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Preseason Observations (1 Viewer)

Jene Bramel

Jene Bramel

Footballguy
Rather than start a thread every time something pops into my mind, I figured I'd use this as a catch-all place for everyone to make brain dumps and quick-hitting observations from the preseason games or ask questions about anything that comes up.

Lots of stuff on my Twitter feed (linked in my sig) today, but a couple big things on my mind today:

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JeneBramel Jene Bramel Have yet to see absolute confirmation from @joereedy or @GeoffHobsonCin, but I think Rey Maualuga is going to get a shot in the nickel.

1 hour ago

JeneBramel Jene Bramel

A note from @GeoffHobsonCin on Maualuga INT on pass to Leonard (3rd dn back) tipped by Johnson (known nickel LB) drives that speculation.

1 hour ago

JeneBramel Jene Bramel

More confirmation here. Howard still threat, but Rey has early edge @joereedy If Zim runs nickel like he did with Dhani, he will be in there

1 hour ago

JeneBramel Jene Bramel

Also many reports that Maualuga appears to be more sound in run fits but still an effective downhill presence. Good things may be coming.

1 hour ago

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JeneBramel Jene Bramel Wish I hadn't hedged on Daryl Washington this summer. Loved him last year, should've read the Ray Horton tea leaves much, much sooner.

1 hour ago

JeneBramel Jene Bramel

Washington looks to be a lock for every-down duty now and will get a chance at well above average pass rush chances from the ILB position.

1 hour ago

JeneBramel Jene Bramel

It'll take some convincing for me to see Washington as Lawrence Timmons clone - he's not likely to see OLB snaps - but it's a close comp.

1 hour ago

JeneBramel Jene Bramel

Means he's LB2+/top twenty fantasy player now for me. Upside matchup LB3/4 previously @magould10 confused by what that means for Washington?

1 hour ago

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JeneBramel Jene Bramel Another linebacker battle that's gotten little attention -- Donald Butler is the starting WILB and playing in nearly all subpackages.

1 hour ago

JeneBramel Jene Bramel

Very high on Butler's prospects last April. Not so high on Mouton's. Unless Butler flops in camp, I think he'll stick and could shine.

1 hour ago

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JeneBramel Jene Bramel Reading between the lines with the Colts' linebacker situation, I think Pat Angerer might have an edge at an every-down role, too.

57 minutes ago

JeneBramel Jene Bramel

Colts signed Sims to compete outside and have yet to move to re-sign Hagler (last year's preferred nickel option).

56 minutes ago

JeneBramel Jene Bramel

Sims isn't great in zone coverage & Conner wasn't serious nickel consideration last yr. Would be next step in grooming Angerer for future.

55 minutes ago

 
awesome I've been looking for an update on the San Diego ILB situation. I have Butler and really need him to win the starting job.

 
Have been high on Butler. I remember mocking him early 3rd last year before his injury. I picked him up from waivers in week 1 to put on IR. Unfortunately, I lost both Clark and FInley at TE and had to use him to get Todd Heap who never played for me either in championship game. Just one of those years.

I think he could be a good pickup for many

 
There's plenty of things to keep a close eye from an IDP perspective in tonight's games. Things I will be watching:

* JAC/NE: Who plays in subpackages for the Jags at LB? How will the Patriots line up defensively and if they are in a 4-3, how often is it used and how do Mayo/Spikes fit?

* BAL/PHI: I'll be watching Jimmy Smith to see how he turns and runs with Philadelphia's wideouts just because I've been looking forward to seeing him in action. Casey Matthews is a player to watch too.

* SEA/SD: Donald Butler - does he play in the subpackages and how does he look coming off injury? David Hawthorne could be a stud at LB this season; how will he look?

 
Good to hear about Washington. I hitched my wagon to him in a dynasty over Butler(who I friggin' missed out on re-acquiring this morning in that league's draft by a a single pick. Bah!), so I've been sweating him. I'm not going to even dream he turns into Timmons yet, but if he turns into even,say, 75% of Timmons then that = big time profit.

