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Why do i keep seeing six linebackers?

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PressCoverage

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I've seen several "here's my roster breakdown" posts, and even a blog by a beat writer, suggesting only 6 linebackers will win jobs...

I can see if it were last year, when we were exclusively a 4-3 team.... But, if we're running the 3-4 as much as 70% of the time, how is this possible? Honestly, I can't see them keeping any less that 8, and perhaps as many as 10.

If so, that would make things rather safe for fringe guys people are speculating about, such as Glenn, Moore, Pope, Jenkins....

Throwing Taylor into the mix, here's how i see it so far:

ROLB: Taylor, Seau, Ayanbadejo (with Seau getting plenty of reps at other spots also)
RILB: Zach, Pope
LILB: Crowder, Jenkins
LOLB: Spragan, Glenn, Moore

in my humble opinion... definitely a team strength, considering good depth...
 
I don't see any way we keep 10? LBs. That's just too many. It'll shortchange our DBs (where we definately need more depth)...While I confess that I really don't know how many we'll keep...I'm going to guess 7.

Here are mine: Seau, Thomas, Crowder, Spragan, Pope, Glenn, and likely Moore because of his youth (he's still just 24)

JT will be listed on the roster as a DE along with Bowens at the open end (OE) position I believe. I don't think that Ayanbadejo, Winston Taylor, or Jenkins will make the final cut (which is too bad I like rooting for Jenkins). The reason is it seems that Saban is going to limit the # of players who can legitimately ONLY play STs. While those 3 guys are very good ST players they may simply not be able to aptly handle playing for an extended period of time should a guy ahead of them go down.

I bring up the ST only players because Saban keeps talking about multiples. Then again because of the "multiples" it could cost Eddie Moore a job even if he is still young and signed for a couple more years....I don't think he's been playing ST at all (but I'm not sure either)...but that might open a spot for Winston Taylor because he's got a little bit more weight on him (at 245 he's 15 lbs heavier than Moore).

...anyway.....I'm guessing 7 LBs are kept, with JT and Bowens listed on the final roster as d.line.

Well see....
 
PressCoverage said:
I've seen several "here's my roster breakdown" posts, and even a blog by a beat writer, suggesting only 6 linebackers will win jobs...

I can see if it were last year, when we were exclusively a 4-3 team.... But, if we're running the 3-4 as much as 70% of the time, how is this possible? Honestly, I can't see them keeping any less that 8, and perhaps as many as 10.

If so, that would make things rather safe for fringe guys people are speculating about, such as Glenn, Moore, Pope, Jenkins....

Throwing Taylor into the mix, here's how i see it so far:

ROLB: Taylor, Seau, Ayanbadejo (with Seau getting plenty of reps at other spots also)
RILB: Zach, Pope
LILB: Crowder, Jenkins
LOLB: Spragan, Glenn, Moore

in my humble opinion... definitely a team strength, considering good depth...
Click to expand...

Press,

I hear what you are saying, but you must remember in a "hybrid" scheme, a few DE's will line up as LB's. Not only JT. David Bowens as well. So if you take the top 6 "pure-play" LB's, plus JT and DBowens, you end up with 8 healthy Linebackers on the roster. I cant see us carrying much more than that. Maybe a ninth, just in case one of the DE's goes down.
 
i think moore makes the team, he's got a lot to offer, just needs to stay healthy..

Thomas, Seau, Spragan, Crowder, Moore, Glenn and Pope.
 
i think pope's problem is that he is another of Wanny's undersized LBs.

he did OK last year when filling in for Zach but his play was average, maybe good baring in mind he was a 7th round pick. I think people got carried away and overhyped the kid..
 
finsnchips said:
i think pope's problem is that he is another of Wanny's undersized LBs.

he did OK last year when filling in for Zach but his play was average, maybe good baring in mind he was a 7th round pick. I think people got carried away and overhyped the kid..
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yeah, we were all jazzed because he was a 7th round pick and did kinda over-hype him just a bit....but not by much. He honestly played well for a rookie. I don't remember one time last year during a game where I saw him "try" to make a play and think "you know, he's just to small. If he was taller or maybe a bit heavier, he could have come up with the ball." I don't recall every thinking that or hearing any of my friends say anyting like that.

