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After years of very little talent, linebacker may become a position of strength
Posted on 5/13/13 at 8:56 pm
Posted on 5/13/13 at 8:56 pm
The question is, who makes it? We've been a 4-3 team for years, so I'm not exactly sure how many linebackers we'll keep. I know it'll be more than last year. I can't remember ever having this much legit competition at the position during the Payton era.
The 3-4 scheme is linebacker heavy to begin with, and with Ryan (who employs some unconventional formations with up to 6 linebackers on the field at one time), the emphasis is even greater.
I'm really rooting for the two young UDFA Reddick and Thomas. I see long term starter material in both of them. I like Ray Shipman and Rufus Johnson as long term projects. Maybe both will be on the PS this year. They're physical specimens; both are very smart but raw.
OLB will be the most important depth wise due to the need to rest your primary pass rushers. Players like Lofton on the inside need solid backups, but they'll more be tasked with special teams on a game to game basis. Herring and Humber are the two special team guys who might make the team on that alone.
Let's say we keep 8 linebackers. What are your predictions of who makes it? There's 13 on the roster right now. Barring injury (knock on wood), who are the odd men out? My early prediction:
Herring
Humber
Johnson
Shipman
Martin
The 3-4 scheme is linebacker heavy to begin with, and with Ryan (who employs some unconventional formations with up to 6 linebackers on the field at one time), the emphasis is even greater.
I'm really rooting for the two young UDFA Reddick and Thomas. I see long term starter material in both of them. I like Ray Shipman and Rufus Johnson as long term projects. Maybe both will be on the PS this year. They're physical specimens; both are very smart but raw.
OLB will be the most important depth wise due to the need to rest your primary pass rushers. Players like Lofton on the inside need solid backups, but they'll more be tasked with special teams on a game to game basis. Herring and Humber are the two special team guys who might make the team on that alone.
Let's say we keep 8 linebackers. What are your predictions of who makes it? There's 13 on the roster right now. Barring injury (knock on wood), who are the odd men out? My early prediction:
Herring
Humber
Johnson
Shipman
Martin
This post was edited on 5/14/13 at 8:05 am
10
Posted on 5/13/13 at 8:57 pm to Patrick O Rly
Lotta unproven commodities, hoping for the best. I remember being excited for sedrick hodge, Courtney Watson, the Ohio st guy and others
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:00 pm to Patrick O Rly
I'll reserve comment.
I stated this last year and they ended up the worst defense ever.
I stated this last year and they ended up the worst defense ever.
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:01 pm to DelU249
quote:
Lotta unproven commodities
Definitely, but two things I'm encouraged by:
1) There's legit competition at all the spots minus Lofton's spot
2) Ryan strength is coaching linebackers
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:14 pm to Patrick O Rly
If the saints keep 8 LBs we got Lofton, Hawthorne, Vilma, Butler, Wilson, Galette, that are on top, Mabye Chamberlen also. The last 2 or 3 spots is where the position battle is at.
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:14 pm to Patrick O Rly
Buddy at works been saying this all offseason. Told me we'd draft Vaccaro. I said Jenkins for the sexy pick. He's got me for now.
This post was edited on 5/13/13 at 9:16 pm
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:16 pm to Patrick O Rly
3) nowhere to go but up
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:17 pm to Patrick O Rly
Where is tez
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:18 pm to DelU249
You're right.
I just remembered, he's still listed as a DE on the website, but that doesn't really mean much.
I just remembered, he's still listed as a DE on the website, but that doesn't really mean much.
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:25 pm to Patrick O Rly
Means nothing.
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:30 pm to Patrick O Rly
I'd really like our two deep for the LB's to look something like this:
OLB - Galette - Wilson
ILB - Lofton - Vilma
ILB - Hawthorne - Reddick
OLB - Butler - Thomas
I'd still like to see what Chamberlain can do. Sucks he was lost for the year in a damn pre-season game. He could probably provide some depth at the ILB spot if needed.
OLB - Galette - Wilson
ILB - Lofton - Vilma
ILB - Hawthorne - Reddick
OLB - Butler - Thomas
I'd still like to see what Chamberlain can do. Sucks he was lost for the year in a damn pre-season game. He could probably provide some depth at the ILB spot if needed.
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:36 pm to belowmebama
quote:
I'll reserve comment. I stated this last year and they ended up the worst defense ever.
yeah, I remember thinking adding Lofton and Hawthorne was huge. But there was also a lot of injuries at LB last year.
I doubt that we'd be snake bit there again this year with injuries.
I looking forward to seeing what Hawthorne can do when healthy and not having to play a spot he wasn't used to after missing about 6 games.
This post was edited on 5/13/13 at 9:38 pm
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:38 pm to Patrick O Rly
I have high hopes for Tez
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:45 pm to Melvin
I remember when courtney watson was a young ray lewis.
Im tired of hearing about our lb crp improving and am ready to see it on the field. hopefully rob ryan can get us there. he was my pick for dc.
Im tired of hearing about our lb crp improving and am ready to see it on the field. hopefully rob ryan can get us there. he was my pick for dc.