Rey would start getting Nickle snaps the year after I got rid of him. *grumble*

 
Not too much to note with the early preseason games, but a few alignment issues might be resolved.

ARIZONA-OAKLAND

***Oakland's defensive alignments seem much the same as last season. Shaughnessy and Houston starting, Houston leaving with Wimbley reducing down in the nickel. Branch and Huff in their usual roles. McClain looked more like the second half McClain than the first half, but there wasn't much to go on there.

***Lenon and Washington started inside, both were involved in the nickel packages. Need to review the OLB snaps, but nothing stood out early. Reshad Johnson filling in for Adrian Wilson. Looked out of place at times, but active. Reserving judgment there until next week.

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JACKSONVILLE-NEW ENGLAND***Kampman was inactive and I don't remember seeing Roth in uniform. Mincey and Lane started at DE. Session looked to be taking the majority of snaps to the weak side, but there were some formations in which Session was on the LOS. In the lone nickel snap I saw (the Jags were looking using the base against 12 personnel packages as I figured they might), it was Posluszny and Smith on the field. Landry and Greene look interchangeable, with Greene listed as the SS and maybe taking a slight majority of snaps near the box.

***Nearly all the Patriots' front seven starters sat this one out. First series was predominantly 4-3, second series predominantly 3-4 in the base, but it's hard to draw many conclusions with the defensive line sitting. Next week should tell us more.

More to come later today...

 
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DENVER-DALLAS

***Was really impressed with Dallas rookie OT Tyron Smith, but I think both Elvis Dumervil and Robert Ayers looked solid as 4-3 down linemen. Dumervil handled Doug Free against the run and gained the edge at least once. First impressions on Von Miller were better than expected. Thought he was more than willing to stick his nose in at the point of attack. Generally moving quickly on running downs without a false step. Wasn't very successful at getting off blocks when engaged as SLB, but was very explosive from three point stance on nickel downs.

***Rob Ryan paid homage to Tom Landry on the first snap by lining up in the Flex. But it had plenty of Ryan flavor. Flexed a single body out of the three man line, with Ware standing up on the edge, then blitzed six. Ryan made it sound like it was a tribute to the Cowboy tradition, but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw it at times during the regular season. Sean Lee stood out as a solid ILB again, but what was most noticeable was the safety play. Lots of Cover-2 on base downs. Whether that's Ryan playing vanilla defense or a sign of what he thinks of his secondary (I'd bet that it's closer to the latter) remains to be seen. Sensabaugh looked foolish on an early nickel down. Going to be hard for Ryan to trust his secondary on overload blitzes and disguised coverages if those issues aren't corrected. Lack of OTAs hurt in that regard.

BALTIMORE-PHILADELPHIA

Not much to note here. Still reserving judgment on Casey Matthews, but he held his own. Looked ready to play downhill, used his hands well and kept his feet. But he had a hard time getting away when an offensive lineman engaged him. Gut says that the hands and feet looked good enough to allow him to make the transition to MLB in time, but I'll bet it's a bumpy one this year.

 
I can't imagine Philly would be that aggressive in pre-season only to get conservative when it counts. That hurts all the their IDPs from a tackle standpoint but helps, sporadically, with big plays. They look like they're going back to the gap-attack, man-to-man defenses from the Jim Johnson era. The 90-100+ solo guys usually get ~20 solos on over the middle dump offs on 3rd and long. Those don't look to be in the Philly LBs future. Matthews looks alright but the scheme doesn't in tackle heavy leagues. Give him a bump in big play league though.

 
SEATTLE-SAN DIEGO

***Donald Butler was in on every down, as expected. He was tentative on a couple of early snaps and over-ran his run fit on one play, but he played well. Jonas Mouton looked pretty good playing replacing Takeo Spikes on the second series, but he left the field on nickel snaps. At this point, barring injury or a surprising drop in play, I think Butler is a lock to hold the WILB job. Bob Sanders was okay, but he's either easing himself back into shape or has lost at least half a step.

