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Browns LBs - key to the defense taking a giant leap forward?

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  • I'm heading up to camp this morning, and am curious about the LBs. Mack Wilson in particular.

    It's pretty clear to me that the D is the key. If the Browns offense stays healthy, they should be able to put up points. 

  • Wilson was the best power5 LB in the draft in pass coverage last college season.. should translate to early PT for him given the gaping maw in that category for Kirksey.  Given that Kirksey's most positive PFF ratings against the pass came when he was used to rush the passer.. here's my early .02 suggesting that it's Kirksey who gives way to Wilson by midseason.

    Schobert thru game10 last season - was pretty good at least at passD.

    Here's hoping Joe's season3 could be good at both passpro and not missing tackles.. sometimes even on the same play.

  • I'm heading up to camp this morning, and am curious about the LBs. Mack Wilson in particular.

    It's pretty clear to me that the D is the key. If the Browns offense stays healthy, they should be able to put up points. 

    @bob806 said:

    I'm heading up to camp this morning, and am curious about the LBs. Mack Wilson in particular.

    It's pretty clear to me that the D is the key. If the Browns offense stays healthy, they should be able to put up points. 

    looking forward to your opinions on what you saw ? can't be any worse than our media! have fun

  • I continue to be amazed at how much shit Collins, arguably our most productive LB the past three years, gets.

    As for the LB position... yes, it is key... but then I think it is always key.

    For starters they are the de-facto QBs of the D. Then they are the mops that clean up any mess the DL creates. Then, more than any other position group have to balance great run D with great pass D. The latter including effective pressuring of the QB beginning with great disguise.

    It's the most demanding room on the D-side... and the room that underachieved the most last season. If I had to name one area that must improve, it would be PAP recognition.

    If our D is to go to the next level, then it falls on our LBs to take us there.

    @tour2ma said:

    I continue to be amazed at how much shit Collins, arguably our most productive LB the past three years, gets.

    As for the LB position... yes, it is key... but then I think it is always key.

    For starters they are the de-facto QBs of the D. Then they are the mops that clean up any mess the DL creates. Then, more than any other position group have to balance great run D with great pass D. The latter including effective pressuring of the QB beginning with great disguise.

    It's the most demanding room on the D-side... and the room that underachieved the most last season. If I had to name one area that must improve, it would be PAP recognition.

    If our D is to go to the next level, then it falls on our LBs to take us there.

    Well said!  I guess all those guys proclaiming Bill Belicheck knows exactly when to cut a guy loose started hanging out with ostriches the day Belicheck re-signed Collins. 

    IMO, 1 thing people continued to lose sight of throughout last season was how banged up we were at LB.   When starters weren't out injured, they played injured.  As much as I want to say so what it's part of the game - this was a team coming off 0-16 football that couldn't afford the injury situation to our LBer Corp.  Adding insult to injury, that Defensive Line only had 1 reliable DE (Garrett) and 1 reliable DT (Ogunjobi) while the other DT and DE often got rag-dolled. The combination of Ogunjobi and Garrett pass rushing Brees and Roethlisberger from the same side seemed too good to be true; and we learned soon enough - it was.  People can blame the LBers all they want; but how many LBer Corps can succeed when offensive lines are consistently imposing their will on half of the defensive line in front of them?  

    1-2 weeks before we played SD, Philip Rivers said Schobert was one of the toughest LBers to throw at.  He gave him oxymoronic praise in calling him a pain in the asss to challenge.  Understanding the MLB was responsible for both hook zones the last time they met in 2017 while Peppers was lining up at Safety in another area code - it was significant praise.  It only made sense that Schobert was injured and inactive when our defense failed to challenge Rivers in 2018. 

    Just like RBs and QBs need a line in front of them in order to experience consistent success - the same holds true with our LBers.  If we can keep our front 4 healthy this year,  I think we have the personnel and experience to be successful at LBer.  I'm not saying they're ready to be superstars; but did NE have any Superstars at LBer when they won the SB last year?  No, they just had solid LBer play significantly helped by the dline in front of them. 

    The additions the FO made this off season should help as well as getting some guys back healthy!

