When was the last time Jerry got a quality linebacker?

[RustyBourneHorse]

Seriously, when was the last time Jerry took a quality linebacker? Parsons and DWare were technically more pass rushers than linebackers. I suppose one could say maybe LVE and Lee when they were healthy?

We have stated before how bad Jerry is at evaluating safeties, but it's kinda hard to have a good secondary if your linebackers are painfully bad. I think we have a pretty good front 4, but, when you don't have linebackers, it really doesn't matter. And for as bad as our secondary has been, it's kind hard to get takeaways and have an effective secondary when your linebackers are pathetic.

As well as changing DCs (hopefully to Schwartz, Flores, or maybe Haines from the Indiana Hoosiers), I kinda think linebacker needs to be our top priority. We are always razor thin at linebacker in depth, and we almost never have quality linebackers. I would love to see us get Sonny Styles of Ohio State. I think him and Caleb Downs (safety Ohio State) would be a great duo, but I think we really have to do something about linebacker.

You want to know why Detroit and Philadelphia (I hate saying what I'm about to say about Philly) are as dangerous as they are? You want to know why Denver is really good? Their defence has both good pass rush, good NTs (which we now do with Clark and Williams), and good linebackers. I think if we can get our linebackers upgraded with the front 4 we are developing, I think we can be a much better defence, especially if we get one of the DCs I mentioned.

That said, yeah, it's crazy how bad we are at linebacker. Seriously, when was the last time Jerry actually got a quality linebacker?

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

I mean, we can get all the secondary we want, but we kinda need linebackers that are quality. Might be good to sign a quality linebacker in FA.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Seriously, when was the last time Jerry took a quality linebacker? Parsons and DWare were technically more pass rushers than linebackers. I suppose one could say maybe LVE and Lee when they were healthy?

We have stated before how bad Jerry is at evaluating safeties, but it's kinda hard to have a good secondary if your linebackers are painfully bad. I think we have a pretty good front 4, but, when you don't have linebackers, it really doesn't matter. And for as bad as our secondary has been, it's kind hard to get takeaways and have an effective secondary when your linebackers are pathetic.

As well as changing DCs (hopefully to Schwartz, Flores, or maybe Haines from the Indiana Hoosiers), I kinda think linebacker needs to be our top priority. We are always razor thin at linebacker in depth, and we almost never have quality linebackers. I would love to see us get Sonny Styles of Ohio State. I think him and Caleb Downs (safety Ohio State) would be a great duo, but I think we really have to do something about linebacker.

You want to know why Detroit and Philadelphia (I hate saying what I'm about to say about Philly) are as dangerous as they are? You want to know why Denver is really good? Their defence has both good pass rush, good NTs (which we now do with Clark and Williams), and good linebackers. I think if we can get our linebackers upgraded with the front 4 we are developing, I think we can be a much better defence, especially if we get one of the DCs I mentioned.

That said, yeah, it's crazy how bad we are at linebacker. Seriously, when was the last time Jerry actually got a quality linebacker?

Rusty.........Jerry DCs generally have Super Bowl or head coaching experience or both. But it would NOT surprise me if he stayed in-house and promoted Arron Whitecotton. I see him building the D around Quinnen Williams going forward. Just don't see him wanting to pay another DC top money after fring Eberflus.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Rusty.........Jerry DCs generally have Super Bowl or head coaching experience or both. But it would NOT surprise me if he stayed in-house and promoted Arron Whitecotton. I see him building the D around Quinnen Williams going forward. Just don't see him wanting to pay another DC top money after fring Eberflus.

Yeah, that's my concern too. It should be Schwartz, though if he's not wanting to pay top dollar, the Hoosiers DC Haines would be a good choice.

 

[diamonddelts]

LVE had one good year but he was not it. Sean Lee could have been a HOF candidate if his career was not shortened by injuries. His numbers were similar to Luke Kuechly when he was healthy.

 

[Rayman70]

Rusty.........Jerry DCs generally have Super Bowl or head coaching experience or both. But it would NOT surprise me if he stayed in-house and promoted Arron Whitecotton. I see him building the D around Quinnen Williams going forward. Just don't see him wanting to pay another DC top money after fring Eberflus.

This. Whitecotton would be a epic hire as the DC.

 

[Rayman70]

Micah was drafted and was a great linebacker. That's the last time. Dint forget, in his rookie year, he was killing it at linebacker. He was hanging with very athletic tightends in coverage routinely. Then we converted him to edge mainly. It hurt the LB group. We never recovered from that. Been trying to replace him since. We drafted poorly at linebacker. We can't **** up this coming draft. We need dbs and corners, safeties. Need a big boy for edge. Need a war daddy to pair with EZE. Losing Kneeland really set us back. He was developing.

 

[John813]

They knew about LVE's condition but took him anyways. They knew about Smith's leg, but took him anyways. Lee was a 2nd round pick, IIRC he had injury concerns in college.

Since LVE, they've been bargain hunting for LBs in day 3. Maybe it's a mix of how the draft falls, but I feel like they just don't want to use a higher pick on a LB, even though they knew with all 3 LBS there were medical red flags but ignored them due to the "talent".

The last quality true offball LB was LVE, but that was only 1 season.

McClain was a good trade, but he had different red flags, that ultimately flared up.

I wonder if they know they can still go after a good LB up high, without red flags?

 

[DFWJC]

Parsons?