***David Hawthorne and Aaron Curry were the every-down linebackers. Both played well. There was a note on Twitter that suggested that Kam Chancellor didn't play on passing downs. That's incorrect. Chancellor may have missed the first snap of the second series, but was otherwise an every-down player. Very sudden in run support, but more of a straight line player. Didn't change directions or turn and run well in coverage. If he's used in the box, he'll be very good. We'll see how he progresses in coverage. There's certainly a chance that Mark Legree will spell him on passing downs.

 
'Jene Bramel said:
SEATTLE-SAN DIEGO

***Donald Butler was in on every down, as expected. He was tentative on a couple of early snaps and over-ran his run fit on one play, but he played well. Jonas Mouton looked pretty good playing replacing Takeo Spikes on the second series, but he left the field on nickel snaps. At this point, barring injury or a surprising drop in play, I think Butler is a lock to hold the WILB job. Bob Sanders was okay, but he's either easing himself back into shape or has lost at least half a step.

***David Hawthorne and Aaron Curry were the every-down linebackers. Both played well. There was a note on Twitter that suggested that Kam Chancellor didn't play on passing downs. That's incorrect. Chancellor may have missed the first snap of the second series, but was otherwise an every-down player. Very sudden in run support, but more of a straight line player. Didn't change directions or turn and run well in coverage. If he's used in the box, he'll be very good. We'll see how he progresses in coverage. There's certainly a chance that Mark Legree will spell him on passing downs.
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does the signing of Cooper do anything to Butler's snaps?
 
'ninerfanatic492000 said:
'Jene Bramel said:
SEATTLE-SAN DIEGO

***Donald Butler was in on every down, as expected. He was tentative on a couple of early snaps and over-ran his run fit on one play, but he played well. Jonas Mouton looked pretty good playing replacing Takeo Spikes on the second series, but he left the field on nickel snaps. At this point, barring injury or a surprising drop in play, I think Butler is a lock to hold the WILB job. Bob Sanders was okay, but he's either easing himself back into shape or has lost at least half a step.

***David Hawthorne and Aaron Curry were the every-down linebackers. Both played well. There was a note on Twitter that suggested that Kam Chancellor didn't play on passing downs. That's incorrect. Chancellor may have missed the first snap of the second series, but was otherwise an every-down player. Very sudden in run support, but more of a straight line player. Didn't change directions or turn and run well in coverage. If he's used in the box, he'll be very good. We'll see how he progresses in coverage. There's certainly a chance that Mark Legree will spell him on passing downs.
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does the signing of Cooper do anything to Butler's snaps?
Click to expand...
Everything I've read about this says it's just for depth.
 
'ninerfanatic492000 said:
'Jene Bramel said:
SEATTLE-SAN DIEGO

***Donald Butler was in on every down, as expected. He was tentative on a couple of early snaps and over-ran his run fit on one play, but he played well. Jonas Mouton looked pretty good playing replacing Takeo Spikes on the second series, but he left the field on nickel snaps. At this point, barring injury or a surprising drop in play, I think Butler is a lock to hold the WILB job. Bob Sanders was okay, but he's either easing himself back into shape or has lost at least half a step.

***David Hawthorne and Aaron Curry were the every-down linebackers. Both played well. There was a note on Twitter that suggested that Kam Chancellor didn't play on passing downs. That's incorrect. Chancellor may have missed the first snap of the second series, but was otherwise an every-down player. Very sudden in run support, but more of a straight line player. Didn't change directions or turn and run well in coverage. If he's used in the box, he'll be very good. We'll see how he progresses in coverage. There's certainly a chance that Mark Legree will spell him on passing downs.
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does the signing of Cooper do anything to Butler's snaps?
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I didn't see anything in the play of Spikes/Butler/Mouton that made me think they needed someone to seriously compete to play immediately.
 
just a note for the Bills.

opened in a 3-4 with Barnett at WILB and Davis at SILB as expected. When they went to the nickel, Torbor came in (with Barnett).

Dareus/Merriman going to do some damage this year.

 
Is Jonathan Casillas not the best buy of the offseason right now? I'm still picking him up for nothing in my leagues. Is Wilson really going to step into a three down role?

