The unofficial...Off-season....LB thread
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I assume my royalty check is in the unofficial mail...
For whatever reason the focus seems to be on the ILBs.
I assume my royalty check is in the unofficial mail...
For whatever reason the focus seems to be on the ILBs.
Unofficially, yes......
Yeah....nothing at all on OLBs really.....other than the few blurbs on Orchard.....Based upon news and team reports, you wouldnt even know they were there.
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and, soon as I say nothing....there's this.....(not a lot, but some OLB talk)
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and, soon as I say nothing....there's this.....(not a lot, but some OLB talk)
and, soon as I say nothing....there's this.....(not a lot, but some OLB talk)
Krugs looked "heavy". Orchard looked "lean".
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Another OLB video popped up today....quick interview with coach Fleury....
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Taking inspiration from Tour, time to open dialogue on the Linebacker competition and ota info...
Though there hasn't been much LB talk.....the ones I've heard the most about are Christian Kirksey and Tank Carder, who both seem to be turning in stand out performances at OTA's.....
The little bit Ive heard on our rookies, it sounds like Orchard is fairing well....though there really hasn't been any mention of Pullard....
Sounds like Coach is pretty high on Carder, Dansby and Kirksey....here's yesterdays interview....
and some of his words on Kirksey....
Linebackers coach Chuck Driesbach recently sat down and met with some of the Browns scouts. Their question for the longtime assistant coach was simple: What are you looking for in a linebacker?
“I told them to clone Chris Kirksey,” Driesbach said.
We recently wrote about Kirksey making a big leap in his second NFL season. And it’s worth noting his 81 tackles as a rookie were 21 more than Karlos Dansby
posted in his first professional season back in 2004 with the Arizona Cardinals. Driesbach said Cleveland’s defensive system uses a bunch of packages that will take Kirksey off the field, but the coach thinks the 22-year-old is already a 16-game a-year, bona fide NFL starter.The best news is that there is no bad news......
Taking inspiration from Tour, time to open dialogue on the Linebacker competition and ota info...
Though there hasn't been much LB talk.....the ones I've heard the most about are Christian Kirksey and Tank Carder, who both seem to be turning in stand out performances at OTA's.....
The little bit Ive heard on our rookies, it sounds like Orchard is fairing well....though there really hasn't been any mention of Pullard....
Sounds like Coach is pretty high on Carder, Dansby and Kirksey....here's yesterdays interview....
and some of his words on Kirksey....
Linebackers coach Chuck Driesbach recently sat down and met with some of the Browns scouts. Their question for the longtime assistant coach was simple: What are you looking for in a linebacker?
“I told them to clone Chris Kirksey,” Driesbach said.
We recently wrote about Kirksey making a big leap in his second NFL season. And it’s worth noting his 81 tackles as a rookie were 21 more than Karlos Dansby
posted in his first professional season back in 2004 with the Arizona Cardinals. Driesbach said Cleveland’s defensive system uses a bunch of packages that will take Kirksey off the field, but the coach thinks the 22-year-old is already a 16-game a-year, bona fide NFL starter.The best news is that there is no bad news......
Nice job with that Mud!
Tell you what, Craig Robertson played some really impressive LBer for us last year especially when Dansby was injured. He wasn't getting blocked at the point of attack nearly as often as he did in 2013. In addition, his first step instinct got him covering hook zones much quicker than we'd seen from him. In 2013, there seemed to be a lot of concern about how our LBers defended the pass/hook zones and flats.
The 1 thing about having vets like Dansby here or even Scott Fujita in the past wasn't so much what they had left in the tank - it was what they taught younger LBers to look for on film for their game day keys. I had never seen D'Qwell Jackson so effective vrs the point of attack in all the years he was here until we put him in the middle of a 4-3. That also extended him from 1 hook zone responsibility into 2 hook zones becoming 1 so he had better get there quicker. He did in my opinion; and I remembered reading how helpful he found Fujita. He always had a nice tackle volume; but I appreciated his relevance to the point of attack most in our 4-3. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed taught their teammates how to watch film and loadup their game day keys so don't underestimate that value when we bring in the right vets here. Position coaches are good for that but there's no substitute for adding the insight and experienced viewpoint of a veteran.
