What is our plan for ILB?

[Thelonious]

Vrabel's not going to abandon his defensive philosophy just because some fans don't like undersized WILL LB'ers playing primarily in the middle. WILL LB'ers and Strong Safeties are nearly identical in many cases. So I don't see the problem.

I don't see a problem either. I am not proposing that Vrabel or anybody on the staff "abandon their defensive philosophy" because I assume they are smart enough to adapt that philosophy, to find a way of implementing it, in a manner which will work with the personnel on hand at ILB or anywhere else. I assume, that is, that they will not go into a butthurt tailspin is they have a defensive roster which is less than ideal, which it never will be.

 

[Wozzy]

I don't see a problem either. I am not proposing that Vrabel or anybody on the staff "abandon their defensive philosophy" because I assume they are smart enough to adapt that philosophy, to find a way of implementing it, in a manner which will work with the personnel on hand at ILB or anywhere else. I assume, that is, that they will not go into a butthurt tailspin is they have a defensive roster which is less than ideal, which it never will be.

Yeah, I was referring to the comment by a prior poster about not converting former safeties.

Frankly I think Muma and Obiazor represent much more potential upside in the LB'er room to what they had last year in Gibbens and Tavai. They're more athletic now on paper than they were at any point last season.

 

[rkarp1]

You specifically said “nobody said” something when somebody had. Per usual, in your rush to disagree with Wozzy, you couldn’t even be bothered to read the conversation being had.

What “top guys” from the LB group did they lose? Those weren’t top guys, they were lesser players potentially much improved upon.

Last year: Spillane, Ellis, Gibbens, Tavai and Mapu who barely played defense.

Versus

This Year: Spillane, Ellis, Muma, Obiazor, Declan Williams, Britt

How are they thin unless both rookies suck outright? They could find some value vet after camp cutdowns. This unit simply needs to stay healthy and develop a young guy.

Gibbons played 48% of the defensive snaps. Jennings 28% and Tavai 22%. Mapu 12%
from last seasons top 6 players for LB defensive snaps, 4 are no longer on the team

thats thin

 

[Wozzy]

Gibbons played 48% of the defensive snaps. Jennings 28% and Tavai 22%. Mapu 12%
from last seasons top 6 players for LB defensive snaps, 4 are no longer on the team

thats thin

Gibbens wasn’t strong enough to play MLB when Spillane went down, nor athletic enough to play WILL LB when Ellis got dinged up. He was a warm body. They got a good look at Muma at the end of last season, he’s a much better option.

Tavai is old and slow, he was never athletic enough to begin with… so age ruined any value he had going forward. Anybody is a better option at this point, two rookies with fresh legs are better.

Mapu didn’t play defense, so who cares he’s gone. Again Muma played a lot of special teams, so will the rookie they stick with. Mapu never developed into the player many of us hoped he would.

Jennings is an outside linebacker, he’s not even in this conversation.

 

[rkarp1]

Gibbens wasn’t strong enough to play MLB when Spillane went down, nor athletic enough to play WILL LB when Ellis got dinged up. He was a warm body. They got a good look at Muma at the end of last season, he’s a much better option.

Tavai is old and slow, he was never athletic enough to begin with… so age ruined any value he had going forward. Anybody is a better option at this point, two rookies with fresh legs are better.

Mapu didn’t play defense, so who cares he’s gone. Again Muma played a lot of special teams, so will the rookie they stick with. Mapu never developed into the player many of us hoped he would.

Jennings is an outside linebacker, he’s not even in this conversation.

if you are depending on Muma and rookies, then you are agreeing with me. thin

 

[Wozzy]

if you are depending on Muma and rookies, then you are agreeing with me. thin

If you are telling me Gibbens, Tavai and Mapu are big losses, but more athletic Muma and rookies are worse… then no, I’m clearly not agreeing with you.

No team has 3 All Pros sitting on their bench behind the starters. Dumb. They have young developmental players and special teams specialists.