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how will a.davis' move ot ILB affect his #'s (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ironmon
- Start date
cracKer
Shawn Culcasi
Andra Davis has always been an ILB. The injury to D'Qwell Jackson will allow Leon Williams to enter the starting lineup next to Davis (inside)
Biabreakable
Footballguy
Andre Davis has had his numbers negativly impacted this year from the switch to ILB from MLB. Jackson is a good player and he gets to the ball before Davis does sometimes. Davis is still a good player just not as good as I think he would be as a MLB.
With Jackson missing time to injury I think we may see a slight spike from Andre Davis until Jackson returns. I am talking about a possible tackle or 2 difference on average.
That is unless Leon Williams is close to as good as Jackson? I do not know anything about Williams to judge that yes or no but just working from the assumption that he isn't as good as Jackson who I think is a very good player.
Will see how it plays out but I like Andre Davis prospects to have a slight uptick as long as Jackson is out.
With Jackson missing time to injury I think we may see a slight spike from Andre Davis until Jackson returns. I am talking about a possible tackle or 2 difference on average.
That is unless Leon Williams is close to as good as Jackson? I do not know anything about Williams to judge that yes or no but just working from the assumption that he isn't as good as Jackson who I think is a very good player.
Will see how it plays out but I like Andre Davis prospects to have a slight uptick as long as Jackson is out.
Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Davis has always been the LILB (MLB) in Crennel's scheme. Davis' is on pace for more solo tackles this season than last (proj 96 to 89 in 2005). His big play numbers are stable. You may be correct that Davis could pick up a tackle or two with the talented DQJax out, although Jackson's numbers are in line with Ben Taylor's last season in the same role.I must have missed something on the ILB switch. If this is true, it suggests that the Browns think Davis could work well on the right side and could be huge news for the prospects of D'Qwell Jackson if he can force a flip-flop in the ILB roles with Davis signed long-term.I'll look too, but does somebody have a link that says Davis is changing roles this weekend?
lord_helmet
Footballguy
(KFFL) Jeff Walcoff, of ClevelandBrowns.com, reports Cleveland Browns LB D'Qwell Jackson (toe) has elected to undergo toe surgery and could be placed on the Injured Reserve. The injury will cause LB Andra Davis to move inside to cover Jackson's position, while LB Leon Williams will start in Davis' spot. It will be the first NFL start of Williams' career.
Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Browns official site
Jackson's absence will move veteran inside linebacker Andra Davis to Jackson's 'Will' slot and place Williams in the starting lineup in the 'Mike' role.
Wow.
Nothing other than speculation on my part, but I'd keep an eye on this. The knock on Jackson this season has been that he's had a little trouble shedding blocks, even from the backside. Davis, the bigger player, played closer to the strong side, and took on most of the blocks though.
I'm interested to hear CC or Sig's scouting report on Williams. The link from the Browns' official site has Williams at 238 pounds while his pre-draft stats have him closer to 245. His skill set suggests that he has little football instinct to go with his athleticism -- that reads Will more than Mike to me, especially in this scheme. If the scouting report is correct, Davis' numbers may in fact go up as much as Biabreakable suggests.
Things probably go back to the status quo in 2007 but if Williams has corrected some of the issues noted on his scouting reports or Jackson returns in 2007 and plays LILB, there's a big change in the IDP landscape in Cleveland.
Jackson's absence will move veteran inside linebacker Andra Davis to Jackson's 'Will' slot and place Williams in the starting lineup in the 'Mike' role.
Wow.
Nothing other than speculation on my part, but I'd keep an eye on this. The knock on Jackson this season has been that he's had a little trouble shedding blocks, even from the backside. Davis, the bigger player, played closer to the strong side, and took on most of the blocks though.
I'm interested to hear CC or Sig's scouting report on Williams. The link from the Browns' official site has Williams at 238 pounds while his pre-draft stats have him closer to 245. His skill set suggests that he has little football instinct to go with his athleticism -- that reads Will more than Mike to me, especially in this scheme. If the scouting report is correct, Davis' numbers may in fact go up as much as Biabreakable suggests.