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:47 pm to LooseCannon22282
quote:
yeah, I remember thinking adding Lofton and Hawthorne was huge. But there was also a lot of injuries at LB last year.
Last year was hard for Hawthorne. All of his experience was at either MIKE or WILL, and yet when he returned from injury, he was asked to play SAM, which he had never done before. That was because Vilma was playing WILL.
People forget that our starting outside linebackers Week 1 were Shanle and Herring. Teams attacked us on the perimeters and we paid dearly.
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:47 pm to diat150
quote:I said high hopes, not high expectations.
I remember when courtney watson was a young ray lewis. Im tired of hearing about our lb crp improving and am ready to see it on the field. hopefully rob ryan can get us there. he was my pick for dc.
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:50 pm to Patrick O Rly
I hope Broughton can at least maintain a PS spot as an OLB. The guy looks like an animal, measureables wise. Haven't really seen what he can do yet..
Also, as much as I love Vilma, wouldn't be surprised if he loses his spot with Reddick and possibly Chamberlain in the mix at ILB. Not sure what his restructured deal limits us to.
Also, as much as I love Vilma, wouldn't be surprised if he loses his spot with Reddick and possibly Chamberlain in the mix at ILB. Not sure what his restructured deal limits us to.
Posted on 5/13/13 at 9:56 pm to Patrick O Rly
quote:
People forget that our starting outside linebackers Week 1 were Shanle and Herring. Teams attacked us on the perimeters and we paid dearly.
yeah, it was brutal. I guess I'd feel better about our LB's if there was a more proven pass coverage guy in there. Its huge to have one of these nowadays. I guess we don't know much about Hawthorne or Chamberlain because we haven't seen a lot of them in the black and gold.
Vilma has made some plays here and there in this department but he's struggled to stay healthy. Lofton is the big thumper in the run game.
Posted on 5/13/13 at 10:04 pm to Patrick O Rly
Rufus Johnson is def not a LB with that size. If he has a great first step(like I have heard) and speed he'll wreak havoc, he is def a 4-3 DE. But will probably be used in certain packages now that they have switched to 3-4 that suits his talents.
This post was edited on 5/13/13 at 10:06 pm
Posted on 5/13/13 at 10:51 pm to Patrick O Rly
We'll keep between 8-10. Really depends on how many they keep at WR, DE, NT, CB, and S. I think QB(2), HB(4), FB(1), TE(3), OT(4), interior OL(4), K(1), P(1), and LS(1). are going to be set.
WR is going to be 5 or 6 which means we'll have 23 or 24 on offense. We'll have 3 specialists. That leaves 26 or 27 on D.
With our increased versatility in the defensive backfield(2 safeties that can play nickel and 1 corner that can play safety), I think we'll keep only 8 or 9 DBs. I'm predicting 4 CBs and 5 Ss unless a rookie/young CB steps up.
If you keep at least 2 deep on the d-line that's 6, but I think it's way more likely we keep 8-9(5-6 DEs and 3 NTs, with some guys playing both). Given the versatility with some of these guys I'm leaning towards us keeping only 8.
Going with those numbers we'll likely have 9-10 LBs(depending more on how many WRs we keep). My guess is:
5 OLBs- Butler, Galette, Wilson(also playing ILB), and 2 of Broughton, Johnson, and Thomas
4 ILBs- Lofton, Vilma, Hawthorne(also playing OLB), and 1 of Herring, Chamberlain, Humber, and Reddick
At OLB I'm thinking Broughton has an inside track right now as he's going against 2 rookies who weren't projected at the top of the position(Johnson was a DE to boot). Not going to call between Johnson and Thomas yet as I haven't seen either one play an NFL snap.
For ILB I really don't know who'll grab the spot. Herring has been a meh OLB in the 4-3, Chamberlain was injured, Humber is nothing special, and I haven't seen Reddick take an NFL snap.
WR is going to be 5 or 6 which means we'll have 23 or 24 on offense. We'll have 3 specialists. That leaves 26 or 27 on D.
With our increased versatility in the defensive backfield(2 safeties that can play nickel and 1 corner that can play safety), I think we'll keep only 8 or 9 DBs. I'm predicting 4 CBs and 5 Ss unless a rookie/young CB steps up.
If you keep at least 2 deep on the d-line that's 6, but I think it's way more likely we keep 8-9(5-6 DEs and 3 NTs, with some guys playing both). Given the versatility with some of these guys I'm leaning towards us keeping only 8.
Going with those numbers we'll likely have 9-10 LBs(depending more on how many WRs we keep). My guess is:
5 OLBs- Butler, Galette, Wilson(also playing ILB), and 2 of Broughton, Johnson, and Thomas
4 ILBs- Lofton, Vilma, Hawthorne(also playing OLB), and 1 of Herring, Chamberlain, Humber, and Reddick
At OLB I'm thinking Broughton has an inside track right now as he's going against 2 rookies who weren't projected at the top of the position(Johnson was a DE to boot). Not going to call between Johnson and Thomas yet as I haven't seen either one play an NFL snap.
For ILB I really don't know who'll grab the spot. Herring has been a meh OLB in the 4-3, Chamberlain was injured, Humber is nothing special, and I haven't seen Reddick take an NFL snap.
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