While I do agree that guys like Jenkins and Bua are simply too light in the britches I don't think that height has as much effect on making the plays as maybe weight does in this type defense. Even then I think that the weight issue is more about holding the point of attack as it translates to a LB and also durability.

I'll always go back so Sam Mills when he was with N.O. and even at the end in Carolina. He was Zach's size but it not only didn't hurt his play, he excelled as a 3-4 inside LB.
 
zephon said:
yeah, we were all jazzed because he was a 7th round pick and did kinda over-hype him just a bit....but not by much. He honestly played well for a rookie. I don't remember one time last year during a game where I saw him "try" to make a play and think "you know, he's just to small. If he was taller or maybe a bit heavier, he could have come up with the ball." I don't recall every thinking that or hearing any of my friends say anyting like that.

While I do agree that guys like Jenkins and Bua are simply too light in the britches I don't think that height has as much effect on making the plays as maybe weight does in this type defense. Even then I think that the weight issue is more about holding the point of attack as it translates to a LB and also durability.

I'll always go back so Sam Mills when he was with N.O. and even at the end in Carolina. He was Zach's size but it not only didn't hurt his play, he excelled as a 3-4 inside LB.
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Mike Singletary was no slouch either, but he played primarily in a 4-3 defense if I recall.
 
jlfin said:
Mike Singletary was no slouch either, but he played primarily in a 4-3 defense if I recall.
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true they played that hellacias (is that actually a word? :) ) 46 defense. Of course "Crazy Eyed" Mike played for so many years he's likely to have played some WILB in a 3-4 sometime in his carreer.

Just like they've said about Zach since his rookie season, you can't measure the size of the player's heart and there is no test that measures their desire either. (I know those are similar notions Hear and desire but there's a difference). They're both things certain guys have and certain don't have.

While it's early, very very early to tell yet, but I'm wondering if Manny Wright is going to have that "heart" and "desire". He's still so very young right now though, so that may not be at big a thing yet but he does make one wonder.....then again, not to sound cold but, perhaps a player with Manny Wright's unbeliveable size and massive amounts natural talent that having a "heart like Zach Thomas or Junior Seau or Jason Taylor" isn't as important for him to be a very good player.....note I said "very good player".....as I know for sure that to be a great player, a truly great player, that they've got to have the desire that matches or surpasses you're natural abilities....

...does any of that make any sense? :confused:
 
zephon said:
true they played that hellacias (is that actually a word? :) ) 46 defense. Of course "Crazy Eyed" Mike played for so many years he's likely to have played some WILB in a 3-4 sometime in his carreer.

Just like they've said about Zach since his rookie season, you can't measure the size of the player's heart and there is no test that measures their desire either. (I know those are similar notions Hear and desire but there's a difference). They're both things certain guys have and certain don't have.

While it's early, very very early to tell yet, but I'm wondering if Manny Wright is going to have that "heart" and "desire". He's still so very young right now though, so that may not be at big a thing yet but he does make one wonder.....then again, not to sound cold but, perhaps a player with Manny Wright's unbeliveable size and massive amounts natural talent that having a "heart like Zach Thomas or Junior Seau or Jason Taylor" isn't as important for him to be a very good player.....note I said "very good player".....as I know for sure that to be a great player, a truly great player, that they've got to have the desire that matches or surpasses you're natural abilities....

