2010 Every Down Linebacker Thread (1 Viewer)

[Jene Bramel]

First post updated with this week's observations.

**Chillar and Hawk in the nickel through three quarters. Bishop in for Chillar in the fourth in a tight game. No injury to Chillar noted in the post game. Sigh.

**DeAndre Levy made it through the entire game playing every down.

**Paris Lenon remains an every down linebacker with Gerald Hayes back in base defensive rotation.

**Bryan Kehl starting for Larry Grant, but STL still in dime subpackages.

**Titans benched Will Witherspoon to go dime in the fourth quarter v SD. McRath had ten solos but not in subpackages.

**Added Michael Boley officially after three weeks as every-down player and no indication of change during bye.

 

[Jene Bramel]

First post updated.

**Pat Angerer took the nickel snaps for the injured Clint Session.

**Ricky Brown replaced the injured Rolando McClain and played every down.

**Best guess is that Gerald Hayes plays every down if Paris Lenon’s injury is serious.

**Desmond Bishop got the majority of nickel snaps this week, with Chillar only rotating in on spread sets.

 

[Lash]

thx Jene! the change logs and emboldened text on OP are a great addition

 

[saintfool]

any thoughts about stephen nicholas going into the second half of the season? he's been doing pretty well with tackles - 25 combined total over the last 4 games - while filling in for 'Spoon. I would expect them to put 'Spoon on the field once he's healthy. However, looking at Mike Peterson's production over that same span of time, it's pretty paltry. 16 combined and a sack isn't much to write home about really.

Any chance at all that Nicholas stays in the line-up?

 

[Jene Bramel]

any thoughts about stephen nicholas going into the second half of the season? he's been doing pretty well with tackles - 25 combined total over the last 4 games - while filling in for 'Spoon. I would expect them to put 'Spoon on the field once he's healthy. However, looking at Mike Peterson's production over that same span of time, it's pretty paltry. 16 combined and a sack isn't much to write home about really. Any chance at all that Nicholas stays in the line-up?

Despite the difference in box score production, I think Peterson has been the better OLB over the past month. Nicholas continues to be productive in the nickel package and is arguably the best cover backer the Falcons have. I think there's a chance that he sticks in subpackages when Weatherspoon returns, but I think the starting job goes back to Weatherspoon when healthy.

 

[saintfool]

any thoughts about stephen nicholas going into the second half of the season? he's been doing pretty well with tackles - 25 combined total over the last 4 games - while filling in for 'Spoon. I would expect them to put 'Spoon on the field once he's healthy. However, looking at Mike Peterson's production over that same span of time, it's pretty paltry. 16 combined and a sack isn't much to write home about really. Any chance at all that Nicholas stays in the line-up?

Despite the difference in box score production, I think Peterson has been the better OLB over the past month. Nicholas continues to be productive in the nickel package and is arguably the best cover backer the Falcons have. I think there's a chance that he sticks in subpackages when Weatherspoon returns, but I think the starting job goes back to Weatherspoon when healthy.

Yeah, I can't see them keeping 'Spoon off the field if he's healthy. I just have to think that Peterson vs Nicholas here. Peterson has the leadership and experience but isn't putting up numbers. Nicholas has performed well and is a few years younger. I know Peterson's experience with Smith and the system is what is keeping him on the field. That said, his contract expires at the end of the season...

 

[Jene Bramel]

First post updated. No major changes this week.

Tentatively have David Bowens over Chris Gocong as the most likely every-down replacement for Scott Fujita. Didn't add Joe Mays, but there might be a shuffling of him or Wes Woodyard if and when DJ Williams is suspended.

 

[DesmondBishop]

Morrison, Thomas Howard, Derrick Johnson. Seems like they all should still be 3 down LB's but have fallen out of favor and need a change of scenery. Hopefully some of them get new teamss by the weekend.

I think Derrick Johnson will be a 3 down LB, obviously the coaching staff does not always see the talent around them (They cut Pollard last year) but I think DJ will be out of the doghouse and back into the penthouse this year, which will be good for IDP'ers that own him.Thank you for the replies to my first post also Jene.

Sorry, giving some self props here as I was talking up DJ in several threads and must say was a good/lucky call on my part.

 

[hippyk]

Any updates? Curious on Joe Mays and Bishop. Many thanks!!

This thread will be linked in the pinned IDP Warehouse thread and will be bumped with every update to this initial post (usually on Wednesdays during the regular season.

We've proven in recent seasons that dismissing the importance of knowing which linebackers come off the field on passing downs is a recipe for statistical disaster. Backers who don't play in their team's subpackages often miss at least 40% of their team's defensive snaps over a full season and may miss 70-80% of their team's snaps in any given week. This will be the third season that we'll closely track each team's every-down backers in this thread.

