Need to review many of the 3-4 OLB situations more closely, but I wanted to get some thoughts up before the usual Wednesday update.
**Thomas Howard is playing the bulk of the nickel snaps over Manny Lawson.
**Scott Fujita is in the nickel ahead of Chris Gocong.
**Connor Barwin played almost every down, Brian Cushing sat when the Texans used dime.
**Ernie Sims was in the nickel with Gary Brackett early, then -- shockingly -- got injured. Adrian Moten played in the nickel after that. Hard to say what will happen if Gary Brackett (shoulder) and/or Sims is out for a length of time. I'd guess Angerer, but I thought he'd get a longer look this preseason and didn't.
**Daryl Smith played in nickel packages, but sat when Jacksonville used a dime, which happened frequently.
**Justin Houston getting close to making the list, but *I think* I saw a lot of Cameron Sheffield, too.
**James Farrior looked to be rotating with Larry Foote frequently.
**Lots of ILB rotation in Dallas, but I think the breakdown was around 95% Lee, 70% Brooking, 30% James, 5% Butler.
**Took the asterisks off of both DeAndre Levy and Stephen Tulloch. Not convinced that'll stick, but it's a good sign for Tulloch for sure.
**Scott Shanle got the most linebacker snaps other than Jonathan Vilma (base and 3-3-5), but Jonathan Casillas (3-3-5) and Will Herring (4-2-5) were busy enough.
**Greg Jones didn't play in any subpackages. When the Giants used nickel, Jacquian Williams was the second LB. Mathias Kiwanuka played DE in subpackages more often than not.
**Casey Matthews played in subpackages frequently, though Brian Rolle was in at times. Some of that had to do with no-huddle situations. We'll see if things change.
**KJ Wright played in most base situations. He was replaced in some base looks and all subpackage snaps by Matt McCoy.
**Ryan Kerrigan looks like an every-down player in Washington (
Sidewinder).
And, if it continues, I'll have to start a list of hybrid nickel LB/DB. This week, Bryan Scott, Darian Stewart, Jon McGraw saw lots of those snaps. Ronde Barber, Adrian Wilson and TJ Ward spent lots of time in the box in subpackages, and there are probably a handful of others I haven't noticed yet.
I'll update some of the 3-4 situations as the week progresses.