  • Game one and this is who we have to deal with. The new coach at Tenn realized halfway through the season exactly what I saw coming into the league, my favorite underutilized (until last year) player. Funny that they use that old Browns' term to describe him, Jim Brown. He will be the first test for this newly formed LB crew.

    @texasag1969 said:

    Game one and this is who we have to deal with. The new coach at Tenn realized halfway through the season exactly what I saw coming into the league, my favorite underutilized (until last year) player. Funny that they use that old Browns' term to describe him, Jim Brown. He will be the first test for this newly formed LB crew.

    It's a good thing he woke up before Rip Van Winkle and former 1st round disappointment - Chance Warmack .  People were beginning to wonder why he was having trouble getting more work load than Dion Lewis half way into his 3rd NFL season. Lucky for him, he contacted Eddie George for input/feedback of what was holding him back and he began playing like the RB TN expected him to be. 

    Good thing too because your buddy Flugel was getting too fat to hide from his prediction Henry would be a great back considering they got him in round 2.

  • @bob806 said:

    I'm heading up to camp this morning, and am curious about the LBs. Mack Wilson in particular.

    It's pretty clear to me that the D is the key. If the Browns offense stays healthy, they should be able to put up points. 

    looking forward to your opinions on what you saw ? can't be any worse than our media! have fun

    @gumby73 said:

    looking forward to your opinions on what you saw ? can't be any worse than our media! have fun

    Well I got there around 950am, the place was absolutely packed!! So I wasn't as close as I'd like to be to the action. I didn't know the doors open at 830, so get there early if you go.

    #9, QB from Purdue named Blough looked pretty good. Yeah, I know he's not seeing the field unless there's a disaster, but he's got a nice arm. The new punter in camp absolutely booms it (Gillam). 

    So sadly, I didn't get a close look at the LBs like I wanted to. Too far away, blocked by rows of many people. 

  • I continue to be amazed at how much shit Collins, arguably our most productive LB the past three years, gets.

    As for the LB position... yes, it is key... but then I think it is always key.

    For starters they are the de-facto QBs of the D. Then they are the mops that clean up any mess the DL creates. Then, more than any other position group have to balance great run D with great pass D. The latter including effective pressuring of the QB beginning with great disguise.

    It's the most demanding room on the D-side... and the room that underachieved the most last season. If I had to name one area that must improve, it would be PAP recognition.

    If our D is to go to the next level, then it falls on our LBs to take us there.

    @tour2ma said:

    I continue to be amazed at how much shit Collins, arguably our most productive LB the past three years, gets

    ^^^^this

    collins is back with NE....which speaks volumes.

  • @tour2ma said:

    I continue to be amazed at how much shit Collins, arguably our most productive LB the past three years, gets

    ^^^^this

    collins is back with NE....which speaks volumes.

    @clevfan4life said:

    ^^^^this

    collins is back with NE....which speaks volumes.

    Who needs to even watch football any more when Pro Football Focus (PFF) has all the answers?     Should I volunteer to tell Bill Belicheck how much time he's wasting especially when PFF has all the answers he can't possibly come up with himself?  Can you imagine some smart asss waterboy in NE correcting Belicheck with "That's not what Pro Football Focus says?" 

  • @clevfan4life said:

    ^^^^this

    collins is back with NE....which speaks volumes.

    Who needs to even watch football any more when Pro Football Focus (PFF) has all the answers?     Should I volunteer to tell Bill Belicheck how much time he's wasting especially when PFF has all the answers he can't possibly come up with himself?  Can you imagine some smart asss waterboy in NE correcting Belicheck with "That's not what Pro Football Focus says?" 

    @flugel said:

     Can you imagine some smart asss waterboy in NE correcting Belicheck with "That's not what Pro Football Focus says?" 

    did someone call for the ...aka...the psi snatcher  8bSx.gif    

  • @tour2ma said:

    I continue to be amazed at how much shit Collins, arguably our most productive LB the past three years, gets

    ^^^^this

    collins is back with NE....which speaks volumes.

    @clevfan4life said:

    ^^^^this

    collins is back with NE....which speaks volumes.