We'll use a combination of film study and internet resources to confirm these names during the season, but during the preseason months, this list will be our best guess at which backers would play every-down if the season started today. Many situations are far from certain and obviously much will change here after the draft, but I’ll work the pre-draft post from each team’s current depth chart. For the purposes of discussion, we’ll list any linebacker expected to take at least 80% of his team’s snaps each week regardless of subpackage usage.

Recent week's changes in BOLD.

Baltimore: Ray Lewis, Jarrett Johnson

Buffalo: Paul Posluszny, Chris Kelsay

Cincinnati: Dhani Jones

Cleveland: Matt Roth, Scott Fujita (inj - David Bowens?)

Denver: DJ Williams, Mario Haggan, Robert Ayers (inj - Jason Hunter)

Houston: Brian Cushing, Zach Diles

Indianapolis: Gary Brackett, Clint Session (inj - Pat Angerer)

Jacksonville: Daryl Smith, Justin Durant

Kansas City: Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson

Miami:: Karlos Dansby, Cameron Wake

New England: Jerod Mayo

New York Jets: Bart Scott, David Harris, Calvin Pace

Oakland: Rolando McClain (?inj - Ricky Brown)

Pittsburgh: James Harrison, Lamarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons

San Diego: Stephen Cooper, Shaun Phillips, Kevin Burnett

Tennessee: Stephen Tulloch, Will Witherspoon*

Arizona: Paris Lenon, Clark Haggans, Joey Porter

Atlanta: Curtis Lofton, Sean Weatherspoon (inj - Stephen Nicholas)

Carolina: Jon Beason, James Anderson

Chicago: Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher

Dallas: Bradie James, Keith Brooking, Demarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer

Detroit: DeAndre Levy, Julian Peterson

Green Bay: AJ Hawk, Clay Matthews, Desmond Bishop*

Minnesota: EJ Henderson*, Chad Greenway

New Orleans: Jonathan Vilma, Scott Shanle

New York Giants: Michael Boley

Philadelphia: Stewart Bradley

St. Louis: James Laurinaitis

San Francisco: Patrick Willis

Seattle: Lofa Tatupu

Tampa Bay: Barrett Ruud, Geno Hayes

Washington: London Fletcher, Brian Orakpo, Rocky McIntosh

*May rotate out in a small number of nickel and dime packages

 

[Jene Bramel]

First post updated.

***David Bowens replaced Scott Fujita, but played only in some subpackages.

***Joe Mays continued to see time in some nickel packages. Wes Woodyard took DJ Williams’ spot in the nickel and presumably would play every down.

***Sean Weatherspoon played in nickel packages only and is probably ready to resume every-down duty this week.

***Sean Lee rotated in for both Bradie James and Keith Brooking in the base last week.

***Brandon Chillar played many more nickel snaps than Desmond Bishop against MIN.

***Ernie Sims is back in most subpackages (for now).

***Aaron Curry is now a near-every-down LB/rush DL.

 

[KellysHeroes]

Houston: Brian Cushing, Zac Diles (inj - Kevin Bentley)

does that mean Bentley is a 3 downer this week?

 

[jsharlan]

Houston: Brian Cushing, Zac Diles (inj - Kevin Bentley)

does that mean Bentley is a 3 downer this week?

Sharpton is starting at WLB instead of Diles this week in the base, so unless they plan to bring Diles in for nickel only, that would make it Cushing and Bentley the nickel backers.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Houston: Brian Cushing, Zac Diles (inj - Kevin Bentley)

does that mean Bentley is a 3 downer this week?

Kubiak said that Diles would play some today. It's not certain, but possible that those snaps could come in the nickel. Jacksonville and Atlanta have both eased injured linebackers back in with a nickel platoon this year; Houston could do the same.I'd give Bentley a 70-80% chance of playing every down this week. Pretty good, but far from a lock.

 

[KellysHeroes]

Houston: Brian Cushing, Zac Diles (inj - Kevin Bentley)

does that mean Bentley is a 3 downer this week?

Kubiak said that Diles would play some today. It's not certain, but possible that those snaps could come in the nickel. Jacksonville and Atlanta have both eased injured linebackers back in with a nickel platoon this year; Houston could do the same.I'd give Bentley a 70-80% chance of playing every down this week. Pretty good, but far from a lock.

thanks

 

[Salty Dogz]

Hey Jene, What do I read on Timmons today -- is he falling off a bit or is it short-term drop? He's a beast, but is Ruud a better option today? Thanks, enjoy your columns - very educational on pro defense.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Hey Jene, What do I read on Timmons today -- is he falling off a bit or is it short-term drop? He's a beast, but is Ruud a better option today? Thanks, enjoy your columns - very educational on pro defense.