Things probably go back to the status quo in 2007 but if Williams has corrected some of the issues noted on his scouting reports or Jackson returns in 2007 and plays LILB, there's a big change in the IDP landscape in Cleveland.
One service had him ranked #10 ILB, I don't know if you can RIVAL that:
Leon Williams #44
Linebacker
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 238 pounds
Class Year: Sr
Experience: 3V
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
High School: Canarsie
Scouting Report
Pros: In the base defense, he shows the ability to fill the hole and finish with strong tackles when he reads the play properly. He can take on blockers and separate to finish the play when he uses good technique and locates the ball early. He has the good speed to make plays at the sidelines.
Cons: He also gets tied up in trash too often and needs better hand use in addition to improvement on his initial reads. He fails to take good angles of pursuit and can run himself out of plays. His fine athletic ability could also project him to outside positions, though his learning curve is also steep there. He needs development in his drops in pass coverage to matchup with backs or tight ends.
Numbers: As a senior, he totaled 57 tackles, three tackles for loss and three passes defended while starting just one game. At the Combine, he ran a fine 4.61 with 25 reps, but ended his workout with an ankle injury.
Leon Williams #44
Linebacker
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 238 pounds
Class Year: Sr
Experience: 3V
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
High School: Canarsie
Scouting Report
Pros: In the base defense, he shows the ability to fill the hole and finish with strong tackles when he reads the play properly. He can take on blockers and separate to finish the play when he uses good technique and locates the ball early. He has the good speed to make plays at the sidelines.
Cons: He also gets tied up in trash too often and needs better hand use in addition to improvement on his initial reads. He fails to take good angles of pursuit and can run himself out of plays. His fine athletic ability could also project him to outside positions, though his learning curve is also steep there. He needs development in his drops in pass coverage to matchup with backs or tight ends.
Numbers: As a senior, he totaled 57 tackles, three tackles for loss and three passes defended while starting just one game. At the Combine, he ran a fine 4.61 with 25 reps, but ended his workout with an ankle injury.
alternative source had him #7 ILB; you'd have to be an NFL Expert to know this stuff:
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 240
Position: LB
Date of Birth: 4/13/1983
Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY
Class: Senior
High School: Canarsie HS
(Brooklyn, NY)
College: Miami (FL)
2006 Scout.com NFL Draft Rankings (full list):
Pos: MLB Pos Rank: #7 Pos Rating:
Scout.com Player Evaluation:
STRENGTHS
Athleticism
Lateral Movement
Speed
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
Pass Coverage Skills
Tackling Technique
Flashing ability, Williams has yet to translate his athletic skills into full-time football productivity. Offers potential at the next level if football becomes a priority.
Biography:
Part-time starter the past two seasons. Totaled 45 tackles as a senior after career-best numbers of 36/8/2.5 as a junior.
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 240
Position: LB
Date of Birth: 4/13/1983
Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY
Class: Senior
High School: Canarsie HS
(Brooklyn, NY)
College: Miami (FL)
2006 Scout.com NFL Draft Rankings (full list):
Pos: MLB Pos Rank: #7 Pos Rating:
Scout.com Player Evaluation:
STRENGTHS
Athleticism
Lateral Movement
Speed
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
Pass Coverage Skills
Tackling Technique
Flashing ability, Williams has yet to translate his athletic skills into full-time football productivity. Offers potential at the next level if football becomes a priority.
Biography:
Part-time starter the past two seasons. Totaled 45 tackles as a senior after career-best numbers of 36/8/2.5 as a junior.
Williams, Sowells Picked in Fourth Round
By: Barry McBride
Date: Apr 30, 2006
Phil Savage, a man who has had some past success with linebackers from the state of Florida, went back to the well once more on Sunday, selecting ILB Leon Williams from Miami of Florida. The Browns also added young talent at offensive tackle, picking 330-pound blocker Isaac Sowells from Indiana two picks later.
Following a morning filled with rumors that the Browns would deal a fourth-round pick to the Detroit Lions for Joey Harrington, Phil Savage stuck to his draft board and selected two players who help to add depth at positions which are dangerously thin for the Browns: inside linebacker and offensive tackle.
With the Browns first pick in the fourth round, Savage selected linebacker Leon Williams of Miami (Florida).
