The Starting Linebacker Corps

[wu-dai clan]

Football is a situational game.

If people like to fixate on situational group (call it 1st down D or starting D), fine. The NFL offenses has become fairly stable on the number of 11 personnel they play, so you have to ask yourself how comfortable we are playing K9, White and Tranquill against 3 WR? Because that is the offensive set that is on the field most often. Can any of them run with a WR, or are we fine with our S matched up against a WR and out of the box (even when James is healthy)?

The real problem is that a football field is 100 yards long, and there are a relatively stable number of drives per game. So, overall, how effective a D is mostly dependent on how good a pass defense is. A defense will allow many fewer points allowed (overall) by playing good pass D. X It will always be true as long as you have to drive the length of the field and move the ball 75-ish yards to score. A defense will allow many fewer points allowed (overall) by playing good pass D. There are obvious exceptions like teams that play speed bump run defense, but 2 years ago, only 1 playoff team had a highly ranked defense in terms of run D, and all the rest ranked in the 20-somethings.

The fixation on spending a lot of draft capital on players who are not in an position in terms of field time, down and distance and overall impact. Run defense specialists (starting LB) are simply not going to make the impact plays that are associated with wins or losses. Strips and forced fumbles are simply random occurrences in football.

As far as the LB corp, it looks solid enough. The 3 "starters" are pretty young, but given they are mostly on the field to stop the run, it should be OK. White was simply horrible at times (early) last year, and then got hurt, but managed to limp through the end of last year. Tranquill was pretty good, but was mostly playing when injuries hit. K9 is a rookie, so there will be some hit and miss, especially since he hasn't had a snap played yet.

Thank god we got rid of Thomas, who was a disaster. His inability to cover was only matched by his slowness to the hole and some well timed missed tackles.

The player we are really going to miss in the box is James. The cover 6 D that we favor when he is healthy really attacks offenses ability to package their routes. And that helps everyone on the D.

NE drafted Kyle Duggar and Josh Uche + they signed our Adrian Phillips. Even with Patrick Chung opting out for the 2020 season, NE is ready to play Big NICKEL, DIME, whatever, and defeat the en vogue RPO/TE heavy Passing offenses.

Duggar is the Senior Bowl/Combine darling, S/LB Hybrid from Lenoir Rhyne.

Uche was actually seen covering KJ Hamler well in 2019, as an OLB.

We know what Phillips is all about.

I am looking for K9, Rayshawn, and @blaqbadger14 to hold down the fort for us. Tranquill and Alohi should be pushing for more and more snaps. Nasir, you are our Single High with range.

[Tol]

A LOT of folks wanted Simmons at 6 overall. Got to give Tommy T some credit here.

[like54ninjas]

NE drafted Kyle Duggar and Josh Uche + they signed our Adrian Phillips. Even with Patrick Chung opting out for the 2020 season, NE is ready to play Big NICKEL, DIME, whatever, and defeat the en vogue RPO/TE heavy Passing offenses.

Duggar is the Senior Bowl/Combine darling, S/LB Hybrid from Lenoir Rhyne.

Uche was actually seen covering KJ Hamler well in 2019, as an OLB.

We know what Phillips is all about.

I am looking for K9, Rayshawn, and @blaqbadger14 to hold down the fort for us. Tranquill and Alohi should be pushing for more and more snaps. Nasir, you are our Single High with range.

Looks like Kyzir’s knee is good to go now. He has looked fantastic the past 2 weeks. K9 & Kyzir make an imposing LB duo.

[wu-dai clan]

Looks like Kyzir’s knee is good to go now. He has looked fantastic the past 2 weeks. K9 & Kyzir make an imposing LB duo.

Agreed. I am especially very happy with Kyzir's development and health.