Jacksonville/Philly MLB (1 Viewer)

[Dolphins Homer]

Any updates? Is Peterson still looking to keep the MLB job? Where does this put Daryl Smith? Is Gaither going to earn the job at MLB to start the season?

 

[Zoomanji]

In Philly its seems to be Trotter's job to lose. Haven't heard anything yet about Gaither starting any anywhere.

His best bet at starting if Trotter keeps the job is at WLB if Gocong is no good at SLB and Spikes moves over.

He should be on the field in the nickel package with Takeo but otherwise he is top back-up at WLB and MLB.

 

[lions327]

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...howtopic=321708

Jene discusses Mike Peterson in post 2. Below is the part regarding Mike Peterson:

Ingram has been impressive but I doubt he can climb out of the LOLB pigeonhole he's in now. Durant has been running with the second team at WLB in OTAs. And I haven't started a new thread because I can't find official confirmation, but the message board homers noted Peterson lined up at MLB during a recent mini-camp and there was a note in the local paper that referred to him as the MLB two days ago. I think it would've been made a bigger deal if Smith and Peterson had switched places so it's probably safe to assume Peterson is still the MLB.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Any updates? Is Peterson still looking to keep the MLB job? Where does this put Daryl Smith? Is Gaither going to earn the job at MLB to start the season?

If you have questions about Philly LBs, bump the thread.It was just about 10-20 down from here on Page 1.

Philly LB Situation

 

[JaxBill]

Just a comment by Vic Ketchman on the Jags website to muddy the waters:

Tim from Jacksonville: I read on ESPN.com that Mike Peterson will start this season at (middle linebacker) and Daryl Smith will move back to (weakside linebacker). Is that true? I thought the Jaguars were hoping to keep Smith in the middle after playing so well there last year and moving Peterson back to the spot he played when with the Colts.Vic: I’m telling you it doesn’t matter. Middle linebacker and weakside linebacker are both considered to be inside linebackers. They require the same skill-set and demands. Daryl Smith had moved from strongside to middle when Mike Peterson got hurt. Now that’s a significant move because strongside has major coverage responsibility; strongside is about playing in space, whereas weakside and middle are about playing in tight quarters, defeating blocks and avoiding “trash.”

 

[Jene Bramel]

A couple of clarifications.

In Philly its seems to be Trotter's job to lose. Haven't heard anything yet about Gaither starting any anywhere.His best bet at starting if Trotter keeps the job is at WLB if Gocong is no good at SLB and Spikes moves over.He should be on the field in the nickel package with Takeo but otherwise he is top back-up at WLB and MLB.

I don't believe Spikes is the top back up at MLB. Gaither will play MLB if/when it's determined that he's a better option than Trotter. I probably agree with the rest of Zoomanji's post but I can't shake the feeling that the Eagles are looking for an excuse to boot Trotter.

Just a comment by Vic Ketchman on the Jags website to muddy the waters:

Tim from Jacksonville: I read on ESPN.com that Mike Peterson will start this season at (middle linebacker) and Daryl Smith will move back to (weakside linebacker). Is that true? I thought the Jaguars were hoping to keep Smith in the middle after playing so well there last year and moving Peterson back to the spot he played when with the Colts.Vic: I’m telling you it doesn’t matter. Middle linebacker and weakside linebacker are both considered to be inside linebackers. They require the same skill-set and demands. Daryl Smith had moved from strongside to middle when Mike Peterson got hurt. Now that’s a significant move because strongside has major coverage responsibility; strongside is about playing in space, whereas weakside and middle are about playing in tight quarters, defeating blocks and avoiding “trash.”

Vic has a very good grasp of what happens in Jacksonville, so it's probably not worth debating the "strongside is about playing in space, whereas weakside and middle are about playing in tight quarters" comment. Regardless of what Vic believes, the backer who has the better range and is better at avoiding blockers will do better in the middle. They don't have the same gap responsibilities so, although close, they really don't have the same demands.For IDP purposes, however, the difference in alignment between middle and weak backers is significant. lions327 transferred a post I made from another thread above; everything I can find so far suggests that the MLB is still Peterson.

 

[msommer]

A couple of clarifications.