Williams has been a part-time starter at Miami, pulling down 45 tackles in 2005 after 36 the year before. He is undoubtedly a player still in development - Williams shows flashes of athletic ability, but has yet to live up to his potential. If that potential is unlocked by the Browns coaching staff, he could turn out to be a terrific bargain for the Browns.
************************************************************
Williams Will Compete on the Inside
By: Fred Greetham
Date: Apr 30, 2006
The Browns' selection of Leon Williams may cause some Browns fans to scratch their heads. To super-scout Phil Savage, however, the choice makes a tremendous amount of sense. Fred Greetham provides the first independent report from Berea...
BEREA - Sometimes scouts earn their keep by finding the diamonds in the rough.
Leon Williams could be that type of guy. According to Phil Savage, Williams was a player at Miami who was overshadowed by some of the other players at the position, including Rocky McIntosh.
Williams started just six games in his career at Miami, including just one in 2005.
“He was a very good prospect and when you watched him play, you wonder why he didn't play more,” Savage said.
“Sometimes, it's just the opportunity,” Savage said. “Leon Williams is a strong candidate for the inside linebacker position. He's a guy who kind of fell through the cracks. When we worked him out, he seemed like a natural fit for us.”
Williams agreed.
“I don't think I played as much as I expected to play,” he said. “There were a lot of expectations for me competing at this point. I know I'm in the best situation that I can be in.”
Williams feels fortunate the Browns drafted him.
“I got the best outcome that I could have received in the situation that I'm in.”
Savage saw the ability in Williams and it was solidified with his play in the post-season.
“Leon was highly recruited out of high school,” Savage said. “He played in a rotation at Miami. He was a guy they talked about, but didn't sell him. When he played he played well. He got invited to the Las Vegas all-star game and stood out.”
Savage is happy with what the Browns have been able to add to the mix in the draft with Kamerion Wimbley, D'Qwell Jackson and Williams.
“I think we've certainly increased our odds of people who can help us at the linebacker position,” Savage said. “We've certainly addressed our situation at linebacker.”
When we looked at the inside linebacker, he looked like a guy who can fit the bill.
*************************************************************
Greg Hensley's Draft Review: Day 2
By: Greg Hensley
Date: May 18, 2006
Breaking down Phil Savage's very busy second day of selecting players...
ROUND FOUR
1st Pick
With the first of two fourth-round picks, the Browns selected linebacker Leon Williams of Miami of Florida. This was a complete role of the dice.
Williams is a physical freak with the size and speed to be dominating, but that dominance was not often displayed on the field. When you watch him, you see the raw potential. When he plays with discipline, he fills the gaps with brutal force, willing to take on and completely remove the fullback from the play.
He can often be overly aggressive and does not maintain gap integrity. He shows natural cover ability for a man of his size and shows a natural understanding of passing angles and lanes. Overall, he very well could be a much better in the National Football League than he was in college.
Williams’ ability to make plays in the open field is his best asset. He utilizes his speed to get to the point of attack quickly and uses all of his 245 pounds to finish the play. He will not be dragged 10 yards after the initial hit.
He must improve in using his hands to shed blocks. He struggled at the college level getting off the block, allowing offensive linemen to get their hands into his chest and control him.
Bottom Line: Williams likely will become a special teams player this year as he gains experience and refines his game. He likely will be the number three man at the inside linebacker position. He’s a boom or bust type of
************************************************************
By: Barry McBride
Date: Apr 30, 2006
Phil Savage, a man who has had some past success with linebackers from the state of Florida, went back to the well once more on Sunday, selecting ILB Leon Williams from Miami of Florida. The Browns also added young talent at offensive tackle, picking 330-pound blocker Isaac Sowells from Indiana two picks later.
Following a morning filled with rumors that the Browns would deal a fourth-round pick to the Detroit Lions for Joey Harrington, Phil Savage stuck to his draft board and selected two players who help to add depth at positions which are dangerously thin for the Browns: inside linebacker and offensive tackle.
With the Browns first pick in the fourth round, Savage selected linebacker Leon Williams of Miami (Florida).