Appreciate that.I'd prefer to keep this thread to every-down backer updates only, but I'll try to skirt the line here. Timmons has been fighting through minor injuries and had well below average matchups recently. His early season production was a little better than expected, recent production a little worse than expected. He should settle into the low LB1 range, near Ruud. Ruud's matchup is much better this week.

 

[Salty Dogz]

Hey Jene, What do I read on Timmons today -- is he falling off a bit or is it short-term drop? He's a beast, but is Ruud a better option today? Thanks, enjoy your columns - very educational on pro defense.

Appreciate that.I'd prefer to keep this thread to every-down backer updates only, but I'll try to skirt the line here. Timmons has been fighting through minor injuries and had well below average matchups recently. His early season production was a little better than expected, recent production a little worse than expected. He should settle into the low LB1 range, near Ruud. Ruud's matchup is much better this week.

Thanks, I'll keep it to backer updates going forward. My bad. I didn't realize the focus of the thread and was approaching my deadline. I will not venture off message again.

 

[Jene Bramel]

First post updated.

***Joe Mays did not play in the nickel this week. Robert Ayers played sparingly, but his snaps came mostly at the expense of Jason Hunter

***Sean Weatherspoon didn't start, but saw more snaps than Stephen Nicholas. Mike Smith strongly suggested that Weatherspoon would be back in a full time role this week.

***Sean Lee barely played last week.

***Desmond Bishop is now unquestionably an every-down player.

***David Hawthorne may have seen one or two nickel snaps last week, but the Seahawks are still using lots of dime.

 

[saintfool]

First post updated.

***Sean Weatherspoon didn't start, but saw more snaps than Stephen Nicholas. Mike Smith strongly suggested that Weatherspoon would be back in a full time role this week.

from the AJC blog...

The Falcons released their depth chart for the Tampa Bay game on Tuesday.

They are still listing Sean Weatherspoon as the No. 1 strongside linebacker although he’s coming in with the nickel and Stephen Nicholas is starting with the base defense.

Weatherspoon suffered a sprained right knee against Cleveland on Oct. 10 and missed four games.

“I think that Sean is progressing in terms of his recovery,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “I don’t know that he’s 100 percent and of course at this point in the season I’m not sure if there’s many guys that are playing that are 100 percent.”

Weatherspoon played 35 snaps in his return against St. Louis. Against Green Bay, he had three tackles.

“We kept him only in our sub-package so he did not play in our base-package, but he got the majority of the snaps based on the personnel groupings that we saw,” Smith said. “Again, Sean is a rookie and he’s getting back into the swing of things. I saw things that he progressed on from the St. Louis game to this game and we anticipate he’ll just get right back into the swing of things as he starts feeling better.”

 

[eddy13]

First post updated.

***Sean Weatherspoon didn't start, but saw more snaps than Stephen Nicholas. Mike Smith strongly suggested that Weatherspoon would be back in a full time role this week.

from the AJC blog...

The Falcons released their depth chart for the Tampa Bay game on Tuesday.

They are still listing Sean Weatherspoon as the No. 1 strongside linebacker although he’s coming in with the nickel and Stephen Nicholas is starting with the base defense.

Weatherspoon suffered a sprained right knee against Cleveland on Oct. 10 and missed four games.

“I think that Sean is progressing in terms of his recovery,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “I don’t know that he’s 100 percent and of course at this point in the season I’m not sure if there’s many guys that are playing that are 100 percent.”

Weatherspoon played 35 snaps in his return against St. Louis. Against Green Bay, he had three tackles.

“We kept him only in our sub-package so he did not play in our base-package, but he got the majority of the snaps based on the personnel groupings that we saw,” Smith said. “Again, Sean is a rookie and he’s getting back into the swing of things. I saw things that he progressed on from the St. Louis game to this game and we anticipate he’ll just get right back into the swing of things as he starts feeling better.”

Question if Jamal Anderson doesn't play bec of a Concussion will Jason Williams be a 3 down lb this week

 

[Barry]

L.Timmons was taken out of the dime. He missed about 10 snaps.

 

[hippyk]

Update por favor?

This thread will be linked in the pinned IDP Warehouse thread and will be bumped with every update to this initial post (usually on Wednesdays during the regular season.

We've proven in recent seasons that dismissing the importance of knowing which linebackers come off the field on passing downs is a recipe for statistical disaster. Backers who don't play in their team's subpackages often miss at least 40% of their team's defensive snaps over a full season and may miss 70-80% of their team's snaps in any given week. This will be the third season that we'll closely track each team's every-down backers in this thread.

