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LB situation in Philly? Trotter CUT (1 Viewer)

J Andersson

J Andersson

Footballguy
Any Philly homers or otherwise enlightened souls that want to share any info on the starting LB lineup this year?

Trotter? MLB (but only for 1st and 2nd downs)?

Spikes? SLB or WLB?

Gaither? WLB? Only nickel duty on 3rd down replacing Trotter? Both?

Jones? SLB?

Gocong? SLB?

What's the story? So many questions and so few answers (that I possess at least)?

TIA

:lmao:

:thumbup:

 
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As of now the plan is

WLB- Spikes

MLB- Trotter

SLB- Gocong

there are of course buts associated.

Biggest but is where does Gaither play?

Probably MLB depending on Trotter's health or WLB if Gocong is no good and Spikes has to move there.

He is the future in the middle when Trotter is done. I personally don't understand how he ends up on the bench in any senario.

More likely Gaither is on the field in place of Trotter or Gocong. Either way he will probably not be a SLB.

Edit to add- Jones was waived, McCoy stinks and none of the other 'backers matter.

 
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spec1alk said:
So if Gaither is the MLB and TKO is the WLB, what can I expect of them? Solid LB2?
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That would be my opinion FWIW.I could see Gaither equaling or exceeding Trotter's #s since he will be a 3 down LB. This may not fully shake out till camp. The WLB, I have no idea what to expect since historically Philly LBs have been average at best excluding Trotter.
 
Zoomanji is on point.

Gaither will get plenty of snaps in nickel situations; the team has said they'll limit Trotter to 60% of the snaps. Gocong and Trotter are not safe from a camp shakeup. As has been mentioned, given that Jim Johnson has said that Stewart Bradley is highly unlikely to have a role in the base defense this year, Spikes would probably get moved to SLB if Gocong is a mess. And there's no guarantee that Trotter makes it through camp. If they don't like what they see from him, he won't play. They've cut him once before and have had no trouble calling him fat, slow, and injured this off-season.

The WLB has been tough to read recently, mostly because the players on the field -- Keith Adams, Matt McCoy, Shawn Barber have been below average.

However, projecting Gaither's final five regular season and two playoff games to a full season's worth of stats would yield 91 solos, 2 sacks, 2 INT, and 9 PD. That's pushing AJ Hawk territory.

 
brakeyawself said:
So is McCoy pretty much worthless in dynasty idp formats? I really thought he had a chance this year.
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The coaches seem to think he got worn down last year and the shoulder injury hindered him more than anything. I bought into the "he had a great off-season and we're expecting big things" stuff last summer. Last season, the Eagles really didn't have many other clear options. This season, they do.Fool me once...
 
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles...this_trio_.html

Article in the Sunday Inquirer discussing the SLB position in Philly.

They mention a guy I liked last year in preseason, and who played pretty well in the little regular-season action he saw: Torrance Daniels.

He was my "who the heck is this guy" from last preseason amongst the deep depth chart UDFA guys.

I doubt any of them has FF value, but you never know. I think this is awide open year of competition - only Trotter & Spikes are guaranteed sizeable roles, and neither of them have exactly nailed down what they will be doing.

 
It's funny how the Eagles changed their LB corps from too few to too many almost overnight.

Dhani Jones - gone.

Matt McCoy - benched (and deservedly so).

Chris Gocong - back from the injury.

Takeo Spikes - added via trade.

Stewart Bradley - drafted Day 1.

So now Philly has:

WILL: Takeo Spikes

MLB: Jeremiah Trotter

SAM: Chris Gocong

That's today's depth chart - on first down.

As for backups, I think Omar Gaither is the primary backup to both Spikes and/or Trotter, and as Jene said (amongst others) Trotter is not a 3-down guy any more. He'll be off the field on 3rd and on passing downs, so look for Gaither to take over then.

As for the new blood, Bradley and Torrance "Tank" Daniels will be fighting to be the #2 option for the strong side. Two things could change this plan - (A) Gocong is a mess or if (B) Gaither is just too good to stay on the bench. In either case, Spikes moves to SAM and the WILL goes to Omar. Backups Daniels and Bradley may spell Spikes, but I doubt either pushes him. McCoy is the odd man out.

