The Role of Linebacker - Not Your Father's Oldsmobile

[BleedinBlue]

Like your father's Oldsmobile, things are changing. I remember those ads well. They should have stuck with my father's Oldsmobile (in real life (my life) my father always drove an Oldsmobile), but they changed to a smaller, sportier, rougher riding new Oldsmobile....then went broke.

 

Anyway, here's a good article on today's linebackers....not our father's linebackers.

 

Under Fewell's System, the Giants Consider LBs Wasted Picks

April 30th, 2013 3:56 pm

John Fennelly , Executive Editor

 

For the second consecutive year, the draft has come and gone and Giant fans protest loudly about the team's failure to draft a linebacker. I understand the mindset behind this angst. But I'm not sure most fans understand how the game has changed and why base defense, run-stopping linebackers; much like running backs these days; are not being taken high in the draft any longer.

 

Today's game is played in front of - and behind; the linebackers. The Giants have been getting away from their base defense (4-3-4) in recent years, employing either a nickel (4-2-5) or a dime (4-1-6) package on approximately 50% of the defensive snaps. This is primarily to guard against the new age passing attacks of the league. In the team's final game of the season vs the Eagles last year, only two LBs were on the field for more than half the snaps: Chase Blackburn (73%) and Jacquian Williams (71%); who happen to be the unit's top two pass defenders.

 

Granted, the game was a blowout, with the Eagles in passing mode most of the game (37 pass to 27 run plays), but that means little. When the shoe was on the other foot in Week 10 against Cincinnati, only Michael Boley (100%) and Blackburn (92%) played more than half the snaps.

 

That is why the team holds defensive lineman and defensive backs in higher regard than LBs on draft day. DC Perry Fewell's system doesn't emphasize the linebackers. The base defense is run less than half the time and the team believes they do not need to draft blue chip players to fill the LB roles. Instead they sign UDFAs and cheap veterans and hope for the best.

 

For the Giants to select a LB high in the draft, that player would have to possess the qualities of either a safety (coverage skills) or a DE (pass rushing skills). In the past few drafts, they haven't found one on the board they felt was worthy enough to select. Maybe fans have, but then what's the point of drafting a LB high if he's going to watch more than half the game from the sidelines?

 

Since Jerry Reese took the reins in 2007, the team has brought in eight LBs through the draft: Zak DeOssie, Bryan Kehl, Jonathan Goff, Clint Sintim, Phillip Dillard, Adrian Tracy, Greg Jones and Williams. Only Sintim was taken higher than the 4th round (2nd) and as of today, only DeOssie (The ST captain who is used as a long snapper), Williams and Tracy are still with the team. Williams is the only one playing LB. Tracy was converted to a DE and is on the roster bubble each August.

[Tempest]

Can we get this article pinned, emailed to active members, and require it be read before joining Sportwrath?

[Allstarjim]

You can, but that doesn't mean the philosophy or even the article has merit. The point is, u still need linebackers. You might only need 2 most of the time, but that doesn't mean those two guys are unimportant. Look ehat Luke Kuechly did for Carolina last season? This team is desperate for a MLB like that. I hope its Connor. But in this day and age, the good QBs and O Coordinators will exploit any hole in your defense. And we've seen that in the past with this team, having terrible lapses in coverage bc of the lack of athletcism and effectiveness out of that position.

[Nas]

I just think it's a case of we really haven't found good linebackers coming out of the draft available where we pick... and the price of moving up is just too high.

 

I'm no fan of Fewel so this so called "philosophy" doesn't cut it with me...

[fringe]

Today's game is played in front of - and behind; the linebackers

 

or through- in the Giants case. has this guy ever watched a 49ers game?

[Sephiroth]

Granted, the game was a blowout, with the Eagles in passing mode most of the game (37 pass to 27 run plays), but that means little. When the shoe was on the other foot in Week 10 against Cincinnati, only Michael Boley (100%) and Blackburn (92%) played more than half the snaps.

 

Indeed. I mean, why spend picks on players who will only be on the field for 92 to 100 percent of the snaps?

 

We're much better served by drafting a fifth DE or fourth-string WR.

[BleedinBlue]

 

 

Indeed. I mean, why spend picks on players who will only be on the field for 92 to 100 percent of the snaps?

 

We're much better served by drafting a fifth DE or fourth-string WR.