I enjoyed how our staff used Mingo's athleticism and wing span in coverage last year when he was only playing with 1 useful shoulder. The guy never stops hustling so it wouldn't suck if our staff fine tuned some things and carved out a useful niche/purpose. That said, I'm really pumped up about Orchard. That sack volume of about 25 or so was outrageously good. When he can get up under big tackles to the extent they completely lose their base (like he has put on film more than once) - I'm not too worried about what that can project against the run. I've certainly been wrong before though. If Armonty Bryant comes back healthy enough to play, I'd like to see him get a little more stout vrs run which might invite some disagreement here.
Kruger played through some lower back pain last year so it would be nice find some reliable fresh legs to rotate in there.
LOVE Kirksey. He was voted team captain by his teammates at Iowa. I can see why Driesbach is impressed with him. He looks like he can play inside or outside like Clay Matthews used to offer us.
It'll be interesting to see what shakes out with Carder and Solomon. I thought I remembered Carder blocking a punt vrs TN when we erased a 28-3 halftime deficit on the road. That had to remind our coaches this is why we kept an active roster spot open for him. The good news is all that time he's been here - someone has invested some LBer training in the guy. That may sound corny; but look what time invested plus patience did for a guy like Greco. He went from looking like Fred Flintstone to a very reliable NFL Guard in his 7th year. I wasn't always a fan of that guy.
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Taking inspiration from Tour, time to open dialogue on the Linebacker competition and ota info...
Though there hasn't been much LB talk.....the ones I've heard the most about are Christian Kirksey and Tank Carder, who both seem to be turning in stand out performances at OTA's.....
The little bit Ive heard on our rookies, it sounds like Orchard is fairing well....though there really hasn't been any mention of Pullard....
Sounds like Coach is pretty high on Carder, Dansby and Kirksey....here's yesterdays interview....
and some of his words on Kirksey....
Linebackers coach Chuck Driesbach recently sat down and met with some of the Browns scouts. Their question for the longtime assistant coach was simple: What are you looking for in a linebacker?
“I told them to clone Chris Kirksey,” Driesbach said.
We recently wrote about Kirksey making a big leap in his second NFL season. And it’s worth noting his 81 tackles as a rookie were 21 more than Karlos Dansby
posted in his first professional season back in 2004 with the Arizona Cardinals. Driesbach said Cleveland’s defensive system uses a bunch of packages that will take Kirksey off the field, but the coach thinks the 22-year-old is already a 16-game a-year, bona fide NFL starter.The best news is that there is no bad news......
Nice job with that Mud!
Tell you what, Craig Robertson played some really impressive LBer for us last year especially when Dansby was injured. He wasn't getting blocked at the point of attack nearly as often as he did in 2013. In addition, his first step instinct got him covering hook zones much quicker than we'd seen from him. In 2013, there seemed to be a lot of concern about how our LBers defended the pass/hook zones and flats.
The 1 thing about having vets like Dansby here or even Scott Fujita in the past wasn't so much what they had left in the tank - it was what they taught younger LBers to look for on film for their game day keys. I had never seen D'Qwell Jackson so effective vrs the point of attack in all the years he was here until we put him in the middle of a 4-3. That also extended him from 1 hook zone responsibility into 2 hook zones becoming 1 so he had better get there quicker. He did in my opinion; and I remembered reading how helpful he found Fujita. He always had a nice tackle volume; but I appreciated his relevance to the point of attack most in our 4-3. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed taught their teammates how to watch film and loadup their game day keys so don't underestimate that value when we bring in the right vets here. Position coaches are good for that but there's no substitute for adding the insight and experienced viewpoint of a veteran.
I enjoyed how our staff used Mingo's athleticism and wing span in coverage last year when he was only playing with 1 useful shoulder. The guy never stops hustling so it wouldn't suck if our staff fine tuned some things and carved out a useful niche/purpose. That said, I'm really pumped up about Orchard. That sack volume of about 25 or so was outrageously good. When he can get up under big tackles to the extent they completely lose their base (like he has put on film more than once) - I'm not too worried about what that can project against the run. I've certainly been wrong before though. If Armonty Bryant comes back healthy enough to play, I'd like to see him get a little more stout vrs run which might invite some disagreement here.
Kruger played through some lower back pain last year so it would be nice find some reliable fresh legs to rotate in there.