...does any of that make any sense? :confused:
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well said....i agree
 
cant keep 10 guys at LB, no way, not enough roster spots...

qbs - 3 (gus, aj, sage)
hbs - 4 (ronnie, ricky, morris, gordon)
fb - 1 (evans)
TE - 3 (mcmike, lee, perry)
WRs - 6 (chambers, boston, booker, welker, gilmore, thompson)
OL - 9 (carey, hadnot, seth, stockar, jeno, alibi, middleton, macintosh, st. clair)
DE - 4 (JT, roth, bowens, holliday)
DT - 5 (traylor, carter, wright, vickerson, shaw)
LBs - 7 (zach, seau, channing, spragen, glenn, moore, pope)
CBs - 5 (madison, daniels, howard, edwards, richard)
Ss - 4 (tillman, shulters, bell, tebucky)
P - 1 (turk)
K - 1 (mare)

Total : 53

so to make up 3 more spots youd have to drop, thompson from WR, ok thats doable, maybe wright vickerson or shaw from the DT spot, and maybe richard but only carry 4 CBs which isn't nearly enough... cant do it...
 
arsenal said:
cant keep 10 guys at LB, no way, not enough roster spots...

qbs - 3 (gus, aj, sage)
hbs - 4 (ronnie, ricky, morris, gordon)
fb - 1 (evans)
TE - 3 (mcmike, lee, perry)
WRs - 6 (chambers, boston, booker, welker, gilmore, thompson)
OL - 9 (carey, hadnot, seth, stockar, jeno, alibi, middleton, macintosh, st. clair)
DE - 4 (JT, roth, bowens, holliday)
DT - 5 (traylor, carter, wright, vickerson, shaw)
LBs - 7 (zach, seau, channing, spragen, glenn, moore, pope)
CBs - 5 (madison, daniels, howard, edwards, richard)
Ss - 4 (tillman, shulters, bell, tebucky)
P - 1 (turk)
K - 1 (mare)

Total : 53

so to make up 3 more spots youd have to drop, thompson from WR, ok thats doable, maybe wright vickerson or shaw from the DT spot, and maybe richard but only carry 4 CBs which isn't nearly enough... cant do it...
Click to expand...
that's is exactly my team.. but i'd take Eiland over Richard.
 
arsenal said:
cant keep 10 guys at LB, no way, not enough roster spots...

qbs - 3 (gus, aj, sage)
hbs - 4 (ronnie, ricky, morris, gordon)
fb - 1 (evans)
TE - 3 (mcmike, lee, perry)
WRs - 6 (chambers, boston, booker, welker, gilmore, thompson)
OL - 9 (carey, hadnot, seth, stockar, jeno, alibi, middleton, macintosh, st. clair)
DE - 4 (JT, roth, bowens, holliday)
DT - 5 (traylor, carter, wright, vickerson, shaw)
LBs - 7 (zach, seau, channing, spragen, glenn, moore, pope)
CBs - 5 (madison, daniels, howard, edwards, richard)
Ss - 4 (tillman, shulters, bell, tebucky)
P - 1 (turk)
K - 1 (mare)

Total : 53

so to make up 3 more spots youd have to drop, thompson from WR, ok thats doable, maybe wright vickerson or shaw from the DT spot, and maybe richard but only carry 4 CBs which isn't nearly enough... cant do it...
Click to expand...

i don't see how we'd need 5 defensive tackles, for a position there would likely only be one of on the field 70% of the time... 3-4

by the way, this "70%" number? i'm getting that from Griesie, as per what he said during the Pittsburgh game last weekend...
 
we are running a 4-3 defense with a hybred 3-4, we aren't really running a predominantly 3-4, at least i dont think so... i think we'll be in the 4-3 70% of the time and the 3-4 30%...

but wright is a future project, dont want to get rid of him, as is vickerson, then you have traylor whos an older guy but our only true NT, carter you keep cause he can play DE and DT and 3-4 DE, shaw is a smaller DT who can also play a DE in a 3-4 so you keep him... so basically traylor and wright would be our NTs, shaw and carter can play a 3-4 DE so you keep them, and vickerson has done well you keep him on or practice squad him... but thats if we're looking only at 3-4 formations... if that was the case no WAY we draft matt roth in the 2nd round, hes completely out of the loop in a 3-4, too small for end, cant play OLB...

but still i dont think we're running a 3-4 70% of the time, i could be wrong though
 
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