Will linebacker be our Achilles heel in 2014?

[dcstands4]

It seems like our downside to our seasons is not just a player going down that ultimately kills our season but it's an entire position.

Last year it was the defensive line. The year before was the offensive line and before that the corners. With the way we addressed those sets it only seems like the only position group as a whole that could go down is the linebacker corps. Sean Lee nor Bruce Carter has never played an entire season. Durant will shock everyone of He is here and a starter going in the season. Our only other real hopes are Wilbur. Who we converted out of his natural position when we drafted him. Then Hollowman whom we don't have half a season of tape to go by.

So my question is do you think there could be a linebacking downfall for this team as the offensive and defensive line has collapsed in previous years?

 

[Galian Beast]

As much as I want to go defensive line in the first, if Mosley is there at 16, I would really like to draft him.

I think if Carter were to rebound and we had Mosley, Lee, and Carter, we could have a pretty strong group there if they're healthy.

I think linebacker is one of the groups most fans ignore, but the reality is that they are involved in every facet of the game.

 

[JBS]

If we were better, closer to being contenders, id be ok going with mosley... But we are so far away, I'd rather just go with best OL/DL available.. Move down if nobody is the worth taking.. But i dont see that happening

 

[DanTanna]

I think it will be LB, DL and DBs that hurt us this year. Really need a difference maker on our D.

 

[Fredd]

I still think a productive DL that gets after the passer makes the back 7 better, even if there are injuries...so, get that DLine making the QB nervous and you have something

even better if you don't have to blitz with LBs or DB's to apply said pressure

 

[17yearsandcounting]

It is still going to be safety unless something drastic happens.

 

[Common Sense]

The sad thing is, you could pick any position on defense and predict it to be our downfall.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

The sad thing is, you could pick any position on defense and predict it to be our downfall.

No doubt bout that. Maybe we use all 11 Draft choices on Defense. ha!

Lets see 3 DTs, 2 DEs, 3 Safeties, 3LBs.....wow that was ealy.

 

[HappyOnions]

Yes and his name specifically is Sean Lee

His inevitable injury will result in practice squad guys being thrown to the wolves.

We need a LB in the draft. I dare say that LB is a more urgent need than DL after watching the carousel of LBs that were on the field last year.

If CJ Mosely, Barr, or god willing, Mack are there when we pick, then I say grab them even if Donald or Jernnigan are available.

 

[StarBoyz83]

I for sure think we are weak at lb besides lee. The whole d is still question marks and will be throughout the season besides lee church and carr.

 

[Galian Beast]

If we were better, closer to being contenders, id be ok going with mosley... But we are so far away, I'd rather just go with best OL/DL available.. Move down if nobody is the worth taking.. But i dont see that happening

It might not be possible to put together a long term defensive line with just the resources that we have available to us this year, that being said if we have the chance to get a pro bowl caliber linebacker, we probably shouldn't miss out on that.

 

[Gaede]

S will be our achilles heel. We're going into the season relying on JJ Wilcox (who, three years ago was a RB for a small school), Jeff Heath (enough said) and Matt Johnson (yeah) to be a starter. Teams are just gonna toss it all over on us again.

 

[CF74]

It seems like our downside to our seasons is not just a player going down that ultimately kills our season but it's an entire position.

Last year it was the defensive line. The year before was the offensive line and before that the corners. With the way we addressed those sets it only seems like the only position group as a whole that could go down is the linebacker corps. Sean Lee nor Bruce Carter has never played an entire season. Durant will shock everyone of He is here and a starter going in the season. Our only other real hopes are Wilbur. Who we converted out of his natural position when we drafted him. Then Hollowman whom we don't have half a season of tape to go by.

So my question is do you think there could be a linebacking downfall for this team as the offensive and defensive line has collapsed in previous years?

Once Lee went down our entire LB core went with it. Durant underwhelmed as well so I hope we draft somebody to replace him.

Right now we need: DE, DT, G, & LB.. I'd go BPA according to these needs in any particular order....

 

[CowboyStar88]

I think Holloman has some upside there or at MLB and I was very encouraged over Wilber and how well he played, never playing the position. That tells me he has natural ability and hopefully it can be coached out

 

[chicago JK]

I hope Lee can stay healthy. It will be shame if he gets hurt again. I think he is one of this teams better draft picks in the post Parcells era. He is a fabulous player. It will be a shame if his career is cut short due to injury.

I am worried about safety but I agree all three lines of the defense can be problem areas. I think Dallas needs to bring in either a high pick or a FA veteran. They don't need to bring in a veteran now prior to the draft. But they cannot go into the season with the current group of players on their roster. Adding a mid to late round developmental guy isn't the answer either. They need a guy who can compete for a starting position and win that position is no one steps up to win it.