If we drafted a player, he wouldn't have gotten anywhere near 50% playing time. In fact, there was no one in the draft available to us that would beat out our top 5 linebackers. We would've drafted a bench player hoping he could start seeing playing time in a year or two.

 

The last time we burned a high draft pick on a LB was Sintim and the pre-draft analysis on him was glowing - big, fast, hard-nosed, etc. I don't think there was anyone in this draft better than Sintim other than Jones, who of course, went in the first round before our turn came up. It will be interesting to see if he makes the Steelers a far better team this year. I doubt it.

 

Here's the summary on Jarvis Jones (keep in mind, he was far and away the BEST LB in the draft):

 

"One-year starter. Inconsistent using his hands to disengage from better blocks and to beat cut blocks from running backs in pass protection. Lacks an ideal frame to get much bigger and doesn't have the growth potential or the bulk teams want at the position. Will need to prove he can stay with NFL ball carriers in space when dropping into the flat. Not particularly smooth in deep drops. Doesn't have elite bend around the corner, and could use a spin or other counter move to keep tackles guessing. Missed the last five games of the 2009 with a neck injury, part of his senior year in high school with a broken thumb. There is some concern about his long-term durability due to his spinal stenosis condition, the same ailment that has caused some players to call it quits, including Marcus McNeill, Chris Samuels and Michael Irvin".

[Bigblue25]

Ogletree sounds perfect for what this article, says is needed in a LB and if Blackburn was great, how come we let him go.

[JMFP]

You can, but that doesn't mean the philosophy or even the article has merit. The point is, u still need linebackers. You might only need 2 most of the time, but that doesn't mean those two guys are unimportant. Look ehat Luke Kuechly did for Carolina last season? This team is desperate for a MLB like that. I hope its Connor. But in this day and age, the good QBs and O Coordinators will exploit any hole in your defense. And we've seen that in the past with this team, having terrible lapses in coverage bc of the lack of athletcism and effectiveness out of that position.

 

Thank you.

 

Here's what I know.....

 

1) Our linebackers suck

2) Giants had the #31 ranked defense last year.

 

And last year wasn't some sort of fluke year. Sheridan was run out of town a few years back, because of how atrocious the defense was, particularly at linebacker.

 

The 4-3 defense was pioneered by Tom Landry to maximize the athleticism of Sam Huff, who was pulled off the defensive line and placed at middle linebacker.

 

Throughout the years, the best defenses in the NFL have featured great linebackers..... Huff, Nitschke, Butkus, Jack Lambert, Mike Singletary, Harry Carson, Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, Patrick Willis.....and most of these systems were 4-3.

 

The exception of course was the Parcells Giants 3-4, which even though it was linebacker-driven, also featured solid defensive linemen (George Martin, Leonard Marshall, Burt, Howard, Dorsey).

 

To run a solid defense you need good players throughout the unit, or else teams will focus on the weakness. This was apparent on Week1 when Romo slanted the Giants to death. It continued throughout the season....teams abused the Giants with combinations of running backs, tight ends, and mobile QBs.....it became embarrassing to watch.

 

As I mentioned in another thread, I really don't think the Giants front office can really talk with authority about linebackers anymore.

 

The Bears, Steelers, Ravens, and 49ers know something about the value of good linebackers.

 

The tradition of good linebacking is now dead in New York.

[Nas]

I see your point Joe... but again I don't think the Giants have had the luxury of picking early enough where a stud linebacker was available.

[JMFP]

or through- in the Giants case. has this guy ever watched a 49ers game?

 

Amen brother.....as usual, we agree.

[JMFP]

I see your point Joe... but again I don't think the Giants have had the luxury of picking early enough where a stud linebacker was available.

 

Free agents are available....Karlos Dansby and Daryl Smith, most notably.

[fishgutmartyr]

That article's dandy and all, but doesn't that imply that those two linebackers better be able to cover a hell of a lot more territory than they would in a standard 4-3? A big back blows through a hole and you want safeties tackling him?

 

You might make the argument you only need 2 LBs, or maybe 4 total in the squad, but they better be damn good linebackers.

[Allstarjim]

I think u have to trust your scouts evals, and I really don't mind a Hankins kind of guy that can command a double on the interior or dominate if he's singled up. But that better happen. I don't agree that just because we have failed in the draftlast finding linebackers, that we just stop drafting them. There were athletic, but raw prospects that could really move later in the draft, but we took a Guard late, when when interior O linemen might just be the cheapest and easiest to find in free agency. Maybe he'll be a good player, but we need to find a long term solution, and can't keep ignoring the position in the draft. Hopefully one of the UDFAs will really pay off.