    Collins had moments, Like the alligator arm interception attempt very late in the game against the Raiders, that made it look like he was here for the check only. 

    He was the most experienced and talented LB, he just didn’t play the hardest here.

  • @texasag1969 said:

    Game one and this is who we have to deal with. The new coach at Tenn realized halfway through the season exactly what I saw coming into the league, my favorite underutilized (until last year) player. Funny that they use that old Browns' term to describe him, Jim Brown. He will be the first test for this newly formed LB crew.

    It's a good thing he woke up before Rip Van Winkle and former 1st round disappointment - Chance Warmack .  People were beginning to wonder why he was having trouble getting more work load than Dion Lewis half way into his 3rd NFL season. Lucky for him, he contacted Eddie George for input/feedback of what was holding him back and he began playing like the RB TN expected him to be. 

    Good thing too because your buddy Flugel was getting too fat to hide from his prediction Henry would be a great back considering they got him in round 2.

    @flugel said:

    Good thing too because your buddy Flugel was getting too fat to hide from his prediction Henry would be a great back considering they got him in round 2.

    Always good to have a foxhole buddy you can count on. I wanted Henry for the Browns from day 1. Smart of him to talk to a similar back like Eddy George.?

    But I also wanted one of either Michel or Chubb, so I'm happy.?

  • @clevfan4life said:

    ^^^^this

    collins is back with NE....which speaks volumes.

    Who needs to even watch football any more when Pro Football Focus (PFF) has all the answers?     Should I volunteer to tell Bill Belicheck how much time he's wasting especially when PFF has all the answers he can't possibly come up with himself?  Can you imagine some smart asss waterboy in NE correcting Belicheck with "That's not what Pro Football Focus says?" 

    @flugel said:

    Who needs to even watch football any more when Pro Football Focus (PFF) has all the answers?     Should I volunteer to tell Bill Belicheck how much time he's wasting especially when PFF has all the answers he can't possibly come up with himself?  Can you imagine some smart asss waterboy in NE correcting Belicheck with "That's not what Pro Football Focus says?" 

    ^^^^^this

  • @clevfan4life said:

    ^^^^this

    collins is back with NE....which speaks volumes.

    Collins had moments, Like the alligator arm interception attempt very late in the game against the Raiders, that made it look like he was here for the check only. 

    He was the most experienced and talented LB, he just didn’t play the hardest here.

    @clevelandwantsplayoffs said:

    Collins had moments, Like the alligator arm interception attempt very late in the game against the Raiders, that made it look like he was here for the check only. 

    He was the most experienced and talented LB, he just didn’t play the hardest here.

    i understand parting ways with him if he was really adamant about not taking even a slight pay cut....but if the browns way undercut him than i understand. We have way too many pieces we need to pay. But too many people here were completely dismissive of him when he was let go....and i knew better. 

    i hinestly think we'll be good as long as schobert and kirk stay healthy. If either one of those guys or god forbid both of them...get hurt.....we're in trouble defensively. Especially schobert....the D line seems to be in love with tge young jewish boy. Bith vernon and garrett have spoken on joe and how important tgey think he is...

  • no the LB's are not the golden key for the D.  the base D for wilks this year is going to be a 4-2-5  so the key is going to be the DB's they will have to cover well and the most important part of the 2019 browns will be the DB's ability to help in run support.

    if they dont do a good job in run support the browns will struggle against the run ....... see the 2018 cardinals run D and shield your eyes/

  • no the LB's are not the golden key for the D.  the base D for wilks this year is going to be a 4-2-5  so the key is going to be the DB's they will have to cover well and the most important part of the 2019 browns will be the DB's ability to help in run support.

    if they dont do a good job in run support the browns will struggle against the run ....... see the 2018 cardinals run D and shield your eyes/

    @eastsidedawg said:

    no the LB's are not the golden key for the D.  the base D for wilks this year is going to be a 4-2-5  so the key is going to be the DB's they will have to cover well and the most important part of the 2019 browns will be the DB's ability to help in run support.

    if they dont do a good job in run support the browns will struggle against the run ....... see the 2018 cardinals run D and shield your eyes/

    doesn't that depend on what offense they are facing? they would not run the 4-2-5 against some offenses, I think.

