Maybe linebacker in the first or....second round?

Dutch Oven

In a system that a lot of time deploys only two linebackers and three safeties, instead of the traditional 3 LB, 2 S, wouldn't you want your LBs to be beefier guys who can take on blockers instead of fast, 220ish lb guys who can get overwhelmed vs the run?

SdBacker80

The word used around Berea since Stefanski arrived “multiple”- Skillset, Position Fit/responsibilities. Good chance the player will be “multiple”.

Someone that can cover a TE would be most helpful too.

tiamat63

@dutch-oven said:

In a system that a lot of time deploys only two linebackers and three safeties, instead of the traditional 3 LB, 2 S, wouldn't you want your LBs to be beefier guys who can take on blockers instead of fast, 220ish lb guys who can get overwhelmed vs the run?

Depends on the coach and his demands, really.

Gene Chizik had linebackers that were 205 and 210lb's when he won a ring at Texas.

The Gipper

@tiamat63 said:

Depends on the coach and his demands, really.

Gene Chizik had linebackers that were 205 and 210lb's when he won a ring at Texas.

Do you mean Auburn? Chizik was the HC at Auburn when the won the National Championship.

Unsympathetic

I'm confused why anyone seriously thinks we're going to look at even one LB in the upcoming draft.

You may not like them.. but we signed a FA LB, have a 2nd year player who missed most of the year and is at minimum decent, resigned one [Smith] and have another [Taki] who were top15 rated last season, and are still paying Mack Wilson.

Change just for the sake of change isn't helping..

The Gipper

@unsympathetic said:

I'm confused why anyone seriously thinks we're going to look at even one LB in the upcoming draft.

You may not like them.. but we signed a FA LB, have a 2nd year player who missed most of the year and is supposed to be at least decent, resigned one [Smith] and have another [Taki] who were top15 rated last season, and are still paying Mack Wilson.

Perhaps, but, it is still perceived as a need for this team, because there just isn't that much confidence, at least among the fans in what we have there. We have not seen much of Phillips and we have seen none of Walker, and what we have seen of Smith, Taki, Wilson has been sort of meh. What the coaches/GM thinks, I am not sure we all know. We don't know if Walker will be better than BJ Goodson who he basically replaces.

Then there is history to deal with. This team has never had a Hall of Fame talent at LB, and I guess we would like to see that sort of thing here. Closest has been Clay Matthews, and a few other good ones: Jim Houston/Chip Banks/Eddie and Mike Johnson. Here have been the Browns LB Pro Bowlers. Two guys for one year each this entire century.

Pepper Johnson	LB	0		1	1994
Galen Fiss	LB	0		2	1962, 1963
Mike Johnson	LB	0		2	1989, 1990
Jamir Miller	LB	1	2001	1	2001
Clay Matthews	LB	0		4	1985, 1987, 1988, 1989
Walt Michaels	LB	0		5	1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959
Chip Banks	LB	1	1983	4	1982, 1983, 1985, 1986
Tommy Thompson	LB-C	1	1953	0
Jim Houston	LB-DE	0		4	1964, 1965, 1969, 1970
Tony Adamle	LB-FB	0		2	1950, 1951
Bob Golic	NT-DT-LB-DE	0		3	1985, 1986, 1987
Joe Schobert	OLB

Unsympathetic

It may very well be a need, but don't convince yourself that the available talent in 2021 draft represents an improvement over players we already have. If HOF is the criteria, the 2021 draft ain't the source for LB's..

Baron Browning is thisclose to being exactly the same player as Taki 2 yrs ago.

Many players would be a substantial improvement over Gustin at backup DE or the current injury-prone-ness of our CB room..

IMHO the question isn't just availability for our picks but also getting notably more skilled at some position over our current roster.

tiamat63

@the-gipper said:

Do you mean Auburn?

No I don't. He was the DC at Texas in 05'.

Tour2ma

@tiamat63 said:

Depends on the coach and his demands, really.

Yup... but the default in a 4-3 is for the DL to keep the LBs clean...

... and to paraphrase an idiom speed fills.

tiamat63

@tour2ma said:

Yup... but the default in a 4-3 is for the DL to keep the LBs clean...

... and to paraphrase an idiom speed fills.

That's the job for all DL regardless of front. You really don't want Oline getting clean splits to the 2nd level unless you like seeing people getting fucked up.