[Herc]

yeah in today's NFL it's all about the d-line and secondary which is why i was harping on corner depth yesterday. ideally you'll get that hybrid safety who can act like a linebacker at times which im guessing is why cooper taylor is here

[Treehugger]

 

The Bears, Steelers, Ravens, and 49ers know something about the value of good linebackers.

 

 

Giants D was tied for 12th with Baltimore if you rank by the stat that counts; Points.

[BleedinBlue]

Everyone remembers the days of LT, Carson, Banks, Johnson and many more, reminding us how important it was to have great linebackers.

 

But here's the problem: We don't play the 3-4 anymore where we relied strictly on linebackers to go after the QB. Sure, we send a LB after the QB now and then, but our focus has been on QB sacking DE's in a 4-3 system and that is what our defense is built around. Now, the Giants need coverage athletes everywhere - hence the 3 safety net, 4-3 predicated pressure from DE's not LB's.

[Nas]

Everyone remembers the days of LT, Carson, Banks, Johnson and many more, reminding us how important it was to have great linebackers.

 

But here's the problem: We don't play the 3-4 anymore where we relied strictly on linebackers to go after the QB. Sure, we send a LB after the QB now and then, but our focus has been on QB sacking DE's in a 4-3 system and that is what our defense is built around. Now, the Giants need coverage athletes everywhere - hence the 3 safety net, 4-3 predicated pressure from DE's not LB's.

 

It's not that... so much as there just haven't been stud LBs available where we pick. It seems once every 5 years a great LB would show up (i.e Urlacher) but we were in position to draft him nor was the LB position our weakest link. I recall when we got Pierce out Washington he was ascending and haven't even reached his prime... but since he got old and eventually cut, how many LBs have been great for their teams who were drafted when we had a chance to draft them? And more importantly who did we draft instead? I can make the argument drafting Nicks was an absolute necessity... far bigger than a LB.

[Herc]

3 linebackers are on the field less and less than they were 10 years ago. if offenses are going to put 3+ WR's in more packages than we need to adjust our defensive personnel accordingly. that means investing less in linebackers and more in the other two layers

[BleedinBlue]

It's not that... so much as there just haven't been stud LBs available where we pick. It seems once every 5 years a great LB would show up (i.e Urlacher) but we were in position to draft him nor was the LB position our weakest link. I recall when we got Pierce out Washington he was ascending and haven't even reached his prime... but since he got old and eventually cut, how many LBs have been great for their teams who were drafted when we had a chance to draft them? And more importantly who did we draft instead? I can make the argument drafting Nicks was an absolute necessity... far bigger than a LB.

 

Actually...as long as TC is the head coach, we are going with a 4-man front. Back in the day when we used a 3-man front, linebackers were the glory position because they were the ones who went after the QB. With our pass rushing DE's, there's no way we are going to depend on a 4 linebacker set with the purpose of getting to the QB with a linebacker. LT would not have gotten all the glory he did if he was playing in a 3-man LB set. Sure, he'd have gotten some sacks...but not the amount he did when if he had to share them with players like JPP and Tuck in front of him. His role would have changed dramatically in a 4-man front situation where DE's were drafted and groomed as sack specialists.

 

In short...we have invested far too heavily in DE's whose specialty is going after the QB, to change direction and build a new style defense around LB's and a 3-man front.

[Sephiroth]

If we drafted a player, he wouldn't have gotten anywhere near 50% playing time. In fact, there was no one in the draft available to us that would beat out our top 5 linebackers. We would've drafted a bench player hoping he could start seeing playing time in a year or two.

 

I know what you're saying, but... we have Tuck, JPP, and Kiwi to spell them. How much playing time is Moore going to get?

 

We have Patterson, Jenkins, and Joseph to spell them... how much playing time is Hankins going to get?

 

More importantly, how much time is Nassib going to get? Eli hasn't missed a game in his career.

 

The Giants like to say they take the best player available, but the Pugh pick shows this pretty clearly isn't he case, at least not this year. It's nice to have a farming system and develop guys too, but not at the expense of an entire position. Dan Connor probably isn't going to stay healthy for a season, Rivers never has, and behind them we've got two undrafted FAs and a sixth-round pick.

[BleedinBlue]

 

 

I know what you're saying, but... we have Tuck, JPP, and Kiwi to spell them. How much playing time is Moore going to get?

