thenew23 Posted July 16, 2014 Report Share Posted July 16, 2014 Training camp is getting closer... not soon enough, but still getting closer... Time to activate the Fantasy FB leagues and start ranking your players... While you're doing so, take a look at the linebacker situation we have coming into camp 12 linebackers coming to camp. Here's what I see... Starting OLBs - Paul Kruger and Jabaal Sheard Enough has been said about Sheard over the offseason for it to be pretty obvious he is "the guy" out of our OLB unit. Kruger has enough experience, and is getting paid enough money, that he will probably be slotted in as the starting guy opposite Sheard. Not much of a battle, at least to begin the season... BUT... OLB3 - Barkevious Mingo Mingo will no doubt be given an opportunity to shine this season. I don't think he has much of a chance to unseat Kruger/Sheard before the season starts, but I do think he'll get enough snaps to be considered an important piece of our defense. There may be times when we see all 3 of these guys on the field... Starting ILB - Karlos Dansby We didn't bring him in for nothing. He starts... Day 1, obviously, and dramatically improves our coverage in the middle of the field, especially on TEs Starting ILB2 - Craig Robertson vs Chris Kirskey Our first real battle in this group. Here's my thing, Pettine has shown that he adapts his defensive sets based on who is on the roster. While 3-4 may be the base, I can forsee many snaps where neither of these guys are on the field. They may be considered "starters" but I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot of a 4-2-5 lineup with Mingo and Dansby as the LBs with Sheard as a DE... just my thoughts. Robertson did not play great last year, and Kirskey is unproven; however, I believe these are the two guys in competetion for that "starting" ILB spot. LBs 6, 7, and possibly/probably 8 - Loser of ILB2 vs Tank Carder vs Brandon Magee vs Darius Eubanks vs Zac Diles vs Justin Staples vs Eric Martin The theme of many of my posts has been "versatility." Some of these guys look like 3-4 ILBs, while some look like 3-4 OLBs, while some look like 4-3 OLBs, etc... There is quite a bit of talent here to pick from. I like Carder and Eubanks as guys who can play in the middle, and I've heard good things about Diles as well. Can't wait to watch some of these guys in pre-season. Eligible for Practice Squad - Justin Staples, Darius Eubanks, Brandon Magee My Picks: LOLB - Paul Kruger LILB - Craig Robertson RILB - Karlos Dansby ROLB - Jabaal Sheard OLB3 - Barkevious Mingo ILB3 - Tank Carder LB7 - Chris Kirksey LB8 - Darius Eubanks PS - Justin Staples Release - Diles, Martin, Magee This is so hard to predict. Finding the right group of linebackers is key to having an aggressive 3-4 defense. Guys have to be able to shed blockers, cover RBs and TEs, and get to the passer. Carder, Kirskey, and Eubanks all look better fit for ILB spots, but they are probably the 3 best out of the bottom bunch. I could see Martin or Staples cracking the roster if they show some ability to get to the passer. Adding Dansby, and hopefully Kirksey, will help us prevent opposing TEs from tearing us apart (of course there is another guy in the next segment that should help as well). Should be some good competetion for those last few spots... Next up... Secondary... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBC mike Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 Magee showed up to play last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gipper Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 One of the truly "up for grabs" spots on the team is the #2 ILB. Only that and ROG and a WR spot.......and maybe QB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gftChris Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 I wouldn't necessarily count ILB2 as a solid start position. The snap count is not going to be anywhere near as high as the other 6 positions on the D because of the variations in formations we'll be using. I'd be interested in the statistics from both us and the bills last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gftChris Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 For us last year there were the following snap counts: Haden: 1051 / 1107 Skrine: 1036 Owens: 539 McFadden: 186 So that's basically saying that for around half of the snaps we had a third CB on the field. Craig Robertson saw 790 snaps, while DQJ had 1105. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gipper Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 For us last year there were the following snap counts: Haden: 1051 / 1107 Skrine: 1036 Owens: 539 McFadden: 186 So that's basically saying that for around half of the snaps we had a third CB on the field. Craig Robertson saw 790 snaps, while DQJ had 1105. Interesting. Where did you find these figures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gftChris Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 Rotoworld, on the individual play profiles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miktoxic Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 i know this is a new defense BUT why do we call sheard and mingo OLBs when they are defensive ends? wouldn't you modify the scheme to get the most out of your players? wtf? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gftChris Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 i know this is a new defense BUT why do we call sheard and mingo OLBs when they are defensive ends? wouldn't you modify the scheme to get the most out of your players? wtf? They're pass rushers. In a 4-3 they'd be DEs and that's where they were brought up in college ball, but in a 3-4 they're standing up at OLB because that's where the rush comes from. The difference between 4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB is basically the added coverage, but the pass rushing techniques will be basically the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miktoxic Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tour2ma Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 They're pass rushers. In a 4-3 they'd be DEs and that's where they were brought up in college ball, but in a 3-4 they're standing up at OLB because that's where the rush comes from. The difference between 4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB is basically the added coverage, but the pass rushing techniques will be basically the same. Ummmmm... disagree... Anyway.... here's a fun fact. Originally the 3-4 was developed to be a superior run defense with 3 D-line tying up 5 O-line creating an extra pursuing LB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gftChris Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 Ummmmm... disagree... Anyway.... here's a fun fact. Originally the 3-4 was developed to be a superior run defense with 3 D-line tying up 5 O-line creating an extra pursuing LB. Disagree with what? I thought I had the gist of it about right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sisky fringo Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 **crickets** no takers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miktoxic Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 **crickets** no takers? i know shit about football schemes etc. it just amazes when a new coaching staff comes in that they change things to a point where they make players play outside their comfort zone considering they have played a different position all their life and excelled at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibleedbrown Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 To me the difference between the 3-4 and 4-3 is just where you start the play. We've all seen shit like cornerback sacks and defensive linemen peeling off into coverage. I think diversity with the linebackers is what the Browns are going for. You hear shit from the minicamps about how Mingo is looking good in coverage, but the guy wasn't drafted to do that shit. However, he's athletic as hell and probably good at it. Drafting Kirksey tells me something about what their looking for in a LB. He was drafted higher than the experts thought he would be, so what is it about him that the Browns thought highly enough to draft him that high? Seriously, l wanna know. And l like Martin to make the 53. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miktoxic Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 i don't think i ever saw lawrence taylor or reggie white, bruce smith etc. drop back into coverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sisky fringo Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 watch pettine and oneil figure out how to lawrence taylor the frak out of opposing offenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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