Long term, Philly would like to see some combo of Gocong, Gaither and Bradley on the field, most likely in that order (W-M-S). That could be the 2008 plan already.

Most of this will be sorted out in camp, and it will be fun to watch.

 
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Eagles' Gaither taking the bad with the good

Written by: Ashley Fox ¦ 6/2/2007

Source: w.philly.com

Omar Gaither wasn't surprised. He knew as soon as the Eagles traded for Buffalo Bills linebacker Takeo Spikes that his starting job on the weak side was in serious jeopardy.

No matter.

The 23-year-old Gaither, the Eagles' fifth-round draft pick out of Tennessee a year ago, would love to be a starter. But he sees the big picture. Backing up veteran Pro Bowler Jeremiah Trotter in the middle, not to mention playing in nickel packages and on special teams, is not the worst thing.

Gaither will play on Sundays, even if he isn't introduced as a starter before kickoff.

"To be honest, I was happy the Eagles traded for Takeo," Gaither said yesterday after the final practice of the Eagles' camp for rookies and young players. "He's a great player. He's a great guy. . . . He's just another guy to look up to, just another guy to ask questions, just another guy who I feel can make me better.

"The thing about Trotter, he's not concerned about me taking his position. I feel like he can help me get better. In the long run, it's going to work out best for me."

Last season, Gaither became a starter on Dec. 4 against his hometown team, the Carolina Panthers. The previous week, the Eagles had struggled against the run, giving up 237 yards rushing in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Something had to change. Gaither got the start at weakside linebacker instead of Matt McCoy; he made six tackles in the game and got "about a thousand" voice-mail messages afterward.

Gaither started the remaining four games of the regular season, and playoff games against the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints.

When he sacked Giants quarterback Eli Manning late in the regular season, Gaither became the first Eagles rookie to record a sack since Ray Farmer in 1996. He also picked off Washington quarterback Jason Campbell to set up a score early in a crucial division game.

Gaither finished the regular season with 58 tackles and had 12 more in the playoffs. The Eagles saw him as a potential starter for the 2007 season - then they traded Darwin Walker to Buffalo for Spikes in late March, and Gaither knew.

"It's not the first time it's ever happened to me," he said. "It actually happened a little bit at the University of Tennessee. It just makes me more hungry. I've had a taste of starting, and I don't think anybody comes to this level and wants to be a backup. I've had a taste, and I'm hungry for more."

The native of Charlotte, N.C., has spent the entire off-season at the NovaCare Complex, working out five times a week. He is serious about regaining his starting spot, be it this season or next.

"Coaches, they feel like they put the best players out there, and it's my job to make it tough on them," Gaither said. "I'm looking forward to it."
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Link
 
I know it's early and I know I'm a :hangover: but I like hearing this:

Brown isn't claiming great improvement for the unit yet, by the way. As excited as he is to see new linebacker Takeo Spikes and new defensive tackles Montae Reagor and Ian Scott, along with might-as-well-be-new linebacker Chris Gocong, who missed his rookie season with a neck injury, Brown noted that "it's a hard defensive scheme to learn. If you're out there thinking, you can't let your physical ability take over. Hopefully, you can catch it all here mentally, and when you get in a game, you can just fly around."

Spikes didn't seem to be too confused yesterday; he looked fast and aggressive.

"I haven't felt this good in 2 years," said Spikes, who suffered an Achilles' tear in September 2005. "It just takes time. Now, I'm officially back. I felt good - my steps feel solid, explosive. I felt strong, didn't get fatigued at all."

Spikes said Johnson's defense is similar to the one he played in Buffalo before the 2006 season, when the Bills went to Cover 2. "I love [the Eagles' scheme]. This is a good fit; you're being proactive, instead of reactive," Spikes said.
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ESPN now reporting it as well as local radio. Gaither was taking 1st team reps in practice this week - he's your new starting MIKE. Going with this youth movement kind of makes me nervous as a fan...

 
Interesting note this morning that may have shown the writing on the wall...

