Hello, I really think we need to erase our LB woes but, I think too that need to be made without spending too much of cap space in this position corp because we will need to spend at other position of need. So, my idea is to sign a veteran serviceable Thumper to play MLB and to use 2 sppedy LB to cover our Wide. In this order to thinking I would sign Japer Brinckley to play MLB ( he has not speed but when he caught you.......you can't escape) and I will sign Jaylon Smith or Myles Jack (after a trade down), in this case we sign Brinckley without breaking the bank and either ack and Jaylon won't be too much with rooking scale deal and their injury. After that, a trio of Jenkins, Brinckey and Smith or Jack would'nt be too bad IMo and I could resign Misi to compete with them and Hewitt + Vigil too. With the cash saved we could sign Miller or resign OV and Wake. Opinions ?
I'm less inclined to use our top two picks on LBers. Obviously if we can get M Jack, but I'd like to mix it up and pay the $$ for Danny Trevathan from Denver. Gase should have a good handle whether he's good enough to pay for. I'd then use a similar strategy for CB. If we can get a good CB in FA (maybe Jenkins?) then it frees up our draft strategy - but would still pick a CB
I think I'd take a dominant linebacker over a corner. If still take a corner round two though, maybe even double up in 2 and 3.
FA LBs Outside linebackers Sam Acho, Chicago Bears James Anderson, New Orleans Saints Kroy Biermann, Atlanta Falcons Nigel Bradham, Buffalo Bills Dwight Freeney, Arizona Cardinals Chad Greenway, Minnesota Vikings Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs Bruce Irvin, Seattle Seahawks Emmanuel Lamur, Cincinnati Bengals Travis Lewis, Detroit Lions Albert McClellan, Baltimore Ravens Von Miller, Denver Broncos Mike Morgan, Seattle Seahawks Mike Neal, Green Bay Packers Calvin Pace, New York Jets Nick Perry, Green Bay Packers Vincent Rey, Cincinnati Bengals Aldon Smith, Oakland Raiders Courtney Upshaw, Baltimore Ravens Philip Wheeler, Atlanta Falcons Tahir Whitehead, Detroit Lions Kyle Wilber, Dallas Cowboys Frank Zombo, Kansas City Chiefs Inside Linebackers Jasper Brinkley, New York Giants Zach Brown, Tennessee Titans Tank Carder, Cleveland Browns Chris Carter, Baltimore Ravens Audie Cole, Minnesota Vikings Will Compton, Washington Redskins Demario Davis, New York Jets Dane Fletcher, New England Patriots Mason Foster, Washington Redskins Jerrell Freeman, Indianapolis Colts Erin Henderson, New York Jets Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs Steven Johnson, Tennessee Titans James-Michael Johnson, Miami Dolphins Jamari Lattimore, New York Jets Casey Matthews, Minnesota Vikings Joe Mays, San Diego Chargers Rolando McClain, Dallas Cowboys Shea McClellin, Chicago Bears Spencer Paysinger, Miami Dolphins Craig Robertson, Cleveland Browns Keenan Robinson, Washington Redskins Kelvin Sheppard, Miami Dolphins Sean Spence, Pittsburgh Steelers Anthony Spencer, New Orleans Saints Andy Studebaker, Indianapolis Colts Danny Trevathan, Denver Broncos Jason Trusnik, Minnesota Vikings Sean Weatherspoon, Arizona Cardinals Dekoda Watson, New England Patriots BOLD players connected to out New Coaches.
Derrick Johnson is also a good stop-gap option that would be a big upgrade for us. He's on the old side, but Johnson plus either Jack or Hargraeves would instantly upgrade our defense.
I'm no X's and O's guy by any stretch but, I don't understand why a staff wouldn't start building a defense from the DL and work in order of importance back towards the DB's. I understand the importance of preventing the big play but, the front 7 are always in a position to see the higher percentage of plays both short and intermediate. The neglect of upgrading our LB corps has been obvious to me and quite frankly, just too painful to watch. It's why I clamored for Kendricks last draft, and why I'd take Johnson and a top rook this offseason.
No one talks about Neville Hewitt. The kid plays fast and makes plays. Seems like he could be a wild card in this defense. He should have been on the field earlier and often. Totally agree we need a stud Mike though. Draft one please.
I've been touting Neville since the day he signed. He has progressed throughout his limited playing time. In the end, I believe he will be better than Jenkins.
Can you imagine Dion showing up to camp at 255 lbs with his head screwed on right? I wouldn't bet on it but, that would be the feel good story of the year right there.
I thought Hewitt was just okay. I mean, he missed some tackles and seemed out of position a little, but I guess that's to be expected. I didn't see myself coming away impressed, but he did progress, so I guess that's something.
I don't think we need to draft a linebacker at all. And before you say I'm off my rocker, hear me out. Reports coming out of New England and Saint Louis (err, Los Angeles?) are suggesting that Jerod Mayo and James Laurinaitis could be cut in the coming months, respectively. Miami would do well to snatch up these two veterans. Additionally, Vance Joseph is implementing a defense that is, at base level, of the 4-3 variety, but with more hybrid tendencies than we've previously seen under Kevin Coyle and Lou Anarumo. Thus, the need for two - possibly three - competent MLB's is huge. In my opinion, we could fill out the rest of the linebacking corps with the versatility of Vincent Rey, Emmanuel Lamur, and Jasper Brinkley. This would be the result: OLB Koa Misi Vincent Rey MLB Jerod Mayo Jasper Brinkley James Laurinaitis Zach Vigil OLB Jelani Jenkins Emmanuel Lamur Of note, I think it would be a mistake to cut Koa Misi. He is not a cap casualty, and far from the root of our linebacking woes. Neville Hewitt and Mike Hull could use more seasoning on the practice squad. Vigil, in my opinion, is a little less raw, and could serve as a complementary ST piece until he develops further. My primary concern with this blueprint is the lack of speed throughout. This group would put a stop to any and every rushing attempt, but matched up with fast TE's and quick-twitch slot receivers could be their undoing. Not sure how I would address those issues without shelling out 6-8 mil. per year for Bruce Irvin.