  • @eastsidedawg said:

    no the LB's are not the golden key for the D.  the base D for wilks this year is going to be a 4-2-5  so the key is going to be the DB's they will have to cover well and the most important part of the 2019 browns will be the DB's ability to help in run support.

    if they dont do a good job in run support the browns will struggle against the run ....... see the 2018 cardinals run D and shield your eyes/

    doesn't that depend on what offense they are facing? they would not run the 4-2-5 against some offenses, I think.

    @calfoxwc said:

    doesn't that depend on what offense they are facing? they would not run the 4-2-5 against some offenses, I think.

    no not really wilks ran 4-2-5 on 84% of snaps last year with the cardinals. this was most out of any D coordinator.

  • no the LB's are not the golden key for the D.  the base D for wilks this year is going to be a 4-2-5  so the key is going to be the DB's they will have to cover well and the most important part of the 2019 browns will be the DB's ability to help in run support.

    if they dont do a good job in run support the browns will struggle against the run ....... see the 2018 cardinals run D and shield your eyes/

    @eastsidedawg said:

    no the LB's are not the golden key for the D.  the base D for wilks this year is going to be a 4-2-5  so the key is going to be the DB's they will have to cover well and the most important part of the 2019 browns will be the DB's ability to help in run support.

    if they dont do a good job in run support the browns will struggle against the run ....... see the 2018 cardinals run D and shield your eyes/

    to run that scheme effectively dont u need ur interior DL to be more ofvthe lsrger 2 gap variety? Like a shelton or meder type? If u run with one smaller DT than at least the other one ought to be well north of 300lbs. Otherwise OL are gonna be all over those two LB'ers regularly.

  • @eastsidedawg said:

    no the LB's are not the golden key for the D.  the base D for wilks this year is going to be a 4-2-5  so the key is going to be the DB's they will have to cover well and the most important part of the 2019 browns will be the DB's ability to help in run support.

    if they dont do a good job in run support the browns will struggle against the run ....... see the 2018 cardinals run D and shield your eyes/

    to run that scheme effectively dont u need ur interior DL to be more ofvthe lsrger 2 gap variety? Like a shelton or meder type? If u run with one smaller DT than at least the other one ought to be well north of 300lbs. Otherwise OL are gonna be all over those two LB'ers regularly.

    @clevfan4life said:

    to run that scheme effectively dont u need ur interior DL to be more ofvthe lsrger 2 gap variety? Like a shelton or meder type? If u run with one smaller DT than at least the other one ought to be well north of 300lbs. Otherwise OL are gonna be all over those two LB'ers regularly.

    not sure about that i do know the browns have been running it alot in camp so far with larry o and Richardson as the DT.  in big nickle i guess the browns would run more in running situations.

    it would be schobert, kirko and morgan Burnett lined up in the box, whitehead and randall with 2 corners 

  • @clevfan4life said:

    to run that scheme effectively dont u need ur interior DL to be more ofvthe lsrger 2 gap variety? Like a shelton or meder type? If u run with one smaller DT than at least the other one ought to be well north of 300lbs. Otherwise OL are gonna be all over those two LB'ers regularly.

    not sure about that i do know the browns have been running it alot in camp so far with larry o and Richardson as the DT.  in big nickle i guess the browns would run more in running situations.

    it would be schobert, kirko and morgan Burnett lined up in the box, whitehead and randall with 2 corners 

    @eastsidedawg said:

    not sure about that i do know the browns have been running it alot in camp so far with larry o and Richardson as the DT.  in big nickle i guess the browns would run more in running situations.

    it would be schobert, kirko and morgan Burnett lined up in the box, whitehead and randall with 2 corners 

    I like the concept of the scheme if you have a hybrid type like Pep was. A guy that can come up and act as the 3rd LB'er or recover back into deep coverage. 

  • I'm trusting this Coaching Staff & we'll just see what happens. Unlike some Fans, I am convinced they know a helluva lot more than I do! Besides, I also believe we have a helluva lot more talent than Arizona did (does).

    Mike