Omar goes to work

Omar Gaither, who started the second half of last season at weak-side linebacker, got much of the work with the starting defense yesterday at middle linebacker, although the significance of that wasn't immediately clear since there was nobody around to talk about it.

Gaither, who is on the first nickel, has been backing up Jeremiah Trotter this summer at middle.

Trotter is entering his 10th NFL season, has bad knees and is coming off an admittedly disappointing 2006 season.

This didn't appear to be a case of Reid resting a veteran, since Trotter was out there working with the second-team defense.

Reid met with the media before practice and wasn't available after practice. There was no locker room access or player availability following practice.
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http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/99-...07-1395518.html
 
zadok said:
ESPN now reporting it as well as local radio. Gaither was taking 1st team reps in practice this week - he's your new starting MIKE. Going with this youth movement kind of makes me nervous as a fan...
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If Trotter was performing better then Gaither, they wouldn't cut him. From a leadership standpoint, it's disappointing but at this point Gaither is probably more talented anyway.
 
<<<<<<<

Again, not shocked. :banned: :pickle:

Everything the coaching staff said this summer pointed to this if Spikes, Gaither and Gocong looked ready if Trotter wasn't significantly better during OTAs and camp.

 
RedRaiders said:
zadok said:
ESPN now reporting it as well as local radio. Gaither was taking 1st team reps in practice this week - he's your new starting MIKE. Going with this youth movement kind of makes me nervous as a fan...
Click to expand...
If Trotter was performing better then Gaither, they wouldn't cut him. From a leadership standpoint, it's disappointing but at this point Gaither is probably more talented anyway.
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Oh I agree, he needed to be benched, but I guess they just found no value for him there either. When McCoy is the 2nd oldest LB on your team, it just feels strange...
 
I'd like to make a waiver claim for Gaither but I would have to cut another LB. I'm thinking about dropping Greenway, good call?

My LBs are:

Witherspoon

Andra Davis

DJ Williams

Paul Posluzny

Greenway

Thanks

 
McGarnicle said:
I'd like to make a waiver claim for Gaither but I would have to cut another LB. I'm thinking about dropping Greenway, good call?My LBs are:WitherspoonAndra DavisDJ WilliamsPaul PosluznyGreenwayThanks
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The only one who I would even consider cutting for Gaither is Andra Davis, and I'm not positive I would do that.
 
Anthony Borbely said:
McGarnicle said:
I'd like to make a waiver claim for Gaither but I would have to cut another LB. I'm thinking about dropping Greenway, good call?My LBs are:WitherspoonAndra DavisDJ WilliamsPaul PosluznyGreenwayThanks
Click to expand...
The only one who I would even consider cutting for Gaither is Andra Davis, and I'm not positive I would do that.
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Wow, so even Greenway as an unknown commodity is not expendable for a mike facing a run-heavy schedule? Seems like Gaither's upside is huge in the situation he is coming into. Although I see what you are saying about Davis, he is unspectacular.
 
McGarnicle said:
Anthony Borbely said:
McGarnicle said:
I'd like to make a waiver claim for Gaither but I would have to cut another LB. I'm thinking about dropping Greenway, good call?My LBs are:WitherspoonAndra DavisDJ WilliamsPaul PosluznyGreenwayThanks
Click to expand...
The only one who I would even consider cutting for Gaither is Andra Davis, and I'm not positive I would do that.
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Wow, so even Greenway as an unknown commodity is not expendable for a mike facing a run-heavy schedule? Seems like Gaither's upside is huge in the situation he is coming into. Although I see what you are saying about Davis, he is unspectacular.
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Greenway has much more upside in my opinion than Gaither. He was a first round pick last year, for a reason. He is playing a prime fantasy position, the WLB in the Tampa-2 defense, and has looked great in camp and preseason. There is no way I would cut Greenway for Gaither. Greenway has a lot more talent and upside in my opinion.
 
McGarnicle said:
I'd like to make a waiver claim for Gaither but I would have to cut another LB. I'm thinking about dropping Greenway, good call?My LBs are:WitherspoonAndra DavisDJ WilliamsPaul PosluznyGreenwayThanks
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DJ Williams haqs looked lost....cut bait and grab Omar.
 
