Linebackers and Defensive Linemen
 

How many defensive linemen and linebackers do we need in 2010 and why? Do you think that we are markedly changing our defense?

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IN ON MORE THAN 50% OF THE 2009 DEFENSIVE REPS IN 2009
3 defensive linemen
5 linebackers

IN ON MORE THAN 10% OF THE 2009 DEFENSIVE REPS
5 defensive linemen
8 linebackers
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Unless 2009 was a really crazy year, I would suggest the right numbers are 6 and 9, or even 6 and 10.

Re: Linebackers and Defensive Linemen
 

Interesting Observation.

Re: Linebackers and Defensive Linemen
 

how easy is it to get the names? DL that played more than 50%? warren and who else? vince i suppose with either pryor or wright?

also, is burgess counted as a LB or DL?

Re: Linebackers and Defensive Linemen
 

I really can't remember a year under BB when we carried this many defensive linemen into training camp. This is pretty different.

On a side note, you should just start two big mega threads on each side of the ball, mgteich. It would probably save you a lot of time.

Re: Linebackers and Defensive Linemen
 

I cant either. The one im going to be watching for in camp, is Pryor.

Re: Linebackers and Defensive Linemen
 

I see 9 linebackers and 7 D-linemen. With Burgess as a LB.

This season seems to be a transition year at DE. T Warren has the left side, but needs a solid back-up, but the right side is still open.

Hopefully G Warren can lock down that side for a season or two while one of the young kids develops. They don't really know what they have yet, so they are going to have to keep an extra player or two to develop, and a vet to start.

Wilfork and Brace at NT. Warren, Warren, Wright, and two of Pryor / Richard / Deadrick / Weston

I also can see one of the 1st rounders next spring, it looks like there will be a bunch of 3-4 DE types in the draft.

At Linebacker, I think they are in good shape in the middle with the top 4.

OLB is headed in the right direction, but Burgess is older and on a 1 yr contract. They almost need to keep 5 to have a blend of vets and youth.
Burgess, TBC, Cunningham, Ninkovitch, and one of Woods/Crable. ( I'm rooting for Crabs to win that spot)

Re: Linebackers and Defensive Linemen
 

S Brandon Meriweather – 95.5 percent
ILB Gary Guyton – 84.5 percent
CB Leigh Bodden – 82.5 percent
ILB Jerod Mayo – 73.7 percent
S Brandon McGowan – 72.5 percent
OLB Tully Banta-Cain – 66.7 percent
DL Mike Wright – 57.9 percent
DE Derrick Burgess – 57.3 percent
DL Jarvis Green – 57.2 percent
CB Jonathan Wilhite – 57.0 percent
OLB Adalius Thomas – 54.1 percent
NT Vince Wilfork – 51.8 percent
CB Darius Butler – 51.2 percent
CB Shawn Springs – 50.8 percent
DE Ty Warren – 44.4 percent
S James Sanders – 38.3 percent
DL Myron Pryor – 27.1 percent
S Pat Chung – 20.5 percent
OLB Pierre Woods – 20.1 percent
LB Rob Ninkovich – 12.6 percent
ILB Junior Seau – 11.9 percent
DL Ron Brace – 5.1 percent
CB Terrence Wheatley – 2.2 percent
DL Titus Adams – 2.0 percent
DL Terdell Sands – 1.4 percent
S Bret Lockett – 0.9 percent
LB Eric Alexander – 0.3 percent
S Randy Moss – 0.2 percent

Re: Linebackers and Defensive Linemen
 

My guess is six DL, eight LB, and one that is either DE, OLB, or both.

With a 3-4 defense that gives you one starter and one backup at each position. Granted the positions and responsibilities change due to sub-packages, and some of those players will be primarily, if not exclusively special team players, and some can/will play two positions, but regardless, that would be my guess.

Re: Linebackers and Defensive Linemen
 

I have always considered Burgess as the man who can be counted at either position, so I agree with your suggestion of 4 DE/DT's, 2 NT's, 4 ILB's, 4 OLB's, with Burgess as the 1 additional DE/OLB, giving us a total of 15.

Re: Linebackers and Defensive Linemen
 

Part of the reason we normally dont carry extra DL is that they arent very useful on special teams.
The 9th or 10th LB, or 5th safety are no more likely to be playing regular defense than the 7th DL, but much, much more likely to play special teams.
When you are dealing with the backend of the roster, that makes a big diference. If we have injuries and a normally inactive player is active, the fact that he can play special teams helps because regardless of position they contribute.