Williams has been a part-time starter at Miami, pulling down 45 tackles in 2005 after 36 the year before. He is undoubtedly a player still in development - Williams shows flashes of athletic ability, but has yet to live up to his potential. If that potential is unlocked by the Browns coaching staff, he could turn out to be a terrific bargain for the Browns.
************************************************************
Williams Will Compete on the Inside
By: Fred Greetham
Date: Apr 30, 2006
The Browns' selection of Leon Williams may cause some Browns fans to scratch their heads. To super-scout Phil Savage, however, the choice makes a tremendous amount of sense. Fred Greetham provides the first independent report from Berea...
BEREA - Sometimes scouts earn their keep by finding the diamonds in the rough.
Leon Williams could be that type of guy. According to Phil Savage, Williams was a player at Miami who was overshadowed by some of the other players at the position, including Rocky McIntosh.
Williams started just six games in his career at Miami, including just one in 2005.
“He was a very good prospect and when you watched him play, you wonder why he didn't play more,” Savage said.
“Sometimes, it's just the opportunity,” Savage said. “Leon Williams is a strong candidate for the inside linebacker position. He's a guy who kind of fell through the cracks. When we worked him out, he seemed like a natural fit for us.”
Williams agreed.
“I don't think I played as much as I expected to play,” he said. “There were a lot of expectations for me competing at this point. I know I'm in the best situation that I can be in.”
Williams feels fortunate the Browns drafted him.
“I got the best outcome that I could have received in the situation that I'm in.”
Savage saw the ability in Williams and it was solidified with his play in the post-season.
“Leon was highly recruited out of high school,” Savage said. “He played in a rotation at Miami. He was a guy they talked about, but didn't sell him. When he played he played well. He got invited to the Las Vegas all-star game and stood out.”
Savage is happy with what the Browns have been able to add to the mix in the draft with Kamerion Wimbley, D'Qwell Jackson and Williams.
“I think we've certainly increased our odds of people who can help us at the linebacker position,” Savage said. “We've certainly addressed our situation at linebacker.”
When we looked at the inside linebacker, he looked like a guy who can fit the bill.
*************************************************************
Greg Hensley's Draft Review: Day 2
By: Greg Hensley
Date: May 18, 2006
Breaking down Phil Savage's very busy second day of selecting players...
ROUND FOUR
1st Pick
With the first of two fourth-round picks, the Browns selected linebacker Leon Williams of Miami of Florida. This was a complete role of the dice.
Williams is a physical freak with the size and speed to be dominating, but that dominance was not often displayed on the field. When you watch him, you see the raw potential. When he plays with discipline, he fills the gaps with brutal force, willing to take on and completely remove the fullback from the play.
He can often be overly aggressive and does not maintain gap integrity. He shows natural cover ability for a man of his size and shows a natural understanding of passing angles and lanes. Overall, he very well could be a much better in the National Football League than he was in college.
Williams’ ability to make plays in the open field is his best asset. He utilizes his speed to get to the point of attack quickly and uses all of his 245 pounds to finish the play. He will not be dragged 10 yards after the initial hit.
He must improve in using his hands to shed blocks. He struggled at the college level getting off the block, allowing offensive linemen to get their hands into his chest and control him.
