he is a little, let's say, slow.

 

[AsthmaField]

Not sure about the coward part, but I think he is a little, let's say, slow.

You think he lacks the smarts to play the position for Marinelli? You could be right, but I didn't think he had trouble learning.

I did see him look soft at times when taking on blocks and trying to run around contact instead of taking it on... which is why I think he doesn't like the contact. Jimmy Johnson used to say that he would ask their college coaches if they liked contact or not, and if they didn't, he would stay away from them. A sentiment I agree with whole-heartedly.

 

[OhSnap]

I have a theory that Carter is a devout coward and hates the contact.

He doesn't like football very much.

He had that torn acl his last year at college which was probably the most pain he's ever felt in his life he may be playing more timid because of that.

 

[dcstands4]

Everyone keeps talking about our needs on the defensive line, and is harping over a perceived need at safety, but much less about our linebacking corps. If you take off the rose colored glasses, we seem to have a stud in Sean Lee, but beyond him, there is a pretty steep drop off in the quality of play overall.

Even if Carter steps up his play then there is still a lot of room to upgrade this linebacking corps in the draft or via free agency. A stud linebacker might significantly upgrade the overall play of this defense....possibly more so than a safety or defensive lineman that we could obtain through the draft this year. My guess is we will take a linebacker early ..... probably in the first three rounds, with the smart money being on round two or three, unless Barr falls to us at #16.

Thats why I made the post I did yesterday

 

[DuDa]

I think people are talking about linebacker plenty. The needs that are really going unnoticed are CB and RB. Murray is on the last year of his deal, Carr makes way to much for his play, and Mo is on the verge of being a bust. Do not get upset if the Cowboys address these needs higher than you might think during the draft.

 

[Idgit]

You think he lacks the smarts to play the position for Marinelli? You could be right, but I didn't think he had trouble learning.

I did see him look soft at times when taking on blocks and trying to run around contact instead of taking it on... which is why I think he doesn't like the contact. Jimmy Johnson used to say that he would ask their college coaches if they liked contact or not, and if they didn't, he would stay away from them. A sentiment I agree with whole-heartedly.

I get the feeling Carter doesn't give his best effort when he's beat or confused. He plays great in spurts and is a tremendous athlete, but I'd be planning to replace him.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Not many are talking about LBs in the 1st because Mack, Barr and Mosely are consensus top 10 picks, after the three are gone the talent isn't there @ 16.

Ryan Shazier is a perfect fit for the 4/3 in a trade down.

 

[hutch1254]

After the top 3 LB's the talent to draft pick value level drops dramatically.

Mack won't be there at 16.

If Barr is I take him in a heartbeat.

CJ Mosley is also a very strong consideration if he physically checks out well and is the best player on our board at that pick.

I don't think LB is being overlooked at all.

In fact Jerry Jones even stated the FO may be considering 1 of the top 3 LB's in the 1st round since the talent at that position drops off greatly after.

I would not have a problem taking Mosley at all. If he's the BPA at 16 and Dline guys we want at that point are gone or we can't work a trade down I don't have a problem taking him. I think you stick with BPA and not force the issue. Even though trades are far and few between you could always trade that BPA for a player you actually need at a certain position. It was talked about that the front 7 be improved/rebuilt. It's not the position you ideally want but its front 7 material we can worth with.

 

[Vanilla2]

I say draft LB in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th...

That leaves very little room for TE's and corners.

 

[silver]

Well last year a top 5 prospect at DT fell all the way to us and we passed and traded down so don't worry if one of the top three drops. Jerry will say something about not being quick twitch or some ridiculous comment to justify his gaffe.

 

[RS12]

You can only plug so many holes per year, but you are right. I have no confidence in Lee staying healthy or Carter putting it together.

 

[iceberg]

Well last year a top 5 prospect at DT fell all the way to us and we passed and traded down so don't worry if one of the top three drops. Jerry will say something about not being quick twitch or some ridiculous comment to justify his gaffe.

and he had 2.5 sacks and started in 1 game.

frederick looks to be a starting center for a long time to come and made the all rookie team.

but hey, keep on being you.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

You think he lacks the smarts to play the position for Marinelli? You could be right, but I didn't think he had trouble learning.