 
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'southeastjerome said:
I see Merriman has two sacks. Does he have his explosiveness back?
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he could have had a 3rd sack or at least 2.5 but they gave the first one to Dareus alone. Merriman fought through a hold on the play and was maybe a split second behind Dareus in getting to Cutler. The other 2 sacks came against Hanie, but it certainly looks like he's going to be an impact player again. he's been killing it in camp too.
 
'Bojang0301 said:
Is Jonathan Casillas not the best buy of the offseason right now? I'm still picking him up for nothing in my leagues. Is Wilson really going to step into a three down role?
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I haven't heard anything about Casillas this year - what's up with him?
 
'Bojang0301 said:
Is Jonathan Casillas not the best buy of the offseason right now? I'm still picking him up for nothing in my leagues. Is Wilson really going to step into a three down role?
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Looks like a mess right now, only Vilma is a lock. http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/23543/camp-confidential-saints-2
Nobody got very excited when the Saints added Will Herring. That’s understandable, because he spent four seasons in Seattle as a backup linebacker and special-teams player. Herring has only seven career starts, but a coaching staff and front office that have been known to find some steals might have another one. Herring has been getting most of the first-team work on the strong side in training camp, and the coaches have been raving about him. He’s quick and he’s smart, and the change of scenery apparently has him playing better than ever.......Herring has been working on the strong side and Scott Shanle on the weak side. But nothing’s settled yet. Herring appears headed for a starting job, but Shanle is aging. The Saints have liked what they’ve seen from Clint Ingram and Jonathan Casillas, and they know what they have in Jo-Lonn Dunbar. They’ll probably go through several preseason games before deciding firmly on their starting linebackers. Even then, they could still rotate linebackers because the coaches view all of them as pretty close to equal.One linebacker who is struggling a bit is third-round pick Martez Wilson. You can see he has good athleticism, but he looks lost at times during team drills. The Saints aren’t anywhere close to being ready to give up on him, because he has lots of upside. But a lot of fans thought he’d be an instant starter. That’s not going to happen.
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TAMPA BAY-KANSAS CITY

Not much to note here. Mason Foster started as expected, but didn't play enough to make any useful evaluation as the Bucs played a lot of nickel packages with Ronde Barber playing a slot corner/OLB role. Adrian Clayborn looked okay as the starter but didn't jump off the screen. Cody Grimm started at FS. I wasn't too impressed with Da'Quan Bowers. Once he got moving, he looked like a player. But he was consistently a half second or more behind everyone else off the ball. And he's clearly the second team DE behind Michael Bennett right now.

 
CINCINNATI-DETROIT

***I'm not sure who this Rey Maualuga might be, but it ain't the guy that's been on the field the past two seasons. He's moving at the snap, immediately downhill, showing good footwork and suddenness to the hole, bouncing off blocks and making sure tackles. He didn't look terrible in coverage and showed sideline-to-sideline range. Oh, and he stayed on the field every down. Look out. Thomas Howard and Manny Lawson were both in for a handful of nickel snaps, sometimes both at the same time with Lawson as a defensive end. Neither were particularly impressive. Michael Johnson seemed interested in run support, but didn't stand out. Sample size issues should be noted as always. Nate Clements looked like a willing tackler, which bodes well for him here.

***As noted in other threads, the Lions seem to be using a LOLB/ROLB plan with Levy at ROLB and Durant at LOLB as expected. Tulloch and Durant took every nickel snap. Whether that sticks or not remains to be seen.

 
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Hey Jene, looking forward to your LB analysis for the Colts game tonight. Unfortunately I was not able to see the 1st quarter. How did Brackett and Angerer look? How did we line up and what about the nickel package?

I've got to say this, I didn't like what I saw in the 2nd quarter. Very pedestrian all around, and all I saw was Wheeler mopping up everyone's mistakes. Conner didn't impress me any. Who is Triplett, a camp body? Did Sims even play?

As a huge Colts fan and a guy that has an obvious man crush for Angerer, how is this going to shake out before the season starts? Hopefully 3 down roles for Brackett (a given) and Angerer. Ugh, Conner bugs me, not sure why on earth Pat isn't playing WLB. He is so much better than the rest of them.