Bottom Line: Williams likely will become a special teams player this year as he gains experience and refines his game. He likely will be the number three man at the inside linebacker position. He’s a boom or bust type of
************************************************************
Biabreakable
Footballguy
Some great information in hereJene Bramel said:
Jene I just want to fix my mistake that you allready corrected in previous post as Andre Davis did switch to LILB last year in the 3-4 defense last year not just this year. My post was lazy and memory a bit fuzzy at the time I made it because I was refering to Davis being a MLB in a 4-3 prior to Crenell changing the defense to a 3-4 not his being the LILB = MLB. I apprechiate your elaboration and clarification on that. See there is still a lot I don't know or stay on top of even though I have owned Davis since he was a rookie.I do think its interesting that your interpetation of the LILB = MLB in this defensive scheme. I didn't know that. I have always seen the ILBs in a 3-4 as having similar and interchangable roles rather than being a more clear definition of those roles as you are saying. Food for thought.One thing I do know is that Davis is a strong player who was looking a lot better in a MLB role in a 4-3 defense. In 2003 he had 97 solo tackles 39 assists 5 sacks in that role. That is almost a tackle a game difference although Davis had 21 more assists in 2005 89 solo tackles 60 assists.The switch to the 3-4 has hurt his numbers somewhat but he still performed pretty well in 2005. However I thought that was due in part to there not being another ILB of great ability. I am suprised to hear that Jackson has been doing the same performance wise as Ben Taylor because I think he is a better player than Taylor even though he is only a rookie. So perhaps I am wrong in my assumption that Davis was getting beat to the ball more often by Jackson than he was by Taylor although that has been my impression and I have not been using Davis as often in my lineup because of it.Looking deeper at this however this is what I see. In 2006 Davis has 78 solo tackles and 23 assists. That paces out to 96 solo tackles 28 assists. So suprisingly his solo tackles have been very strong and actualy improved from 2005 but he has taken a 50% hit on assisted tackles. I think Jackson is the reason for the drop in assists. Directly and indirectly Jackson has been cleaning up instead of Davis on many plays or just finishing the tackle where as before Davis may have needed to help out.Now this switch of ILB role for Davis. It is sounding like the RILB is more free in the scheme as has to take on blocker less if what you and others are saying is correct?Davis is a strong player. He can make plays off of blocks. If you free him up from blocks even more yes I think he will make more tackles. The assists may be going up now also without Jackson there taking some of them.
Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Assisted tackles (like PD) are awarded so differently from venue to venue that I think it's hard to put all of the drop in assists at DQJax's feet. Sean Jones probably has something to do with that too.MonsterSome great information in hereJene I just want to fix my mistake that you allready corrected in previous post as Andre Davis did switch to LILB last year in the 3-4 defense last year not just this year. My post was lazy and memory a bit fuzzy at the time I made it because I was refering to Davis being a MLB in a 4-3 prior to Crenell changing the defense to a 3-4 not his being the LILB = MLB. I apprechiate your elaboration and clarification on that. See there is still a lot I don't know or stay on top of even though I have owned Davis since he was a rookie.I do think its interesting that your interpetation of the LILB = MLB in this defensive scheme. I didn't know that. I have always seen the ILBs in a 3-4 as having similar and interchangable roles rather than being a more clear definition of those roles as you are saying. Food for thought.One thing I do know is that Davis is a strong player who was looking a lot better in a MLB role in a 4-3 defense. In 2003 he had 97 solo tackles 39 assists 5 sacks in that role. That is almost a tackle a game difference although Davis had 21 more assists in 2005 89 solo tackles 60 assists.The switch to the 3-4 has hurt his numbers somewhat but he still performed pretty well in 2005. However I thought that was due in part to there not being another ILB of great ability. I am suprised to hear that Jackson has been doing the same performance wise as Ben Taylor because I think he is a better player than Taylor even though he is only a rookie. So perhaps I am wrong in my assumption that Davis was getting beat to the ball more often by Jackson than he was by Taylor although that has been my impression and I have not been using Davis as often in my lineup because of it.Looking deeper at this however this is what I see. In 2006 Davis has 78 solo tackles and 23 assists. That paces out to 96 solo tackles 28 assists. So suprisingly his solo tackles have been very strong and actualy improved from 2005 but he has taken a 50% hit on assisted tackles. I think Jackson is the reason for the drop in assists. Directly and indirectly Jackson has been cleaning up instead of Davis on many plays or just finishing the tackle where as before Davis may have needed to help out.Now this switch of ILB role for Davis. It is sounding like the RILB is more free in the scheme as has to take on blocker less if what you and others are saying is correct?Davis is a strong player. He can make plays off of blocks. If you free him up from blocks even more yes I think he will make more tackles. The assists may be going up now also without Jackson there taking some of them.