Magic Desert Toads said:
McGarnicle said:
I'd like to make a waiver claim for Gaither but I would have to cut another LB. I'm thinking about dropping Greenway, good call?My LBs are:WitherspoonAndra DavisDJ WilliamsPaul PosluznyGreenwayThanks
Click to expand...
DJ Williams haqs looked lost....cut bait and grab Omar.
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NO... give DJ a chance... dump Davis
 
From the ESPN article:

The departure of Trotter continues a shakeup to Philadelphia's linebacker corps. It is now likely that two-time Pro Bowl player Takeo Spikes, acquired from the Buffalo Bills in a March trade, will take over the middle linebacker spot. Spikes has primarily worked at the weakside position in training camp.

Writer conjecture? Any chance Spikes goes to the middle?

 
Keg said:
Anthony Borbely said:
McGarnicle said:
I'd like to make a waiver claim for Gaither but I would have to cut another LB. I'm thinking about dropping Greenway, good call?My LBs are:WitherspoonAndra DavisDJ WilliamsPaul PosluznyGreenwayThanks
Click to expand...
The only one who I would even consider cutting for Gaither is Andra Davis, and I'm not positive I would do that.
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i would try and trade Davis if you really want to go after Gaither
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Don't know if trading Davis and picking up Gaither is possible - if so that's probably the way to go yes. If not I would take a shot at Gaither over Davis. Especially that would the case in a keeper format. Imo Davis upside is limited (given the 3-4) and while he may not be benched by Leon Williams and D'Qwell Jackson yet they were brought in for a reason. Getting a three down 4-3 linebacker surely is too tempting to pass up imho.With Witherspoon, DJ Williams (whom I hearing mixed reviews of as an MLB though), PP and Greenway in the fold you should be ok - I take it you start 2 linebackers or 3 at max (1 flex?)?
 
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Keith Lewis said:
From the ESPN article:The departure of Trotter continues a shakeup to Philadelphia's linebacker corps. It is now likely that two-time Pro Bowl player Takeo Spikes, acquired from the Buffalo Bills in a March trade, will take over the middle linebacker spot. Spikes has primarily worked at the weakside position in training camp.Writer conjecture? Any chance Spikes goes to the middle?
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pure writer conjecture, imo
 
It has not yet been determined whether Gaither will fall to MLB or WLB. MLB in Philly can put up good/great #. WLB has not scored as well but has not really had a quality player in that spot. There is a possibility that Spikes moves in the middle.

Having said all that, I really like Gaither either way. He was solid last year during his playing time.

2 cents from a homer

 
J Andersson said:
Keg said:
Anthony Borbely said:
McGarnicle said:
I'd like to make a waiver claim for Gaither but I would have to cut another LB. I'm thinking about dropping Greenway, good call?My LBs are:WitherspoonAndra DavisDJ WilliamsPaul PosluznyGreenwayThanks
Click to expand...
The only one who I would even consider cutting for Gaither is Andra Davis, and I'm not positive I would do that.
Click to expand...
i would try and trade Davis if you really want to go after Gaither
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Don't know if trading Davis and picking up Gaither is possible - if so that's probably the way to go yes. If not I would take a shot at Gaither over Davis. Especially that would the case in a keeper format. Imo Davis upside is limited (given the 3-4) and while he may not be benched by Leon Williams and D'Qwell Jackson yet they were brought in for a reason. Getting a three down 4-3 linebacker surely is too tempting to pass up imho.With Witherspoon, DJ Williams (whom I hearing mixed reviews of as an MLB though), PP and Greenway in the fold you should be ok - I take it you start 2 linebackers or 3 at max (1 flex?)?
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We start 3LB plus one flex, and it's a very tight 10-team league with much $$$ and bragging rights at stake. My team is probably playoff caliber, but I need to find any advantage I can.
 