 

[xwalker]

Player Ht Wt Age
Durant, Justin 6-1 228 28
Lee, Sean 6-2 234 27
Carter, Bruce 6-2 246 26
Lemon, Orie 6-1 242 26
Williams, Jabara 6-2 238 24
Wilber, Kyle 6-4 246 24
Holloman, DeVonte 6-2 242 23
Stewart, Jonathan 6-3 254 23

Holloman looks like he can push for a starting job. His best fit is at WLB.

Carter was good in 2012 and then not so good in 2013. I think he is a slow learner and should bounce back. Some competition in training camp could help lite a fire under him.

Lemon is too slow to be a 4-3 LB.

Wilber did OK at SLB considering that he spent all of training camp practicing at DE. Physically, he is very similar to Seattle's starting SLB.

Lee is obviously the key and staying healthy is the big question.

Durant was better than most believe. He was actually quite good at MLB after Lee went out.

Jonathan Stewart has good size and decent and speed measureables:
Height: 6036
Weight: 242
40 Yrd Dash: 4.65/4.55
20 Yrd Dash: 2.64
10 Yrd Dash: 1.59
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 19
Vertical Jump: 31
Broad Jump: 09'10"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.53
3-Cone Drill: 7.44


Jabara Williams has good measureables:
Height: 6017
Weight: 228
40 Yrd Dash: 4.57
20 Yrd Dash: 2.65
10 Yrd Dash: 1.48 225 Lb.
Bench Reps: 17
Vertical Jump: 36 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'10"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.30
3-Cone Drill: 7.04

 

[thunderpimp91]

Call me crazy, but I think linebacker is the least of our worries right now. Fixing the defensive line is the best thing you can do right now to improve the LBs. Get a good deep rotation of guys to take pressure off your backers in the pass game and keep linemen off them in the run game. You have talent there, you just have to hope that 1) they can stay on the field and 2) That talent shows its self the second year of this system. Much like last years D line i'd like to see a vet and maybe a young project brought in, simply because of past history with your starters you need a plan B and C. Its a position we can get by without a major move though.

 

[OhSnap]

It seems like our downside to our seasons is not just a player going down that ultimately kills our season but it's an entire position.

Last year it was the defensive line. The year before was the offensive line and before that the corners. With the way we addressed those sets it only seems like the only position group as a whole that could go down is the linebacker corps. Sean Lee nor Bruce Carter has never played an entire season. Durant will shock everyone of He is here and a starter going in the season. Our only other real hopes are Wilbur. Who we converted out of his natural position when we drafted him. Then Hollowman whom we don't have half a season of tape to go by.

So my question is do you think there could be a linebacking downfall for this team as the offensive and defensive line has collapsed in previous years?

Well Jerry I think your right to worry about it and glad your seeking outside advice. But I remember the last time we had a 4-3 and you were able to let Norton go and then a few other guys after that and you proved that the linebacking core is not the death of a defense when you loose guys like Randall Godfrey or Joe Fishback or Godfry Miles. I think the main concern should still be with the D line. But Carter has proved to be pretty dependable and I think the guy you pick to replace him will contribute early.

You cant fool me with that screen name

 

[xwalker]

Another thing to keep in mind is that the SLB is off the field in the nickel which can be as much as 50% of the snaps in some games.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

It seems like our downside to our seasons is not just a player going down that ultimately kills our season but it's an entire position.

Last year it was the defensive line. The year before was the offensive line and before that the corners. With the way we addressed those sets it only seems like the only position group as a whole that could go down is the linebacker corps. Sean Lee nor Bruce Carter has never played an entire season. Durant will shock everyone of He is here and a starter going in the season. Our only other real hopes are Wilbur. Who we converted out of his natural position when we drafted him. Then Hollowman whom we don't have half a season of tape to go by.

So my question is do you think there could be a linebacking downfall for this team as the offensive and defensive line has collapsed in previous years?

This is a great discussion!

Yes, I believe that the LBs could potentially be a downfall this season given the current question mark concerning the d-line.

My points:

• Sean Lee - Sean Lee is an impact player on defense but his reliability is always in question. A healthy, sturdy Sean Lee improves the LB core immensely.
• Bruce Carter - So far, Bruce Carter has been a disappointment in this defense. He fails to use his athleticism, especially in coverage. He must improve dramatically or the LB core will not improve.
• SAM LB - Whoever this is, he must be able to drop back into coverage and help out the safeties. Coverage is this LB core's Achilles heel and if they do not improve the defense will be ineffective or inconsistent.

Recommendation: Dallas needs to select a speedy LB who excels in coverage somewhere in this draft. I agree with GB, if Mosely is there (at 16) and Donald is gone, I'd give him serious consideration.