LOVE Kirksey. He was voted team captain by his teammates at Iowa. I can see why Driesbach is impressed with him. He looks like he can play inside or outside like Clay Matthews used to offer us.
It'll be interesting to see what shakes out with Carder and Solomon. I thought I remembered Carder blocking a punt vrs TN when we erased a 28-3 halftime deficit on the road. That had to remind our coaches this is why we kept an active roster spot open for him. The good news is all that time he's been here - someone has invested some LBer training in the guy. That may sound corny; but look what time invested plus patience did for a guy like Greco. He went from looking like Fred Flintstone to a very reliable NFL Guard in his 7th year. I wasn't always a fan of that guy.
Craig Robertson played some really impressive LBer for us last year especially when Dansby was injured.
The 1 thing about having vets like Dansby here ..... was what they taught younger LBers
I enjoyed how our staff used Mingo's athleticism and wing span in coverage last year when he was only playing with 1 useful shoulder. The guy never stops hustling so it wouldn't suck if our staff fine tuned some things and carved out a useful niche/purpose.
I'm really pumped up about Orchard. That sack volume of about 25 or so was outrageously good.
If Armonty Bryant comes back healthy enough to play, I'd like to see him get a little more stout vrs run which might invite some disagreement here.
Kruger played through some lower back pain last year so it would be nice find some reliable fresh legs to rotate in there.
LOVE Kirksey. He looks like he can play inside or outside like Clay Matthews used to offer us.
It'll be interesting to see what shakes out with Carder and Solomon.
All good points Flugel....I'd say we have very similar perspectives on this group.....
Robertson did take a step up last year and played better than I expected he would. He kind of reminds me of Eddie Johnson a little bit, in that he has limited skills, but a huge heart and effort. Which can work out if you're a middle linebacker. I know I hear other players calling him out as their emotional leader and one of the hardest workers/players on the team.....and I expect he'll play plenty of downs this year.....
But it's Kirksey who I expect to end up with the bulk of playing time. I think he'll be one of those players who just gets better and better.....maybe not spectacular....but steady and smart and consistent as they come....eventually(this year) becoming the 'starter', if you will......and Robertson will be the perfect guy to come off the bench, with a smile, and knock some heads when needed.....
I absolutely love Carlos Dansby.....think he plays great!....and is a great mentor to everyone.....and a smart player who can help this team a lot.......I think he would also be a great WWF Pro wrestler....
Im holding hope for Orchard to go big time. Would love to have a monster pass rusher, which is something we've been missing. And still have hope for Mingo too. It's obvious he's a freak athlete and has a nose for the QB and ball....just gotta see what he does now that he's healthy and has a little experience under his belt.....hoping he's one of our "break out" players this year...
And if the 2 young pups above really do well.....then it'll be Kruger who see's less time and, probably, just evolves to 3rd down pass rush guy......
Solomon??......really have no idea or opinion on him.....looked great that first game....but his history says differently....but it sounds like the Browns think he'll flourish in our system.....and I trust em.....
Carder is the same.....Browns speak really highly of him. He's a 5th round pick with 3 years NFL experience and a couple years in this system. So I have to give him the upper hand over Pullard, who's a later pick with zero experience in the league or system. May the best linebacker win.
So...all in all.....feel like this is a pretty competitive group, with some new talent added and potential for a couple emerging stars (Mingo - Orchard - Kirksey)
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... and then there's "Bloodbath"...
Browns' Mingo battling 'Bloodbath' for starting job
Two years removed from becoming the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Barkevious Mingo is fighting for a starting job in Cleveland.
Browns defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil said as much on Thursday, talking up the play of Scott Solomon, a from-the-wilderness outside linebacker who has turned heads this offseason.
"Scott is very quickly becoming one of my favorite players," O'Neil said Thursday, per the Akron Beacon Journal. "The offense calls him 'Bloodbath.' He's like a heat-seeking missile coming off the edge."
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000497979/article/browns-mingo-battling-bloodbath-for-starting-job
Better, if less sensational article here: http://www.scout.com/nfl/browns/story/1556454-o-neil-barkevious-mingo-will-have-to-compete
O'Neil: Barkevious Mingo will Have to Compete
O’Neil was asked if he’s down on Mingo. “No, not at all,” he said. “He’s done a great job. I think where Mingo has really taken a step this year is he’s been able to participate in all of the passing stuff, all of the 7-on–7 drills with the red shirt on – I’m sure you guys have seen him out there.