I did see him look soft at times when taking on blocks and trying to run around contact instead of taking it on... which is why I think he doesn't like the contact. Jimmy Johnson used to say that he would ask their college coaches if they liked contact or not, and if they didn't, he would stay away from them. A sentiment I agree with whole-heartedly.

It's hard to play LB when Hayden is getting blown off the line and the guard right next to him is coming right at you. We did a piss poor job holding the los much less getting penetration. Now I am not saying that Carter is Randy White out there but he is not Bobby Carpenter either. For all the blocks he couldn't get off of, he still managed to get 96 tackles.

Maybe Carter is weak but I don't think he got a fair shot and he looked plenty physical in 2012 before he broke his leg.

 

[Alexander]

He had that torn acl his last year at college which was probably the most pain he's ever felt in his life he may be playing more timid because of that.

He is several years removed from that. I highly doubt you can point to his health as a problem.

In 2012, he looked extremely comfortable in the 3-4 filling in for Lee inside. He was practically dominant at times and had everyone talking about him being part of the future, right along with Bryant, Lee and Smith. He was part of the "when should we lock him up" discussion.

From what he did last year, he suddenly looked like a casualty of the knee jerk scheme change. He was just as much of a poor fit as Carr and Claiborne became.

The weakside linebacker in the scheme is just as key as the three technique tackle to the overall success of the defense. It is the position that Derrick Brooks played in Tampa and that Briggs played in Chicago. His level of play was a big reason why the defense was broken.

The tentativeness people see is undoubtedly due to him mentally struggling with the assignments. If you are not sure what you are doing, you play so. If you are thinking too much, you are going to take false steps and look like you want nothing to do with the action.

He had a really bad season. It started when he dropped the interception in Kansas City, got worse when Danny Woodhead abused him and benching him for Ernie Sims did not help his confidence much either. He just looked like he mentally checked out after that point. The Saints game was horrific.

 

[Silver N Blue]

I'm not sure overlooking is the right word. I'm on board with trying to replace Woodson for the second time. It's hard not to want another area of need filled first when you have:
Lee Consensus First Rd pick if healthy
Carter SAB
Wilbur has played "well" when given the opportunity
Hollomon SAB
and the current depth of Durant...now not saying this is not a need but count me in the group that see's DL,S as a "higher" need than LB right now.

 

[Alexander]

Teams should draft with a two year window in mind just as much as the immediate need.

So the question is, are you going to re-sign Carter at this time in 2015? If not, you had better at least think about things during the draft with that decision in mind.

I would absolutely consider a replacement (or at the very least competition). Telvin Smith is my personal choice. Fits the speed mode we supposedly want.

 

[TheSport78]

Why cant we get a safety that isnt terrible for once?

Nah. Jerry said we're good at safety so this must be the case.

 

[Alexander]

Nah. Jerry said we're good at safety so this must be the case.

Jones' comments are usually parroting what his coaches tell him. When he says those kind of things, it is usually a reflection of how the staff feels about what they have.

All I need to do is connect the dots. The safety position was never a huge draft priority when Kiffin was with Dungy, it never became one in Chicago under Lovie Smith, at least in terms of high draft choices. What we did last year with Wilcox fits the general pattern and I do not think they have given up on him.

I predict there will be a few angry people during the draft if that pattern holds true.

 

[TheSport78]

Jones' comments are usually parroting what his coaches tell him. When he says those kind of things, it is usually a reflection of how the staff feels about what they have.

All I need to do is connect the dots. The safety position was never a huge draft priority when Kiffin was with Dungy, it never became one in Chicago under Lovie Smith, at least in terms of high draft choices. What we did last year with Wilcox fits the general pattern and I do not think they have given up on him.

I predict there will be a few angry people during the draft if that pattern holds true.

Jerry recently said that he leans more on the scouts over the coaches when it comes to the draft. Although this totally goes against the Sharif Floyd situation last year, I hope he has learned his lesson. This is exactly why coaches should not be talent evaluators in the offseason. Let the scouts and the pro personnel department do their jobs. Jerry, stop having too many voices around your ear.

It's pretty apparant that we're not set at safety. Church is a good player but replaceable. Wilcox is a complete unknown and he wouldn't keep me from drafting a safety in the early rounds. The current Dallas secondary has its problems, but there's no one that opposing offenses FEAR. Where's our Earl Thomas? Richard Sherman? Calvin Pryor or even Jimmie Ward would get me pumped for next year.