In Philly its seems to be Trotter's job to lose. Haven't heard anything yet about Gaither starting any anywhere.

His best bet at starting if Trotter keeps the job is at WLB if Gocong is no good at SLB and Spikes moves over.

He should be on the field in the nickel package with Takeo but otherwise he is top back-up at WLB and MLB.

I don't believe Spikes is the top back up at MLB. Gaither will play MLB if/when it's determined that he's a better option than Trotter. I probably agree with the rest of Zoomanji's post but I can't shake the feeling that the Eagles are looking for an excuse to boot Trotter.

I think the bolded part should end 'to SLB'

 

[Zoomanji]

A couple of clarifications.

In Philly its seems to be Trotter's job to lose. Haven't heard anything yet about Gaither starting any anywhere.

His best bet at starting if Trotter keeps the job is at WLB if Gocong is no good at SLB and Spikes moves over.

He should be on the field in the nickel package with Takeo but otherwise he is top back-up at WLB and MLB.

I don't believe Spikes is the top back up at MLB. Gaither will play MLB if/when it's determined that he's a better option than Trotter. I probably agree with the rest of Zoomanji's post but I can't shake the feeling that the Eagles are looking for an excuse to boot Trotter.

I think the bolded part should end 'to SLB'

That was what I meant And I agree that Trotter will be the odd man out if they like Gocong's play and Bradley learns fast. They seem to be pretty high on Tank Daniels as a younger cheaper sub if Trott doesn't start

 

[Jene Bramel]

A couple of clarifications.

In Philly its seems to be Trotter's job to lose. Haven't heard anything yet about Gaither starting any anywhere.

His best bet at starting if Trotter keeps the job is at WLB if Gocong is no good at SLB and Spikes moves over.

He should be on the field in the nickel package with Takeo but otherwise he is top back-up at WLB and MLB.

I don't believe Spikes is the top back up at MLB. Gaither will play MLB if/when it's determined that he's a better option than Trotter. I probably agree with the rest of Zoomanji's post but I can't shake the feeling that the Eagles are looking for an excuse to boot Trotter.

I think the bolded part should end 'to SLB'

That was what I meant And I agree that Trotter will be the odd man out if they like Gocong's play and Bradley learns fast. They seem to be pretty high on Tank Daniels as a younger cheaper sub if Trott doesn't start

Bah, I misread the pronouns in the last sentence. Should've known better, zoomanji, as it's been clear since you began posting you're on top of your home team.

 

[KellysHeroes]

I thought Peterson is going to be WLB this yr and D Smith is MLB

Daryl Smith-LB- Jaguars Jan. 18 - 3:32 pm et

Jaguars signed LB Daryl Smith to a five-year, $25 million contract extension through 2012. The deal includes $10 in bonuses.

Smith will earn $15 million in the first three years of the deal, making him one of the better paid young linebackers in football. A great tackler and versatile player who replaced Mike Peterson at MLB in 2007, Smith fits the Jaguars mold. He may move back outside in 2007 but will remain a solid IDP option.

Source: ESPN.com

 

[lions327]

I think the Eagles really do want Trotter to play one more year, but they have to be prepared if he can't, and also have to be looking for a long term replacement. I think the only way Trotter is gone is if his knees won't hold up. Just my gut feeling.

 

[Golden]

I thought Peterson is going to be WLB this yr and D Smith is MLBDaryl Smith-LB- Jaguars Jan. 18 - 3:32 pm et Jaguars signed LB Daryl Smith to a five-year, $25 million contract extension through 2012. The deal includes $10 in bonuses.Smith will earn $15 million in the first three years of the deal, making him one of the better paid young linebackers in football. A great tackler and versatile player who replaced Mike Peterson at MLB in 2007, Smith fits the Jaguars mold. He may move back outside in 2007 but will remain a solid IDP option.Source: ESPN.com

Smith was rather disappointing last year replacing MP. He was inconsistent in terms of fantasy point production.

 

[Dolfan34]

I think the philly lb situation is going to be a mess this year. spikes will play all 3 spots depending on the situation and gaither will cut into trots time. spikes and gaither will be in there in passing situations and spikes in one lb situations.

 

[spec1alk]