 
'Bdub said:
Hey Jene, looking forward to your LB analysis for the Colts game tonight. Unfortunately I was not able to see the 1st quarter. How did Brackett and Angerer look? How did we line up and what about the nickel package?

I've got to say this, I didn't like what I saw in the 2nd quarter. Very pedestrian all around, and all I saw was Wheeler mopping up everyone's mistakes. Conner didn't impress me any. Who is Triplett, a camp body? Did Sims even play?

As a huge Colts fan and a guy that has an obvious man crush for Angerer, how is this going to shake out before the season starts? Hopefully 3 down roles for Brackett (a given) and Angerer. Ugh, Conner bugs me, not sure why on earth Pat isn't playing WLB. He is so much better than the rest of them.
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INDIANAPOLIS-ST. LOUISExtremely limited sample size. Only looked at the ones so far and I'll definitely want a look at Robert Quinn and a second look at Jerry Hughes, who I didn't pay close attention to yet, tomorrow.

Don't know much about Triplett, looks like a UDFA. Sims is out after having an appendectomy earlier in the week.

The Rams didn't play any of their projected starters at linebacker. Mikell and Dahl were the starting safeties. Looked interchangeable, with Mikell in the box more often than Dahl.

Angerer SLB, Conner WLB for the Colts, with Conner taking nickel snaps with Brackett. Not particularly impressed with Conner, but the Colts' LBs probably took just 6-8 plays from scrimmage. Angerer may have taken just 4-5 of those. He was driven out of the play on one. We'll see what happens next week.

 
'Jene Bramel said:
'Bdub said:
Hey Jene, looking forward to your LB analysis for the Colts game tonight. Unfortunately I was not able to see the 1st quarter. How did Brackett and Angerer look? How did we line up and what about the nickel package?

I've got to say this, I didn't like what I saw in the 2nd quarter. Very pedestrian all around, and all I saw was Wheeler mopping up everyone's mistakes. Conner didn't impress me any. Who is Triplett, a camp body? Did Sims even play?

As a huge Colts fan and a guy that has an obvious man crush for Angerer, how is this going to shake out before the season starts? Hopefully 3 down roles for Brackett (a given) and Angerer. Ugh, Conner bugs me, not sure why on earth Pat isn't playing WLB. He is so much better than the rest of them.
Click to expand...
INDIANAPOLIS-ST. LOUISExtremely limited sample size. Only looked at the ones so far and I'll definitely want a look at Robert Quinn and a second look at Jerry Hughes, who I didn't pay close attention to yet, tomorrow.

Don't know much about Triplett, looks like a UDFA. Sims is out after having an appendectomy earlier in the week.

The Rams didn't play any of their projected starters at linebacker. Mikell and Dahl were the starting safeties. Looked interchangeable, with Mikell in the box more often than Dahl.

Angerer SLB, Conner WLB for the Colts, with Conner taking nickel snaps with Brackett. Not particularly impressed with Conner, but the Colts' LBs probably took just 6-8 plays from scrimmage. Angerer may have taken just 4-5 of those. He was driven out of the play on one. We'll see what happens next week.
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Thanks Jene. Looking forward to next weeks game big time. Why do you think Conner plays coverage over Angerer? I don't remember studying Pat last year in the nickel plays that he was in on. Let's say worst case, he plays base downs only. Is he tough enough with the instincts to still rack up a good amount of solos? Greenway is in the same position and certainly has no problem getting them up there. 5 to 6 a game hopefully?

Or the Colts could just wake the #$%^ up and unleash that beast upon the NFL! "OK Bdub, calm down. His time shall come. Patience...."

Can Conner really put it all together in the coaches eyes and become a dependable fantasy LB 2 to 3? 3 down WLB, is he good enough to hold that position? I might have to just plan to draft him later in a big IDP money league that I'm getting in next week.

 
By the way, this thread is gold. Where else can we find well educated, up to date information on all the NFL LB camp battles?

A big :thumbup: to Jene

Will you be briefly analyzing all the LB situations next week too?

