Our Seven Linebackers (with 1-3 open spots)

[mgteich]

I agree that we will not keep six OLB's, although Woods could win a special-teams-only roster spot. There are usually at least two of those.

You have Woods potentially being beaten out if Burgess AND Ninkovich AND Crable. Even then he would need to beaten out by Arrington AND Aiken for special team roster spots. Nothing is 100%. However, it would take a lot for Woods to fail to make the squad.

I think he makes the team, but he's no lock. Especially, if they sign someone (Burgess) and Crable plays well (I doubt it) Even if they keep 5 OLBs that leaves a only one more OLB spot (Cunningham and Banta-Cain are locks). I believe Ninkovich is on all 4 ST units as well. I'm not saying he's a better STer than Woods but it's close.

 

[satz]

Partly agree.
We do play 1/2 the snaps in sub, and that is based on what the other offense does, not our personell so it will continue. But we don't really take an OLB out, we take a DL out and the OLBs become DEs. We go 4-2-5 but if you are comparing it to our 3-4 alignment and the players that play the base positions, its actually a 2-4-5.

This exactly the reason we were having issue creating more pressure. Our ILB hardly rushed [No true SILB] and our OLB were horrible in coverage so we went vannilla.

by my suggestion i am talking about a zone pressure scheme we used to run.
with that now spikes/mckenzie pair give you that inside presence. also we pull vince out on 3rd down but with the above pair i will play in shaded over a gaurd and open a gap for ILB rush or the 3rd safety rush with guyton on the TE .

We signed 2 big DT and i also see them as ends with vince and 2 quick OLB coming from the ends similar what green bay did with mathews last year.
He was only 250 but the bigger DE was shading and creating angles that a tackle/gaurd has issues as in open space a 250 OLB is going to be better than a 310 lb tackle/gaurd.

satz

 

[jefmblrd]

I would agree that Ninkovich should see significant time in the rotation.

 

[zoffle]

Greg Ellis is a guy they could bring off the street

OLB:
3 man rotation of TBC, Ninkovich, Ellis/Woods to start the season
Cunningham will probably start the season as a DE in sub packages but if he shows something he could work his way into the rotation.

ILB:
The best scenario would be a 3 man roation of Mayo, Spikes and McKenzie with Guyton as a sub packages line backer, but that would depend on Spikes and McKenzie being ready for the start of the season. So Guyton will probably be a Starter at ILB for at least the early part of the season.

 

[Feep50]

A starting outside linebacker is not currently on our team......

I will be stunned if BB does not acquire a vet OLB before the season starts.

Just sayin'

 

[Marqui]

A starting outside linebacker is not currently on our team......

Quoted for truth.

 

[mgteich]

More from hope than truth I fear.

Quoted for truth.

 

[zoffle]

A starting outside linebacker is not currently on our team......

I will be stunned if BB does not acquire a vet OLB before the season starts.

Just sayin'

TBC is servicable at OLB, he is the best OLB we got at the moment (unless Cunningham is a quick learner ). Greg Ellis is still on the street, he could work, Burgess is still available but he was invincible last year.

Trade maybe? but who would be available for a mid round pick? They probably won't trade more than that. Merriman? questions if he is done or not, if hes not done he won't be available for anything less than a second. Umenyiora? he's a DE not a OLB. Who else has been rumored to be available or which teams are overloaded with OLB's?

 

[Frezo]

TBC is servicable at OLB, he is the best OLB we got at the moment (unless Cunningham is a quick learner ). Greg Ellis is still on the street, he could work, Burgess is still available but he was invincible last year.

Trade maybe? but who would be available for a mid round pick? They probably won't trade more than that. Merriman? questions if he is done or not, if hes not done he won't be available for anything less than a second. Umenyiora? he's a DE not a OLB. Who else has been rumored to be available or which teams are overloaded with OLB's?

That was awesome!

 

[zoffle]

That was awesome!

My bad, it seems spell checker does not agree with my views. Invisible?

 

[Frezo]

My bad, it seems spell checker does not agree with my views. Invisible?

Indeed. That was the typo of the month.

 

[zoffle]

Indeed. That was the typo of the month.

I'm happy to accept this award, I would like to thank Google chrome, my brain with its immense spelling capabilities, I couldn't have done it with out them.

 

[BionicPatriot]

For the people who are so positive we're going to suddenly add superb talent, tell me who is available?

 

[PYPER]

Why do people keep saying that Guyton and McKenzie could be used outside? It's not going to happen. Guyton got blown up as an OLB and has no functional strength against the run. Yes, he's fast, but that doesn't matter when a tackle can throw you around like a toy. And McKenzie is even smaller than Guyton, at only 235 lbs last time I checked.

I don't think anyone expects to see either of those guys playing outside on running downs. If/when Guyton goes outside, I expect it will happen on 3rd down. He has the speed and coverage ability to give BB options there. He can rush the passer drop back into coverage which is his strong suit.

So when people talk about Guyton playing on the outside, that's probably what they mean. On passing downs.

 

[zoffle]

For the people who are so positive we're going to suddenly add superb talent, tell me who is available?

I'm ok with the ILB situation.

The OLB cabinet is looking bare. The only free agent OLB worth kicking the tyres on is Greg Ellis other than that I have no idea who is available via trade that would fit the system.

 

[Marqui]

I don't think anyone expects to see either of those guys playing outside on running downs. If/when Guyton goes outside, I expect it will happen on 3rd down. He has the speed and coverage ability to give BB options there. He can rush the passer drop back into coverage which is his strong suit.

So when people talk about Guyton playing on the outside, that's probably what they mean. On passing downs.

Guyton has never shown the ability beat an OT off the edge at any point in his career.

 

[zoffle]

Guyton has never shown the ability beat an OT off the edge at any point in his career.

+1

Guyton's best used as a coverage linebacker in subpackages on passing down's

 

[RayClay]

Burgess is not an OLB. He is a DE, that can only play in nickel/dime sub packages or in the 43. I realize that this is the position guys who are OLBs also play, but Burgess is not a candidate to play OLB in the base except in an emergency.

Why not? You could say the same thing about TBC. Who are our pass rushing OLBs in the base defense, assuming woods hasn't shown that ability?

 

[mgteich]

Cunningham or Ninkovich or Crable

Why not? You could say the same thing about TBC. Who are our pass rushing OLBs in the base defense, assuming woods hasn't shown that ability?

 

[zoffle]

Cunningham or Ninkovich or Crable

Cunningham will probably see limited game time as a 3rd down rushing DE in the Nickle/Dime. (hopefully by the end of the season he is a starting OLB).

Ninkovich is a solid rotational guy. Ok at setting the edge and Ok at getting after the passer. Not great but solid.

Crable is an unknown - there seems to be promise there but he is made of glass.