Keg said:
Keith Lewis said:
From the ESPN article:The departure of Trotter continues a shakeup to Philadelphia's linebacker corps. It is now likely that two-time Pro Bowl player Takeo Spikes, acquired from the Buffalo Bills in a March trade, will take over the middle linebacker spot. Spikes has primarily worked at the weakside position in training camp.Writer conjecture? Any chance Spikes goes to the middle?
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pure writer conjecture, imo
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agreed.unless it was Sal, its just a bad guess
 
Spikes said he will be the WILL BACKER but he will get moved around but that is because of JJ's defense not because of Trots release

 
Few things folks.

PLEASE, please put all advice requests in the AC forum rather than cluttering up news threads with questions about your specific team. The additional forum is getting a lot of traffic and keeps the tangents to a minimum in these important threads.

Second, unless Pasquarelli has a source, he's wrong. Gaither, except when filling in for the mess that was McCoy/Barber last year, has taken all his snaps as a MLB. He was tabbed as Trotter's heir apparent during last season's OTAs, when the team announced he'd play inside rather than outside. It won't be shocking to find Spikes in the middle, but would be awful surprising given the team's comments about Gaither over the past two offseasons.

Finally, Gaither has huge potential here. Trotter, without the sideline-to-sideline range and coverage skill that Gaither has, had four 100 plus solo tackle seasons as the every down linebacker in Johnson's scheme. He had mulitple sacks and coverage plays when he got snaps in the nickel. Granted, he never had a WLB like Spikes alongside, but there's all sorts of potential here. I've had Gaither in the 30s all offseason in anticipation of this move and will move him into mid LB2 territory at minimum in my next rankings update tonight. Gaither projected to 90 plus solos over a full season from the weak side based on 2006 numbers with a few big plays of his own. Unless he can't hold up over a full season in the middle, he'll better those numbers inside.

 
Jene Bramel said:
Finally, Gaither has huge potential here. Trotter, without the sideline-to-sideline range and coverage skill that Gaither has, had four 100 plus solo tackle seasons as the every down linebacker in Johnson's scheme. He had mulitple sacks and coverage plays when he got snaps in the nickel. Granted, he never had a WLB like Spikes alongside, but there's all sorts of potential here. I've had Gaither in the 30s all offseason in anticipation of this move and will move him into mid LB2 territory at minimum in my next rankings update tonight. Gaither projected to 90 plus solos over a full season from the weak side based on 2006 numbers with a few big plays of his own. Unless he can't hold up over a full season in the middle, he'll better those numbers inside.
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The only thing I'd add to this is that the one area in which Gaither may be inferior to Trotter, even last year's version of Trotter, was in run blitzing. Trotter excelled at shooting gaps and blowing up plays, something that his size greatly assisted. (This was a big part of the reason why Trotter looked so poor in Marvin Lewis' idiotic read-and-react scheme in Washington in 2002 :shrug: ) Gaither is longer and leaner and much lighter than Trotter, so I'm not counting on as many sacks from him.
 
redman said:
Jene Bramel said:
Finally, Gaither has huge potential here. Trotter, without the sideline-to-sideline range and coverage skill that Gaither has, had four 100 plus solo tackle seasons as the every down linebacker in Johnson's scheme. He had mulitple sacks and coverage plays when he got snaps in the nickel. Granted, he never had a WLB like Spikes alongside, but there's all sorts of potential here. I've had Gaither in the 30s all offseason in anticipation of this move and will move him into mid LB2 territory at minimum in my next rankings update tonight. Gaither projected to 90 plus solos over a full season from the weak side based on 2006 numbers with a few big plays of his own. Unless he can't hold up over a full season in the middle, he'll better those numbers inside.
Click to expand...
The only thing I'd add to this is that the one area in which Gaither may be inferior to Trotter, even last year's version of Trotter, was in run blitzing. Trotter excelled at shooting gaps and blowing up plays, something that his size greatly assisted. (This was a big part of the reason why Trotter looked so poor in Marvin Lewis' idiotic read-and-react scheme in Washington in 2002 :confused: ) Gaither is longer and leaner and much lighter than Trotter, so I'm not counting on as many sacks from him.
Click to expand...
can you name any starting MLBs that are bigger then trotter(262 lbs) :thumbup:
 
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