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Linebacker depth

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ph0enyx

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So, are there any guesses as to who will be active on Sunday at the linebacker spot and how the nickle and backup situations will work? I am assuming Hewitt will be inactive (or we will be going short in another position and activating all 7 linebackers). McCain will be active to be in the D line rotation and as Misi's backup in base (or if Sheppard gets hurt and Misi has to move to MLB) and Paysinger will be active for special teams and as Jenkins' backup. But the thing I am worried about is, when Misi gets injured this season who plays in the second nickle spot? Sheppard? And it isn't like we use Dime ever or that we even have enough safeties or legitimate corners to use a big dime anyway.

I also kind of wonder if we will see that 5-2 defense again or if that is only for if all the linebackers all go down with injuries.
 
I honestly wouldnt mind putting another safety in the box in dime coverage, even if they are only going 3 wide,if misi gets injured. Michael thomas roaming the flats with jenkins manning the middle of the field seems like a better option than sheppard or paysinger.
 
NoblePhin said:
I honestly wouldnt mind putting another safety in the box in dime coverage, even if they are only going 3 wide,if misi gets injured. Michael thomas roaming the flats with jenkins manning the middle of the field seems like a better option than sheppard or paysinger.
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I agree! Sheppard, or Paysinger in dime coverage really worry me! A good OC from any opponent can exploit that weakness
 
I am not worried about the depth because the 2nd teamers are not that much of a drop off from the starters. It is not a shot a the starters it is just the state of the unit.
 
i dont know about specials but for the actual defense

misi sheppard jenkins in base probably jenkins and misi in the nickle when miami has 2 lbs on the field and the 3rd corner (which miami ideally wants to play in as much as possible) and mcclain and jenkins in the sub...

i think they are comfortable playing 5 lbs on actual d adding in vigil but its gonna take some attrition in week 1 for him to play

jenkins is gonna play every down barring injury
 
I think we know what you will get with them

Jenkins has an upside, covers well and is their best LB. Hoops is right that he will stay on the field.
Misi is solid, but unreliable because of injuries. He generally where he should be most plays. He is best suited at SLB.
Sheppard will fill nicely against the run and is terrible vs the pass.
McCain has a major athletic upside, but is a misfit. I also question Coyle's ability to utilize McCain's strengths.
Paysinger is an excellent special teamer that if forced to play a lot of snaps on defense won't be terrible. He is not an answer, but has played okay in his years in the NFL.
Vigil needs time to develop, but has good instincts and could be an answer in time.
Hewitt has nice athletic ability, but is more a developmental type.

I do see some success with Coyle's Double A Gap Blitzes with this group coupled with the power at DT the team has.

The unit is kind of straight forward.
 
Again, I agree with Hayden. The double A Gap Blitzes this year will be very hard to counter! Baring any mayor injury, our D this year will be a force.
 
mccains not a misfit for the system...hes not a 34 olb hes not a 43 de to play every down he has to be able to play off the los as a 2 down sam until that happens as in he shows hes capable of it barring attrition sub package is where his run will come from

but hes also not gonna beat tackles 1 on 1 on the edge being a light in the pants 1 dimensional edge rusher...system wise though this is an ideal fit

it's just his long term meal ticket is sam
 
Physically McCain can do everything Misi does, except he has the athleticism to actually cover guys. The kid just needs to figure out how to play LB at the NFL level. That's all on him. I wonder how much it would help him to have a field general LB in the middle like Zach Thomas was to help direct and develop him. Can Vigil become that guy?
 
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I don't even know who the starters are officially yet. Jenkins is all I know for sure.
 
The sooner ZACK VIGIL is manning the middle the better.

As the staff said, he learned the playbook super fast and zack himself said he wasnt doing a lot of guessing. What zack needs is reps and he wont get them on the bench.

Now, mr. Shepherd. I do not see anything special in him what so ever. He will be a MAJOR liability in the passing game. Teams are going to scheme him very quickly. What we see in kelvin shepherd is all we are going to see. Thats not enough. Zack Vigil on the other hand has massive potential. Super hi ceiling. Again, he needs to be on the field. His instincts for the game is way beyond shepherd. I just hope he doesnt cost us to many games until the coaches decide he was a bad decision all the way around.

Washington, jacksonville, those are the games he needs the reps in. If we are handling those teams from the jump, like we should, get him in there as much as possible to get his real game feet wet.
 
NRA said:
The sooner ZACK VIGIL is manning the middle the better.

As the staff said, he learned the playbook super fast and zack himself said he wasnt doing a lot of guessing. What zack needs is reps and he wont get them on the bench.

Now, mr. Shepherd. I do not see anything special in him what so ever. He will be a MAJOR liability in the passing game. Teams are going to scheme him very quickly. What we see in kelvin shepherd is all we are going to see. Thats not enough. Zack Vigil on the other hand has massive potential. Super hi ceiling. Again, he needs to be on the field. His instincts for the game is way beyond shepherd. I just hope he doesnt cost us to many games until the coaches decide he was a bad decision all the way around.

Washington, jacksonville, those are the games he needs the reps in. If we are handling those teams from the jump, like we should, get him in there as much as possible to get his real game feet wet.
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Vigil is just as much of a liability with a lack of mobility in the pass defense, if not more b/c he's still learning.
 
Sad but true. Our most indispensable linebacker is Jenkins. His coverage skills on the weak side would be missed if he were to miss time for any reason.
 
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