“Coming out of LSU, he had no experience with that stuff,” he said. “Right now, he’s by far our best linebacker in coverage, our best outside backer. Now, we’re going to see where he is when we get back to training camp and the pads come on of how he is at outside backer setting the edge, how he is as a defensive end rushing the quarterback and that kind of stuff.
“Scott is very quickly becoming one of my favorite players on the defense,” O’Neil said. “He embodies everything we talk about when we say ‘Play Like a Brown.’
“We talk about aiming point, hand placement, his ability to set the edge in the run game. He’s very good at it. His ability to wreck a running play, versus a down kick-out block, an aggressive block coming at him, whether it’s a pulling guard, a fullback. It’s going to be a car accident when Scott Solomon meets a pulling guard or a fullback." -
Light a fire under Mingo's ass. Good. Now, the question is: is he dry kindling that will spark, or is he wet, green wood that will just smolder a little before dying out.
(Please rank my analogies on a scale of 1-10)
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Ok.....here are a couple LB interviews from this weeks camp....Mingo and....Bloodbath.....
Bloodbath first.....
and Mingo here....
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Interview with OLB Coach, Brian Fleury.
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Hmm.....story here says that the Saints are releasing Junior Galette.....hybrid edge rusher....22 sacks the last 2 years.....
That is a bit tempting.....
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http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13313271/new-orleans-saints-release-linebacker-junior-galette
The New Orleans Saints are getting rid of their best pass rusher.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports that the Saints will release Junior Galette, according to a source informed of the situation Friday. Galette recorded 22 sacks over the last two seasons, and was handed a four-year extension worth $41.3 million in September of last year. He received $17.95 million in the last year alone.
Galette recently met with NFL officials, according to Rapoport. The league is looking into two off-the-field incidents by Galette and the Saints have grown increasingly frustrated with him. Galette was arrested on domestic violence and simple battery charges in January; the charges were eventually dropped. Galette was also dealing with a torn pectoral muscle this offseason. Doctors were split regarding whether Galette required surgery.
In a conversation with Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune, Galette called the move "the worst call they've ever made. It was a terrible call to kick me when I'm down.
"Everything is Sean's call. He told me that himself. He's the one who pulls the trigger. ... The business is the business, you know? ... Like Vito Corleone said, 'Watch for the traitors.'"
This will prove be another costly contractual mistake by general manager Mickey Loomis. The Saints literally couldn't cut Galette before June 1 because of salary cap implications. Now he will cost $5.25 million on this year's cap, and the team will push $12.1 million in "dead money" into the future. That's how NFL teams get into salarycap trouble, and stay there.
Galette was a hybrid outside linebacker and defensive end that was an excellent speed pass-rusher on a team devoid of players that can win one-on-one matchups. Cameron Jordan is a fine defensive end, but is not a pure edge rusher. Anthony Spencer was playing ahead of Galette in offseason practices. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will have to create a pass rush with blitzing.
Early last season, Galette insisted to the media that the 2014 crop of Saints defenders were more talented than the group that won the Super Bowl after the 2009 season. Now Galette will be remembered as the face of an underachieving, inconsistent defense that has helped to squander some of Drew Brees' prime.
He will also be remembered as a big contract mistake by Loomis. Both Galette and Jimmy Graham signed monster extensions last year. Both are no longer with a team that is clearly in transition.
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Would this be a good acquisition?
22 sacks over the past 2 years.
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Not really. Unless the Brownies feel he'd overtake Kruger, push Monty off the roster and would restructure his contract.
Plus the injury thing.
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He was released for a reason. Big red flags.
He was released for being a woman beater. If you are willing to deal with that, you pick him up.
I am giving 50/50 odds that the Cowboys pick him up.
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He was released for being a woman beater. If you are willing to deal with that, you pick him up.
I am giving 50/50 odds that the Cowboys pick him up.
Or steelers. But not Browns, doesn't fit the 'play like a brown' philosophy. Farmer has already got two strikes with off the field issues, gilbert and manziel.
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