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Camp Battles (from CBS)

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Bjorn

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Courtesy of Sportsline.com
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Donnie Spragan vs. Sedrick Hodge vs. Derrick Pope, strongside linebacker
The Dolphins didn't do a good job of finding a player in the offseason to take over this position. Junior Seau opened 2005 as the starter, but injuries forced him out. That allowed Spragan to start nine games. While he isn't bad, he just doesn't bring a lot to the defense. He is limited athletically. Hodge comes over from the Saints, where he was a major disappointment. He doesn't seem to have the instincts for the position. If these guys flop, the team could turn to Derrick Pope, a third-year player from Alabama, although he's a little small and more suited to the weakside spot. On a pretty good defense, this is a spot that seems to be a glaring weakness.
Edge: It has to be Spragan, since he was the starter last season. But any of a handful of players can assume this spot.
Opening-day starter: Take your pick. But for now it appears Spragan is the guy. Whoever it is, this spot is a weak one on a good defense.
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http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9569143
 
I would say that Spragan is the favourite to win the starting role alongside Zach and Channing. Apparently Spragan impressed during the recent practices and the job is his to lose IMO.

Hodge is average and I cant see him stepping beyond that mark this season. Pope has done well in very limited game time and could spring a surprise.
 
I think Sprag will have agood year. In the article about Manny, they talk about Spragan being the only other guy in the weight room this spring while all others were home. I think Spragan wants to succeed for Saban and himself. Given we are very thin at LB, I'd say that's a good thing.
 
i think its widely agreed upon that spragan will be our starter - i dont see much arguement there.


did anyone else check out the article? they think, while pennington has the edge between their 3 QB's, that kelly clemens will be starter at the start of the season.
 
I think they should have replaced Pope with Newman.

I don't think Pope would be competing for the SLB...but he is in competition in that if Spragan/Hodge/Newman look like they can't get the job done, while at the same time Pope is looking really good...then the team could move Crowder to SLB to make way for Pope just like they did a year ago with Junior Seau.

Nick Saban has gone on record saying that Crowder could play "all three" positions.
 
Wow, did y'all see Prisco predict that Kellen Clemons is the Jets' opening day starter?


*Rings dinner bell* "JT, ZACH, CHANNING: DINNER TIME! COME AND GET IT!!!"
 
i love how our main battle is not even close to as critical as the others in the east.
 
I think they underestimate the Tarheel LB's. Hodge and Newman both could easily start for most teams and Saban knows a little more about finding quality players than some ignorant ANALyst from what I've seen from Sabans drafting and FA's so far. That idiot can't predict the future and that position may produce a probowler this year.
 
FinsAreLife said:
i love how our main battle is not even close to as critical as the others in the east.
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Man, you are so right. I thought that same exact thing.

However, I would say that the Patriots' battle is somewhat of a luxury, having two good backs.
Still, though, neither are as talented as Ronnie Brown.
 
It's not Pope, I can tell you that much.This isnt a defense where you can put whatever linebacker where.

Strongside linebacker has distinct responsibilities that a 6'0" 230 pound linebacker cannot handle. Pope doesnt have the size, strength, arm length, etc. to fight off blockers every down on the line of scrimmage. As it stands, Spragan is already a little bit undersized and underpowered for the role.

It's definately a weak spot in the defense. It's not something that will kill the D by any means, but the pass rush could really benefit from having someone who can do the job opposite JT, someone who can exploit being blocked by tight ends and backs.
 
G-Force said:
I think they underestimate the Tarheel LB's. Hodge and Newman both could easily start for most teams and Saban knows a little more about finding quality players than some ignorant ANALyst from what I've seen from Sabans drafting and FA's so far. That idiot can't predict the future and that position may produce a probowler this year.
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Cool yourself, champ. The guys job was to write about a weak point on a team, and he picked as good a one as any on our team. There is no need to work yourself up over it.

Hodge and Newman could not "easily" start on most teams, either.
 
Disgustipate said:
Cool yourself, champ. The guys job was to write about a weak point on a team, and he picked as good a one as any on our team. There is no need to work yourself up over it.

Hodge and Newman could not "easily" start on most teams, either.
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They started on their former teams almost every year since being drafted. If they aren't any good don't you think they would have been replaced or slid down the depth chart. They started and won their battles every year. Just because they were on teams that aren't known for having good D's don't mean they can't get it done. They come from a long list of Tarheel Lb's that continually produce in the NFL on a consistant basis. I have watched them since college and I have every bit of confidence in my boys. BTW Sabans job is to fix weaknesses and they were big name players that he could have easily got instead of Hodge and Newman and do you really think that this guy knows more than Saban? Their is a reason he brought them in and if you would have seen them in college you would know why I am not worried. Should'nt the CB position or safety be where our main questions and battles come from. That just shows what an ignorant writer he is flapping his gums about a team he obviously didn't put much time in researching.
 
G-Force said:
They started on their former teams almost every year since being drafted. If they aren't any good don't you think they would have been replaced or slid down the depth chart. They started and won their battles every year. Just because they were on teams that aren't known for having good D's don't mean they can't get it done. They come from a long list of Tarheel Lb's that continually produce in the NFL on a consistant basis. I have watched them since college and I have every bit of confidence in my boys. BTW Sabans job is to fix weaknesses and they were big name players that he could have easily got instead of Hodge and Newman and do you really think that this guy knows more than Saban? Their is a reason he brought them in and if you would have seen them in college you would know why I am not worried. Should'nt the CB position or safety be where our main questions and battles come from. That just shows what an ignorant writer he is flapping his gums about a team he obviously didn't put much time in researching.
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Starting doesnt mean quality. There are plenty of starters all over the league who arent very good. Sedrick Hodge has sucked pretty much his entire career, and Newman has been a solid but unspectacular player.

Saban has also looked at quite a few big name players to start over Hodge/Newman/Spragan. We reportedly had interest in Kamerion Wimbley, and the interest in Lavar Arrington, and to a less substanciated extent Julian Peterson was there.

College production doesnt really matter, either. The history of the NFL is rife with thousands upon thousands of good college players who didnt do jack in the NFL.
 
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