We'll use a combination of film study and internet resources to confirm these names during the season, but during the preseason months, this list will be our best guess at which backers would play every-down if the season started today. Many situations are far from certain and obviously much will change here after the draft, but I’ll work the pre-draft post from each team’s current depth chart. For the purposes of discussion, we’ll list any linebacker expected to take at least 80% of his team’s snaps each week regardless of subpackage usage.

Recent week's changes in BOLD.

Baltimore: Ray Lewis, Jarrett Johnson

Buffalo: Paul Posluszny, Chris Kelsay

Cincinnati: Dhani Jones

Cleveland: Matt Roth, Scott Fujita (inj - David Bowens*)

Denver: DJ Williams, Mario Haggan

Houston: Brian Cushing, Zac Diles (inj - Kevin Bentley)

Indianapolis: Gary Brackett, Clint Session (inj - Pat Angerer)

Jacksonville: Daryl Smith, Justin Durant

Kansas City: Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson

Miami:: Karlos Dansby, Cameron Wake

New England: Jerod Mayo

New York Jets: Bart Scott, David Harris, Calvin Pace

Oakland: Rolando McClain

Pittsburgh: James Harrison, Lamarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons

San Diego: Stephen Cooper, Shaun Phillips, Kevin Burnett

Tennessee: Stephen Tulloch, Will Witherspoon

Arizona: Paris Lenon, Clark Haggans, Joey Porter

Atlanta: Curtis Lofton, Sean Weatherspoon

Carolina: Jon Beason, James Anderson

Chicago: Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher

Dallas: Bradie James*, Keith Brooking*, Demarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer

Detroit: DeAndre Levy, Julian Peterson

Green Bay: AJ Hawk, Clay Matthews, Desmond Bishop

Minnesota: EJ Henderson, Chad Greenway

New Orleans: Jonathan Vilma, Scott Shanle

New York Giants: Michael Boley

Philadelphia: Stewart Bradley, Ernie Sims*

St. Louis: James Laurinaitis

San Francisco: Patrick Willis

Seattle: Lofa Tatupu, Aaron Curry

Tampa Bay: Barrett Ruud, Geno Hayes

Washington: London Fletcher, Brian Orakpo, Rocky McIntosh

*Removed this week: Joe Mays, Jason Hunter

*May rotate out in a small number of nickel and dime packages

 

[Jene Bramel]

Update por favor?

I need to make a checklist. I knew I was forgetting something this week.***Kevin Bentley seems to be entrenched as the second nickel backer in Houston.***Pat Angerer sat in the nickel most of last week, leaving Brackett as the only every-down backer.***Sean Weatherspoon still hasn't cracked the base packages.***Keith Brooking's foot injury and Sean Lee's strong play may push Brooking off this list even when healthy.***Desmond Bishop rotated out late last week, probably situationally, but it's worth watching.***Takeo Spikes continues to see time when the Niners aren't in a dime package.

 

[Jene Bramel]

***Jamar Chaney played every down after Stewart Bradley's injury. Good chance that continues.

***Robert Ayers and Jason Hunter saw most of the snaps with Mario Haggan moving inside.

***Pat Angerer didn't get any nickel snaps last week. Reports suggest Session may be back soon.

***Justin Durant's groin injury could put Kirk Morrison back in an every-down role.

***Daryl Washington replaced Gerald Hayes, but didn't play in the dime.

***Desmond Bishop played every down through four quarters.

 

[hippyk]

THANKS JENE! Good luck in your upcoming games.

***Jamar Chaney played every down after Stewart Bradley's injury. Good chance that continues.***Robert Ayers and Jason Hunter saw most of the snaps with Mario Haggan moving inside.***Pat Angerer didn't get any nickel snaps last week. Reports suggest Session may be back soon.***Justin Durant's groin injury could put Kirk Morrison back in an every-down role.***Daryl Washington replaced Gerald Hayes, but didn't play in the dime.***Desmond Bishop played every down through four quarters.

 

[northern exposure]

Any idea what's been happening in SD with Burnett the last few weeks? 1 tackle assist vs KC,4 solo vs OAK. Safe to start vs SF?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Any idea what's been happening in SD with Burnett the last few weeks? 1 tackle assist vs KC,4 solo vs OAK. Safe to start vs SF?

Weaker opportunity than usual last week and he was dinged in the second half. Siler played better than Burnett in Oakland. Risky play tonight.

 

[northern exposure]

Any idea what's been happening in SD with Burnett the last few weeks? 1 tackle assist vs KC,4 solo vs OAK. Safe to start vs SF?

Weaker opportunity than usual last week and he was dinged in the second half. Siler played better than Burnett in Oakland. Risky play tonight.

Thanks Jene. It appears my horrid run of IDP selections continues through the playoffs. I sat Burnett and he led the Charger in tackles and got a sack. I hope Dansby comes close to replicating his numbers.