alert. Stop reading right now if you get bored by rants and ramblings about scheme and details.I'm sure you know by now -- I'm big on understanding the big picture because I think it's easier to read the details from the basics rather than trying to fit the details into the big picture. So, if you'll forgive a little history and some longwinded discussion, I think it's worth taking the long road to understand the 3-4 better for IDP purposes.The important thing about today's 3-4 defenses is to understand that they're nothing like the 3-4 of decades ago. Defense lags behind offense and the 3-4 was a simple variation of the 5-2 defenses of the 40s and 50s that 4-3 coaches turned to in the 1970s when their slower linemen and linebackers were getting killed by RBs (like OJ Simpson or Gale Sayers). That 3-4 was meant to stop the run and was nothing like the contemporary version which uses it's outside LBs to generate pass rush. I think of the early 3-4 defenses as "balanced" -- I'm no defensive coordinator and I don't know terminology so bear with me -- where the two ILB were essentially interchangeable. The "plugger" types you sometimes still hear about today. Take on a blocker, get off the block, stop the run up the middle. But the contemporary 3-4 (of which Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, and LT are the godfathers) is nothing like that. While there was some overlap back then -- the 3-4 ILB of the Giants were pretty pluggy -- the LB roles of this 3-4 are much more specialized. I think of these fronts as "unbalanced". While some of the OLB are freakish enough to do it all (Willie McGinest, Mike Vrabel, Shawne Merriman probably, and a few others), the two OLB have different skills based on whether they align on the strong side or weak side. The backer with all around DE/LB skills -- solid on the edge in run support, big enough to take on blockers, quick enough to hold their own in coverage, and strong/speedy enough to provide some pass rush -- will line up at LOLB and anchor the strong side. That's Willie McGinest. That's Greg Ellis. That's Clark Haggans. That's Shawne Merriman. The edge rushing havoc-wreaker -- struggles to hold the point of attack at times and who isn't a skilled cover guy -- lines up at ROLB and rushes the passer and pursues plays from the weak side. These guys get coached up to be better all-around players. But the Kamerion Wimbleys, Demarcus Wares, Manny Lawsons of the world are drafted to be primarily rush LBs.Because of that unbalanced nature of the OLB where one LB functions more like a standup DE than true LB, the ILBs often function like they would in a 4-3 front for all intents and purposes. It's very common (although only the CLE depth chart routinely shows it) that one LB will have MLB responsibilities and the other will have WLB responsibilities. By convention, it's the LILB (nearer the strong side) that becomes the MLB and the RILB (next to the pass rushing ROLB) that becomes the WLB.It's also worth noting that, while the role change of the OLB is key, the relative size of the "plugger" ILB has also played a role in the change. Carl Banks and Pepper Johnson played ILB for Parcells and Belichick and were considered big at 240-245 pounds. Of course, offensive centers and guards rarely weighed over 285 pounds at the time. Today, a comparable "plugger" ILB would have to weigh 260 pounds or so. While there are a few (eg Jeremiah Trotter) in today's NFL, there aren't many and it'd be a freak of nature (Levon Kirkland) that could remain quick enough to hang with today's bigger TEs in coverage over the middle.With that in mind, we can look at today's 3-4 teams and make some determination on how balanced or unbalanced each may be and which ILB is likely to have the most value based on opportunity. As usual, talent can and does overcome some scheme limitations.In Cleveland, you've got Willie McGinest at LOLB and Kamerion Wimbley at ROLB, Andra Davis at LILB and DQwell Jackson at RILB. That set up is highly suggestive of an unbalanced front based on skill set alone (Wimbley a pass rusher primarily on the weak side with the bigger Davis on the left and smaller, quicker, learning to shed blocks DQJax on the right) but the hybrid scheme closes the case. Even if the depth chart didn't read MLB/WLB, it'd be reasonably easy to predict that Davis and Jackson would function that way and fill the boxscore much like their 4-3 counterparts might. Davis the steady tackler with some big plays, Jackson the more inconsistent player capable of huge weeks in the right matchup/game situation. The Cowboys depth chart -- whose 3-4 front is very similar to the Belichick 3-4 front -- should (and has rarely in the past) read the exact same way. Except that Parcells calls his RILB a "Jack". I think I've posted a couple of articles detailing their defense in the past. But here's where the devil is in the details. Parcells gap attack scheme is designed (more so than any other 3-4 I've read about) to free up that Jack backer to make plays. That's the spot Marvin Jones and Pepper Johnson racked up tackles from in the past. And it's why I fell in love with Akin Ayodele in the pre-season after Parcells said he thought Ayodele could be the same kind of impact player in that role. Problem is, Ayodele sucks.The moral of this long winded business is my mantra. Scheme matters to IDP. It's one thing to know which 4-3 MLB will be a stud; it's another thing to know why. You need to match the talent and skill set to the scheme. It helps to know that Bradie James is likely to be a much weaker LILB option than Andra Davis, Donnie Edwards, and James Farrior. It won't make you right every time (Ayodele and Hawk have been my albatrosses at LB this year because of analysis like this), but IMO it will definitely fine tune your IDP sense.HTH
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The Man With No Name
Footballguy
Andre Davis going to lockerroom in 2nd quarter with possible concussion.