Or was this about Inside LBs

 

[TNCowboy]

LB is not a valued position. You find those guys in the middle and later rounds unless they're really good prospects. There have only been 2 true LBs drafted in the 1st round in the last 3 drafts combined, and they were late 1st rounders at that. The guys who are great athletes at the position usually get turned into edges. And one of those 2 guys drafted in the 1st, Jihad Campbell, may eventually wind up an edge, too. If you draft someone like Sonny Styles with a 1st, he'd better be a beast if you expect him to make an impact.

You don't reach for a position just because you need one. LB is a position you save cap $ and picks. Unfortunately, McClay's drafts have been so bad that last 4 or 5 years, we can't even get the middle rounds where you find your LBs right.

Smart $$ would be spend our cap and high picks on Edges, OTs, and CBs, and find someone like Kendricks to play LB. Just don't trade or sign a complete jag like Kenneth Murray who has shown the whole world for years that he can't play.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Micah was drafted and was a great linebacker. That's the last time. Dint forget, in his rookie year, he was killing it at linebacker. He was hanging with very athletic tightends in coverage routinely. Then we converted him to edge mainly. It hurt the LB group. We never recovered from that. Been trying to replace him since. We drafted poorly at linebacker. We can't **** up this coming draft. We need dbs and corners, safeties. Need a big boy for edge. Need a war daddy to pair with EZE. Losing Kneeland really set us back. He was developing.

I know that Micah was technically a LB, but he's more of a pass rusher. And that's kinda my point. It sucked losing Kneeland. He was getting better weekly. But yeah, overall, we don't do well with drafting lb. We have to get better this draft. We need Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs.

 

[Kingofholland]

Seriously, when was the last time Jerry took a quality linebacker? Parsons and DWare were technically more pass rushers than linebackers. I suppose one could say maybe LVE and Lee when they were healthy?

We have stated before how bad Jerry is at evaluating safeties, but it's kinda hard to have a good secondary if your linebackers are painfully bad. I think we have a pretty good front 4, but, when you don't have linebackers, it really doesn't matter. And for as bad as our secondary has been, it's kind hard to get takeaways and have an effective secondary when your linebackers are pathetic.

As well as changing DCs (hopefully to Schwartz, Flores, or maybe Haines from the Indiana Hoosiers), I kinda think linebacker needs to be our top priority. We are always razor thin at linebacker in depth, and we almost never have quality linebackers. I would love to see us get Sonny Styles of Ohio State. I think him and Caleb Downs (safety Ohio State) would be a great duo, but I think we really have to do something about linebacker.

You want to know why Detroit and Philadelphia (I hate saying what I'm about to say about Philly) are as dangerous as they are? You want to know why Denver is really good? Their defence has both good pass rush, good NTs (which we now do with Clark and Williams), and good linebackers. I think if we can get our linebackers upgraded with the front 4 we are developing, I think we can be a much better defence, especially if we get one of the DCs I mentioned.

That said, yeah, it's crazy how bad we are at linebacker. Seriously, when was the last time Jerry actually got a quality linebacker?

The D really lacks that smart instinctive MLB with range and sure tackling. Don't get me wrong Overshown is a good player and the most exciting thing about the LB room but I also don't think he's a MLB, he's more of that weakside style LB. Logan Wilson and Kenneth Murray aren't MLBs either and probably fit better on the strong side. Finding an MLB should be a huge priority in the offseason

 

[Ironicalicon]

Parsons?

Or was this about Inside LBs

This is probably it. I don't think they knew he would be a great Edge. He was moved to Edge out of necessity.

 

[Havic]

Rolondo but he liked the purple drank too much

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Parsons?

Or was this about Inside LBs

I addressed him, but like I said. He and Ware were more pass rush. I'm talking about linebackers like maybe Lee.

 

[Rayman70]

Parsons?

Or was this about Inside LBs

Micah was an outstanding linebacker at Penn State. That's the last one we drafted high. In my view he's still a better linebacker than true edge. He's a linebacker that can play edge on a pitch count very effectively.

 

[gtb1943]

Rusty.........Jerry DCs generally have Super Bowl or head coaching experience or both. But it would NOT surprise me if he stayed in-house and promoted Arron Whitecotton. I see him building the D around Quinnen Williams going forward. Just don't see him wanting to pay another DC top money after fring Eberflus.

that is another thing that NGM does that really is SO STUPID
there is NO CAP on coaching money
there is NO REASON he cannot use all that money he has and money whip the best we can get
INSTEAD HE WHINES ABOUT PAYING COACHES HE FIRED
JUST ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF HOW BAD HE IS

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

The D really lacks that smart instinctive MLB with range and sure tackling. Don't get me wrong Overshown is a good player and the most exciting thing about the LB room but I also don't think he's a MLB, he's more of that weakside style LB. Logan Wilson and Kenneth Murray aren't MLBs either and probably fit better on the strong side. Finding an MLB should be a huge priority in the offseason

And that's what I'm pointing to primarily. I think Styles can be that if we get him, but we need a legit MLB.

 

[JBS]

R. McClain was a beast. Our defense was different when that dude was playing at his best. We haven’t had that level of difference maker at Lb since then

 

[Rayman70]

I know that Micah was technically a LB, but he's more of a pass rusher. And that's kinda my point. It sucked losing Kneeland. He was getting better weekly. But yeah, overall, we don't do well with drafting lb. We have to get better this draft. We need Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs.

Micah can play any of the 3 linebacker roles at an elite level full time. At edge? He can't. He is smaller, great in certain obvious passing situations. Gets beat up. Not great stopping the run. But at linebacker he can stop the run because he can read, react, run down hill to the ball. I've watched his Penn State tape. That's how he was used. That's why we drafted him, to play linebacker. We been woeful drafting backers since.