 

We have Patterson, Jenkins, and Joseph to spell them... how much playing time is Hankins going to get?

 

More importantly, how much time is Nassib going to get? Eli hasn't missed a game in his career.

 

The Giants like to say they take the best player available, but the Pugh pick shows this pretty clearly isn't he case, at least not this year. It's nice to have a farming system and develop guys too, but not at the expense of an entire position. Dan Connor probably isn't going to stay healthy for a season, Rivers never has, and behind them we've got two undrafted FAs and a sixth-round pick.

 

Seph...I hear ya. But who in the draft was available to us that was going to overhaul our linebacking corps? I have no doubt in my mind that if there was a linebacker that was better than what we already have, we'd have gone after him? Te'o? - smart kid, football brain, the speed of an offensive lineman (and speed is critical to the Giants that need "coverage" LB's). Arthur Brown? I wouldn't have minded having him, but here's the book on him: "...considered undersized for the inside linebacker position and doesn't have much room to grow into. Maturity questions were raised after transfer from Miami. Won't blow up blocker in front of him causing a log jam in the hole. Are times he overruns the hole due to poor vision, fails to recognize his mistake and reset".

 

Te'o would play behind Herzilch and Connor and see almost no playing time. Brown certainly wasn't going to knock off Rivers, Williams, or Paysinger and would be a bench player who, because of his size, might never be anything other than a ST player.

 

This draft did not have stud LB's for the taking - period. There were no Lawrence Taylors or Brian Urlachers sitting there on the board for anyone to take, let alone the Giants.

 

The game has changed and we have to adjust to it. It's now all about a combination of speed/size/tackling in coverage situations and those guys are a rare breed. I think the Giants did fantastic in getting Cooper Taylor and I suspect they were just as surprised that he was still on the board in the 5th as they were that Moore was there in the 3rd and Nassib was still there in the 4th.

 

We really have no choice but to develop players at that position if we can't find them in the draft. I do believe we would be very wise to sign Danby, but cap space is always a concern and I don't know what his agent is trying to get for him.

[Nas]

While it's true our LBs have been weak for a very long time... They've really never been our most glaring spot at any given season... we got killed last year with our DLine not stopping anyone... we got killed with the right side of our OLine... making those positions a much bigger need than LB. And like you said, Bleedin, there really wasn't anyone there better than what we already have.

[Bigblue25]

 

 

Seph...I hear ya. But who in the draft was available to us that was going to overhaul our linebacking corps? I have no doubt in my mind that if there was a linebacker that was better than what we already have, we'd have gone after him? Te'o? - smart kid, football brain, the speed of an offensive lineman (and speed is critical to the Giants that need "coverage" LB's). Arthur Brown? I wouldn't have minded having him, but here's the book on him: "...considered undersized for the inside linebacker position and doesn't have much room to grow into. Maturity questions were raised after transfer from Miami. Won't blow up blocker in front of him causing a log jam in the hole. Are times he overruns the hole due to poor vision, fails to recognize his mistake and reset".

 

Te'o would play behind Herzilch and Connor and see almost no playing time. Brown certainly wasn't going to knock off Rivers, Williams, or Paysinger and would be a bench player who, because of his size, might never be anything other than a ST player.

 

This draft did not have stud LB's for the taking - period. There were no Lawrence Taylors or Brian Urlachers sitting there on the board for anyone to take, let alone the Giants.

 

The game has changed and we have to adjust to it. It's now all about a combination of speed/size/tackling in coverage situations and those guys are a rare breed. I think the Giants did fantastic in getting Cooper Taylor and I suspect they were just as surprised that he was still on the board in the 5th as they were that Moore was there in the 3rd and Nassib was still there in the 4th.

 

We really have no choice but to develop players at that position if we can't find them in the draft. I do believe we would be very wise to sign Danby, but cap space is always a concern and I don't know what his agent is trying to get for him.

 

Ogletree? He is exactly, what this article describes is need for our system

[BleedinBlue]

 

 

Ogletree? He is exactly, what this article describes is need for our system

 

You're exactly right and if not for huge character flaws, he would have been a good pick. I guarantee the Giants' staff took a long hard look at Ogletree and his past legal problems and saw a kid who would be a problem later on and doubtful that he'd come around - and they would have had to burn a 1st on him. He reminds me so much of Pacman Jones - incredible talent, dumb as a box of rocks, despises authority, and ignores laws.