The Gipper

@tiamat63 said:

No I don't. He was the DC at Texas in 05'.

Ah! OK.

gumby73

Loads of good reads up in here (up in here)... adding *Better team speed* has been the off-season mantra all off season..Just tossing in some truck weights/40 speed digits up in here

Cox 232 dnp

JOK 221 dnp

Zaven Collins 259 lbs./ 4.56

ellerson smith 252 4.74

Rashed 251 4.58

__________________________________250's^^

Micah Parsons 246 lbs. 4.39 ***6.94 3c (freak)

*Browning 245 4.58

*S.Toney 242 4.55

Patrick Johnson 240 4.59/6.97 cone

______________________________________240's^^

D.Barnes 238 4.57

Bolton 237 4.59

Jamin Davis 234 lbs. /4.47*****

KJ Britt 235 4.75

______________________________________230's^^

Borland 229 4.98

Hilliard 229 4.81

Chazz Surratt 229 lbs. 4.58

Buddy Johnson 229 lbs. 4.57

Jacob Phillips Overview

Position: Inside Linebacker
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 229 pounds

40-Yard Dash: 4.66 seconds
Vertical Jump: 39 inches
Broad Jump: 10 feet 6 inches
Three Cone Drill: 7.38 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.33 seconds

Mack Wilson Overview

Position: Linebacker
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 240 pounds
School: Alabama Crimson Tide

Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.71 seconds
Vertical Jump: 33 inches
Broad Jump: 10.08 inches
Three-cone drill: 7.20 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.50 seconds

Yeah... adding better team speed is highly doable...but, Seeing the LB position, while adding better speed as a 'higher drafting priority' is a wait & see ?

Orion

Yeah, we could certainly use more speed at LB. But it's currently a downgraded position in the new defenses. Kind of a catch 22. You want more speed but you don't want to invest much.

Unsympathetic

It's not just "more speed" - it's short-area quickness and change of direction skills for coverage purposes which is the component that's lacking.

Wilson/taki/Phillips have enough of a 40 time.. 3-cone is more precise.

SdBacker80

Before we bypass a LB in this draft...

Anyone think Mack Wilson is a trade or cut candidate prior to Week 1?

But If Mack is included Week 1, we have Taki and Phillips as well and both have flashed. I am particularly interested in seeing Phillips in Year 2 (hopefully healthy too).

Walker and Smith are ? Beyond 2021. Maybe you draft and develop behind these two?

So if everything works out health wise we have five for the position group and Keep in mind we had five LBs get significant PT (defensive snap counts) last season.

We have bigger needs DE, DT, CB but a second day LB to push guys like Wilson, Taki, Phillips and provide insurance in case an older player like Smith breaks down - not a bad idea and it certainly can’t be ruled out.

nickers

I would go LB'er in the 1st.. DL looks average this draft...

gumby73

@unsympathetic said:

Wilson/taki/Phillips have enough of a 40 time.. 3-cone is more precise.

Agreed! (but, has Taki reached the endzone yet on that Wentz pick ? )

Lamar was lucky enough to have Yanda at RG when he was drafted..Now it will be our old pal Kevin Zeitler.... 10-15 play calls are Lamar read options off the back of his RG/LG...

It causes me to play drinking games seeing it coming.. if a decent 3-cone drill LB can plant his foot in the ground, than plant his arss... Am all In...

tiamat63

The reason Symp is pointing out 3 cone agility and change of direction speed is because in a game such as football putting ever more importance on plays between the 20's that place linebackers in a conflict of assignment (RPO's are the best example of this) that makeup first step becomes critical compared to what it may used to have been valued.

Orion

@sdbacker80 said:

We have bigger needs DE, DT, CB

I don't know how high CB is on the list right now with our FA signing. I know that you can neve have enough of 'em, but you can only 'afford' so many.

ballpeen

@the-gipper said:

Blurb on Jamin Davis I found...if you are talking 40 times:

Jamin Davis' measurements, included a 4.37 40-yard dash at 6'3, 234 lbs. Davis also had a 42” vertical and a 11' broad jump.

I think that is basically cornerback speed, fair to say?

But can he shed blockers and tackle the hell out of people? Sometimes really fast guys can't do those things. Not saying he can't, just asking that question.

Here is a nice film breakdown on Davis. If we pick a LB early, Davis is the guy. He fits the mold of the type of backer our D wants to play.