<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Cowboys and Chargers are among the favorites in their respective conferences, and it's easy to see why their defenses are so scary when you look at the talent each team has amassed at linebacker. They boast the top two linebacker units in the NFL, though the Patriots and Bears are close behind. Here's how the top 10 overall groups rank: 1. Dallas Cowboys The Cowboys have three outside linebackers who can get after opposing quarterbacks and DeMarcus Ware is as good as it gets at the position. Ware can do it all with his rare blend of quickness off the ball, pure speed and ideal body type for the position. He sacked the quarterback 14 times last year, but his ability to stay with backs and tight ends in coverage is often overlooked and Ware is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate who keeps getting better. Greg Ellis returned from injury to have a very productive 2007 season while Anthony Spencer, last year's first-round pick, is going to be tough to keep of the field due to his ability to rush the quarterback. For now, though, Spencer is simply an exceptional No. 3 outside linebacker who could see time on throwing downs and make things very difficult on opposing protection schemes. Bradie James plays inside on the strong side and is a thumper who is always around the football. Zach Thomas came on board to finish his career at home in Texas and will play alongside James on the inside. Thomas played in a 3-4 alignment some in Miami and was very effective, and the transition to playing a 3-4 full-time should not be difficult for such a fundamentally-sound player. Dallas does not have much invested in Thomas so the risk is minimal, but if he can stay healthy it will be interesting to see how much he has left in the tank. Bobby Carpenter has yet to live up to his first-round selection and has shuffled from inside to outside, and while he does provide depth he needs to step up and become more of a contributor. Kevin Barnett is yet another talented young player who will find it hard to get on the field unless injuries intervene, which just goes to show how great this group is overall.</div> http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/new...%3fid%3d3488158 It certainly has the potential to be. We already know about Ware, so let's ignore him..... Ellis is coming off his best season ever, 12.5 sacks (despite missing the first 5 games of the season). Ellis gets a lot of 1v1 matchups because of the attention Ware demands. And Ellis absolutely took advantage of that last season. Spencer looked very promising in limited time last year. We have a great OLB rotation that I could not be anymore excited about. Its going to be great to watch. One other thing I'd like to comment on.... there were many, many times where Ware just flat out beat the OT off the ball....usually, the QB just stepped up in the pocket to avoid Ware. If the rumors of Tank Johnson being a beast this offseason are true....and he does start at NT for us (with Ratliff sliding out to DE), if Tank can collapse the pocket so the QB cannot step up into the pocket; Ware's sack numbers are going to skyrocket.
worst list ever. Steelers always have an excellent LB core, even without big names, see James Harrison last year Harrison. Woodley. Timmons, Davis, Foote. Farrior. c'mon easily top 10
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Jul 16 2008, 12:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What was the rest of the list (for people who don't have insider access)?</div> 1. Dallas 2. San Diego 3. New England 4. Chicago 5. Seattle 6. Carolina 7. Jacksonville 8. Tampa Bay 9. Baltimore 10. Green Bay 11. Atlanta 12. Pittsburgh 13. Philadelphia 14. Indianapolis 15. Buffalo 16. Jets 17. Arizona 18. Cleveland 19. Oakland 20. Tennessee 21. Minnesota 22. Kansas City 23. Giants 24. Cincinnati 25. Washington 26. Houston 27. New Orleans 28. Denver 29. San Fransisco 30. Detroit 31. Miami 32. St. Louis
Atlanta is odd at 11. Certainly not better than Pittsburgh. Boley is a great young LBer, but Brooking is average at best. Then it drops off. Not sure they are 11th. And as much as I hate to say it, Washington is probably underrated. Washington is still a pretty good LBer, Fletcher is good in the middle too. They are old, but better than, say, Atlanta's LB group. Though Boley trumps them all. McIntosh is solid too. Oakland at 19 is a bit surprising too. Morrison and Howard are both, young, good LBers. They have a better LB group, than say... the Jets (Gholston is a promising rookie, David Harris is good...but other than that.....) Unless they are including depth in this (which, from what they are talking about with Dallas, is likely)....but I put more weight into the starting units.
To get this somewhat back on topic, since this is in the Dallas forum... Our biggest problem at LBer last year was coverage. Greg Ellis cannot cover. Fortunately, his backup/successor, Anthony Spencer, looked very solid in coverage for someone making the transition from DE to OLB. He exceeded my expectations there. Wade has already said that Spencer will play more this year. Then, ILB. Bradie James is mediocre at best in coverage. But he's a 2 down LBer, so we get him out of there in obvious passing situations. Zach Thomas is known for his coverage, and in fact, Witten said Zach Thomas defended him better than anyone else. Even if this comment is to be taken with a grain of salt, Ayodele was non-existant last year. His coverage at times was putrid. Zach Thomas is an upgrade, if he's healthy. Ayodele didn't do anything notable last year. Then it comes to Burnett and Carpenter. Burnett was mediocre last year; I was expecting more from him. But he has speed, athleticism, and coverage skills. He needs to have a good year as he is entering his last year of his contract. And Carpenter... he has all the physical tools to succeed. He's bounced around from SOLB to SILB, back to SOLB, then back to SILB...and now....WILB. I have an idea: let the guy play one position. Just maybe, he can settle into a role. And gasp, develop. Maybe Carpenter never amounts to anything: but the way he's been handled hasn't benefitted him. He has the talent. The Seattle playoff game in particular, showcased that.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jul 16 2008, 12:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>To get this somewhat back on topic, since this is in the Dallas forum...</div> Tangents FTW No team has a worse group of LBers than the Bengals. The list is even more ridiculous when you read the author's reasoning.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jul 16 2008, 11:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jul 16 2008, 12:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>To get this somewhat back on topic, since this is in the Dallas forum...</div> Tangents FTW No team has a worse group of LBers than the Bengals. The list is even more ridiculous when you read the author's reasoning. </div> LOL, its all good. And yeah, the Bengals have some bad LBers... (what did the author say?) If you were to look at them strictly from a potential POV....they have had some intriguing players. Odell Thurman was talented, but a knuckle head. Ahmad Brooks was an excellent prospect, a true blue chip type prospect, but he hasn't lived up to any of that. Keith Rivers is a very good prospect too. David Pollack was a pretty good player too, but injuries ended that. And now, they have Zimmer coaching their defensive scheme. That's adding insult to injury.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jul 16 2008, 12:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>And Carpenter... he has all the physical tools to succeed. He's bounced around from SOLB to SILB, back to SOLB, then back to SILB...and now....WILB. I have an idea: let the guy play one position. Just maybe, he can settle into a role. And gasp, develop. Maybe Carpenter never amounts to anything: but the way he's been handled hasn't benefitted him. He has the talent. The Seattle playoff game in particular, showcased that.</div> I agree that Carpenter has been misused. If the Cowboys are going to continue screwing around with his development, I'd rather see them trade him so he can get a shot at consistent PT.
For LB rankings you need to do a separate list for 4-3 and 3-4 defenses because they are designed different. 3-4 OLBs are gonna get all the sacks because thats their job where are a 4-3 have to focus more on dropping into coverage and moving side line to sideline to make a tackle.
Yeah, there are major differences between the 3-4 and the 4-3... but you can compare the talent levels between them and their ability to run their scheme.