KellysHeroes
Footballguy
Dam.... I was hoping for a big day
Biabreakable
Footballguy
Even prior to the injury it seemed that Williams was making more tackles than Davis which makes me wonder if the switch may have led to Davis having more coverage responsibilities than normal.I started him also and his poor performance may contribute to a loss for me this week unless LT saves me tonight.
Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Davis probably would've drawn more coverage responsbilities in those situations anyway as the better cover guy of the two. The tackle difference was likely scheme related -- the LILB routinely gets more tackle opportunities than the RILB in this scheme.
KellysHeroes
Footballguy
any word on him yet???
Sidewinder16
Footballguy
Monsteralert. Stop reading right now if you get bored by rants and ramblings about scheme and details....snip...The moral of this long winded business is my mantra. Scheme matters to IDP. It's one thing to know which 4-3 MLB will be a stud; it's another thing to know why. You need to match the talent and skill set to the scheme. It helps to know that Bradie James is likely to be a much weaker LILB option than Andra Davis, Donnie Edwards, and James Farrior. It won't make you right every time (Ayodele and Hawk have been my albatrosses at LB this year because of analysis like this), but IMO it will definitely fine tune your IDP sense.HTH
Great read. Thanks, Jene.
FalcFan21
Footballguy
Im desperate for a decent fill in at lb in my playoffs this week. I like leon williams potential and he played great last week. I currently have Z. Thomas and Vilma, but Vilma hasnt done anything the past few weeks. Would you recommend starting Leon Williams this week ? 
Im also considering picking up Bruschi for a fill in as well? Thoughts?
Thanks for the help...
Im also considering picking up Bruschi for a fill in as well? Thoughts?Thanks for the help...
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Colt Of Personality
Footballguy
Heard he didn't practice Wednesday and is STILL sensitive to light. Is listed as questionable this weekend. I am worried that he will play sparingly if at all.
I have started him all year myself. Any news on how he is doing and how much he will play will be helpfull. Otherwise who do I start? We start 3 Defenders.....Pick 3LB L. Fletcher BUFF vs. TENN (odvious)LB L. Tutupa SEA vs SDLB B. Moore SF vs ARILB D. Johnson KC @OAK
Biabreakable
Footballguy
This talk about the unbalanced roles of the ILBs in 3-4 defense has been a very interesting eye opener for me and when more time alows I would like to do a study to see how the numbers for ILBs stack up against each other and find out if the LILB does indeed normaly get more tackles than the RILB as Jene suggests.
I think his point about the ROLB being the primary pass rusher and therefore on many downs the RILB has to shift outside like a WLB in a 4-3 for coverage and containment responsibilities makes a lot of sense.
Maybe I am a bit late to the party on this one but better late than never.
A lot of teams have moved from the 4-3 to the 3-4 defense in the past couple years so I think this is a good time to compile and compare numbers for ILBs and MLBs in 4-3 defenses as well.
I think his point about the ROLB being the primary pass rusher and therefore on many downs the RILB has to shift outside like a WLB in a 4-3 for coverage and containment responsibilities makes a lot of sense.
Maybe I am a bit late to the party on this one but better late than never.
A lot of teams have moved from the 4-3 to the 3-4 defense in the past couple years so I think this is a good time to compile and compare numbers for ILBs and MLBs in 4-3 defenses as well.
KellysHeroes
Footballguy
I hope you Played DJ last night...I would then Player Fletcher and Tutupa
