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Chris Grier Comments

JTech194

JTech194

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So Chris Grier after the Baker pick said that the ways of the 250plus point LB is old school NFL. He suggests that the new NFL requires lighter faster LB’s

My question is... how accurate of a statement is that? Are we actually seeing a trend of smaller faster LB’s in the league? Or is that just draft day spin to justify the Baker pick?
 
Just look at the way our slow LBs got destroyed in coverage last year by RBs and TEs. That was a major concern that they wanted to address this offseason.
 
He's correct, but you still have to be able to stop the run, especially in cold weather games or against power run teams (Jacksonville, KC, Rams, etc).

So you have to pick your poison - cover up small LBs with big DTs (maybe sacrifice some inside rush) or take your chances of getting a slow death against the run.
 
Offense is no longer played in between the tackles and numbers its wide and there is more motions sweeps bubble screens etc than ever. You have to have pursuit guys who just fly around. Versatility is critical now you have to be able to make changes on the fly with base personnel. Baker is very similar to Smith in size and speed makes almost to much sense that he was their backup if Smith didnt fall to them.
 
mrhankey81701 said:
As of today he is correct, but the NFL is constantly changing. Offenses are going to focus on the run more and take advantage of undersized linebackers eventually.
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You better believe it, everyone knows this is a passing league, but over the years good RBs are being coveted as many teams slowly turn back to a pound and ground style attack especially in the fourth quarter of games. Personally I don't necessarily believe that small LBs are anything new, some coaches over the years as far back as the nineties have sacrificed size for speed, I believe JJ was one of them. (correct me if I am wrong)
 
He’s not wrong, but as with many trends, the Dolphins are 3 to 4 seasons late to the party.
 
You also have to build to the division. Almost 40% of your games are against them. Buffalo and NY Jets have been notorious power running teams, so you build to stop that. The Patriots were polar opposites, and we struggled with them.
 
The NFL is cyclical right now it is in passing mode, smaller faster more athletic linebackers and pass rushing DT's is whats required to keep up with offenses today. Id be willing to bet in a few years while defense's are transitioning to this, then you'll start to see offenses going back to power backs and power running games controlling the clock and bulling over these guys and the cycle will go on and on.
 
JTech194 said:
So Chris Grier after the Baker pick said that the ways of the 250plus point LB is old school NFL. He suggests that the new NFL requires lighter faster LB’s

My question is... how accurate of a statement is that? Are we actually seeing a trend of smaller faster LB’s in the league? Or is that just draft day spin to justify the Baker pick?
Click to expand...
IMHO, Grier is being honest and accurate. It is no fluke, the guys these days are cover and chase LB's, because it's all about the passing game. The job of a LB today is nearly impossible. Stuff RB's who may be 230+ pound punishers, or may be 205 pound scat backs, so quickness is essential. Then you have lots of mobile guards these days pushing 300 pounds into your face to block you, while you pursue mobile QB's. Then in coverage you need to cover 6'6 TE's weighing 260+ pounds and having wide wingspans to box you out, and on the very next play cover some 5'8 quick and shifty guy like Edelman.

The physical demands of that position are unrealistic. It requires lots of speed and quickness. But, to get those levels of speed and quickness, you need to sacrifice strength, weight, and length. So the days of the Patrick Willis and Luke Kuechly are basically over. Defensive Coordinators need to make a choice ... stop the run or the pass. Today, almost all of them are choosing to match up against the pass with LB's who look more like safeties, smaller, faster, and quicker. Every team in the league runs the nickel more than 50% of the time, so that's one LB who is already a safety. The hybrid S/LB is coming en vogue, and guys like Brandon Spikes, who stuff the run and then go off on 3rd down, are dinosaurs who are basically extinct. IMHO, that is why it is the perfect time to use TJ McDonald as our Sam.

Now whether Jerome Baker will develop into one of those LB's remains to be seen. But, he has the requisite speed, and his small size is less of a negative than it would have been 10 years ago.
 
Am I missing something? Jerome Baker is listed as seven pounds lighter than Roquan Smith at the same height.
 
Well it took a safety to contain white the pats rb during the super bowl .
 
I think 9 of the top 10 stand up LBs last year weighed less than 250. So yeah, I agree that athletic “smaller” LBs is the norm for the league. Hopefully Baker develops well and can be used in rotation with Raekwon and Kiko. IMO, you don’t have to thump if you can wrap up.
 
dolfandave99 said:
Am I missing something? Jerome Baker is listed as seven pounds lighter than Roquan Smith at the same height.
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No, you are reading that correctly. Baker is good LB, but the same reservations I had with Roquan Smith are the same ones I have with Baker. Yes, he be a sideline to sideline defender able to cover underneath, but teams are going to attack him in the running game. He just isn't stout enough to hold up at the POA. Hopefully Burk will scheme to compensate for this, but what other hole is this going to open up that opposing teams can exploit.
 
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