Who will be the base-package OLBs?

[patsfan55]

So are there any loose or to-be-loose vets who would be good starters for us? E.g., does Keith Bullock have enough left?

What would it take to get Julian Peterson from the Lions (and they can have AD in the deal, of course)?

Bulluck is more of an inside guy. If we hadn't taken Spikes in the draft I'd be all for adding him, the guy is one heck of a passionate football player.

 

[RayClay]

McGinest and Vrabel got the occasional Pro Bowl or All-Pro votes. Our current guys aren't on that level.

And BB was as surprised as anybody when he wound using Phifer in pretty much every package.

But the other thing is -- Phifer aside, guys usually got breathers anyway. To some extent, you're just forgetting how much rotation there was.

Burgess has two pro bowls, and i think both he and Cunningham seem less upright that Vrabel, who nevertheless made the switch.

I think it's all in our mind that these guys are stuck as specialists. It's a product of our lack of acquiring talent at the position other than Thomas ans having to depend on Burgess and TBC, who had bot been there previously.

I think the inflexibility of our defense killed us last year, as we seemed to hold up a neon sign for what defense we were playing depending on personnel, the opposite of our former approach.

They had rotations of three players for two spots, not fleets of one dimensional specialists.

 

[Fencer]

Burgess has two pro bowls, and i think both he and Cunningham seem less upright that Vrabel, who nevertheless made the switch.

I think it's all in our mind that these guys are stuck as specialists. It's a product of our lack of acquiring talent at the position other than Thomas ans having to depend on Burgess and TBC, who had bot been there previously.

I think the inflexibility of our defense killed us last year, as we seemed to hold up a neon sign for what defense we were playing depending on personnel, the opposite of our former approach.

They had rotations of three players for two spots, not fleets of one dimensional specialists.

The question is whether Burgess can be more upright, not less.

As for Cunningham, BB surely thinks he can make the switch. But making it fully by September might be hard for him ... unless you think he's a lot smarter about football than Bruschi or Vrabel, each of whom took a few years to be every-down players.

 

[D-cleater]

Am I the only one that remembers Ninkovitch starting opposite TBC, and Woods coming in for TBC as a reserve? I'm pretty sure TBC has played the left side as well as the right, but I still see Ninkovitch at ROLB and TBC at LOLB. I could be wrong.

I'd like to see Cunningham worked in early and often though. If he shows something in camp, I'd like to see him get some rotation at ROLB with the first team, with TBC moving over to the left, which he's played before. I'm hoping Cunningham can take over the ROLB position by years end.

If Cunningham is not able to beat out Woods by years end I will be a little disappointed in him given where he was picked in the draft. Given my opinion of Woods at OLB, I think these expectations are reasonable.

Edit: looking back at some FL games on youtube, it seems as though Cunningham is equally adept at rushing from both sides, which is great from a flexibility standpoint. I see our complete depth chart as:

Ninkovitch Mckenzie Mayo TBC
Cunningham Spikes Guyton Cunningham
Alexander Woods

This does not include Crable, who I don't think will make the team, or Burgess, who, if resigned, only seems to play in the 4-3 formation.

 

[italia44]

I don't want to seem stupid, but here goes. Why do I not remember us bringing in different OLB or DEs for every situation back in the days when our linebacker cotp was better?

We played a 3-4, and if McGinest went to the line and put his hand down, it was a 4-3. Sure we played other packages, especially on pass downs, but it seems like we used 3 OLBs, if they were healthy.

What happens when a team runs the no huddle? Are we stuck with the first down package as pass defense?

I think we are trying, or should be, to make our rushers at least adequate linebackers and rush off the line too, when appropriate, because that's what our defense calls for.

Thoughts?

Want a quick answer?......I've got one........
The "Polian Rule"......ergo....no contact after 5 yards downfield.There went the big,grabby linebackers,like Willie McGinest and Roman Phifer..

Say bye-bye to the press corners and hello to Peyton Manning and the Roskov Ballet....indoors and air-conditioned,for your dancing and dining pleasure.

That one rule,changed football,forever.....my friend...............'more's the pity",as the poet said.