LB's get the shaft around here. People seem to underestimate what is asked of them these days. With the advent of passing offenses taking over, LB's are asked to cover small shifty WR's and RB's, who are lightning quick and hella fast. But they also need to be able to cover those 6'6" dominators at TE, who out-reach and out-muscle them. Then they're asked to flow sideline to sideline playing the run AND the read-option, be a good tackler (many are not), and a thumper, and instinctively dissect all of this instantaneously. What we get are distinct types of LB's. You get the Brandon Spikes type of run plugger who can't cover anyone, or those shadow walkers who can cover TE's but cannot stop the run, or those glorified safeties who can cover TE's and slot WR's but have no instincts nor can stop the run. Some LB's are run and chase LB's, other are run stuffers. Some are hybrid LB/S players and others are just role players. But in reality, almost no LB's can do it all.
Most Pro-Bowl caliber LB's are made to look foolish in some matchups. Can you stop a power run game like the Jags? Can you cover Tyreke Hill? Can you cover Rob Gronkowski? Can you rush the passer? Can you force fumbles? Yeah, you can count the LB's who can do it all on one hand, with fingers left to spare.
We only play 2 LB's. Most of the time we're in nickel, and sometimes we're using that 3rd LB it's really an extra DE rushing the passer. That's why we added TJ McDonald, because he's a hybrid S/LB type like Reshad Jones.
In Raekwon McMillan I believe we have found our run-stuffing Mike ... or maybe in this case "Mick." We have made a major financial commitment in Kiko Alonso, and when the rest of his LB doesn't suck, he plays pretty well. When he tries to do too much, he fails a lot. But he's still one of our biggest takeaway producers. I don't think our front office is really looking for a starting LB or a rock upon which to build this LB corps. I'll be shocked if we draft Roquan Smith. He can cover, but he's light and definitely not a run stuffer or TE cover guy.