:excited:

 
I'll be interested to see what you do with Durant in your next rankings update. 3-down LOLB is sure better than the possible 2-down SLB that I think the current rankings reflect.

 
'Bdub said:
Why do you think Conner plays coverage over Angerer? I don't remember studying Pat last year in the nickel plays that he was in on. Let's say worst case, he plays base downs only. Is he tough enough with the instincts to still rack up a good amount of solos? Greenway is in the same position and certainly has no problem getting them up there. 5 to 6 a game hopefully? Can Conner really put it all together in the coaches eyes and become a dependable fantasy LB 2 to 3? 3 down WLB, is he good enough to hold that position? I might have to just plan to draft him later in a big IDP money league that I'm getting in next week.
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As Greg Cosell always says, the coaches tell you what they think about a player. If Sims was getting looks in the nickel early in camp and it's now Conner (after it being Hagler last year), they're telling us that Angerer hasn't played well enough in coverage to trust in the role. Not sure how long that lasts, as I think they used a second round pick on him with the thought that he'd be an every-down player, but it seems clear for now.Conner won't have to be special to be a decent LB3 as an every-down WLB. Angerer, in this role, is going to be a marginal fantasy player at best. Possibly a LB5 that you can use against better matchups while hoping something breaks in his favor.
 
DT Irvin impressing Panthers in camp

Posted Aug. 13, 2011 @ 4:34 p.m. ET

By Dan Parr

DT Corvey Irvin is earning rave reviews at Panthers training camp and has positioned himself as the front-runner to start at three-technique. He arrived at camp in better shape than in previous years and looks much less soft, according to one observer. Carolina drafted Irvin in the third round in 2009 but his rookie season was basically a redshirt year, as he spent it on injured reserve. He was cut after camp in '10, but was added to the practice squad and played in two games late last season. There will be a rotation at three-technique with rookie third-round pick Terrell McClain likely to get a decent share of snaps. The Panthers will be relying on a young group of D-tackles, as rookie Sione Fua, also a third-round pick, is expected to start at nose tackle following the season-ending torn triceps suffered by free-agent addition Ron Edwards. It has been a while since the Panthers were this excited about their young talent at the position.
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Also interested in Chancellor and I didn't catch any of the Buffalo game - I noticed Bryan Scott was more prominent in the boxscore (not that boxscores mean much in preseason) than George Wilson - was that just playing with the second unit?

 
going off the play by play it looks like scott did his damage in the 2nd half, while wilson picked up a couple tackles on the first few drives - one got wiped out on penalty.

 
How about Gloethel with 3 solos in the 2nd and 2 solos in the 3rd for Oakland.......wondering why he hasn't gotten much attention around here yet?

 
'Young 8 said:
'Eraser said:
How about Gloethel with 3 solos in the 2nd and 2 solos in the 3rd for Oakland.......wondering why he hasn't gotten much attention around here yet?
Click to expand...
I suppose because he's a backup
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http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=591275&view=findpost&p=13141248He is right now, but things change. For a potential last round defensive pick, or FA wire pick up, you can do a lot worse. There has been stuff mentioned on local blogs that Goethel had days when he was the best LB out there.
 
'Dogfysh076 said:
Any News on Sean Weatherspoon? Is he playing in the Nickel packages or is it Nichols or Peterson?
Click to expand...
I watched the 1st couple of series once Spoon was off the field, three times it was Nicholas and once it was Lofton with Nicholas and Spoon on the field.
 
'massraider said:
'Young 8 said:
'Eraser said:
How about Gloethel with 3 solos in the 2nd and 2 solos in the 3rd for Oakland.......wondering why he hasn't gotten much attention around here yet?
Click to expand...
I suppose because he's a backup
Click to expand...
http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=591275&view=findpost&p=13141248He is right now, but things change. For a potential last round defensive pick, or FA wire pick up, you can do a lot worse. There has been stuff mentioned on local blogs that Goethel had days when he was the best LB out there.
Click to expand...
things changed.Raiders LB Travis Goethel is expected to miss the 2011 season after tearing a knee ligament.
 
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