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Updated changes in defensive positions? (1 Viewer)

DawnBTVS

Footballguy
Hey, I was wondering if we could get a thread going to update on the potential/confirmed changes in DL, LB, or DB situations for teams throughout the offseason. We've already seen several moves creating possible shakeups and I think this would help players who are having Keeper/Dynasty drafts or even preparing for early season re-draft leagues.

I've already seen rumors (any confirmation yet?) that Thomas Davis could become the WLB for the Carolina Panthers as well as LeRoy Hill possibly becoming the WLB in Seattle.

 
I'm sure I've missed a few, but here are some guys with new outlooks for 2006.

Players who could benefit from new defensive scheme

DL Anthony Weaver/Antwan Peek

Weaver was given a fat contract by the Texans to play DE in their new 4-3 front. He's never been much of a pass rusher, though, and he's not played end in a true 4 man front in the NFL yet. Antwan Peek gets the RDE slot, but he's barely 240 pounds and will get owned against the rush. Neither look like great options. But be on the lookout for rookie with potential here.

LB EJ Henderson, Dontarrious Thomas, rookie TBD

Vikings move to the Tampa-2 this year. Whoever falls into the WLB slot could produce LB1 numbers. EJ probably stays in the middle and Dontarrious Thomas has been inconsistent. It's the rookie TBD to watch for here. If Ernie Sims lands in Minnesota, watch out. There's a bunch of guys in this deep LB draft class that could work out of the second/third round as well.

LB Kailee Wong, Sam Cowart, Morlon Greenwood, Dashon Polk, rookie TBD

MLB (and probably WLB) positions will be productive here. Nobody really knows how this one shakes out though. Wong and/or Cowart are probably your best bets, but neither have stayed healthy of late. Polk is interesting too, but this may be another spot where a rookie will be your target.

LB Teddy Lehman, Alex Lewis

The Lions go to the Tampa-2 as well. Unfortunately, like the Vikes, there's no obvious WLB candidate here. Lehman could be ideal, but he can't stay healthy. Another rookie to grab?

DB Nate Clements, Terrence McGee, Antoine Winfield, Dre Bly

All guys on teams moving to the Tampa-2. All have shown some interest in run support. Clements has the size, but guys like Ronde Barber have been nice tackle producers despite less than ideal measurables. All of these guys have been decent fantasy DBs in the past; they may move into Charles Tillman territory in 2006.

DB Glenn Earl, CC Brown

Meh. Somebody will eventually get some stats in the Houston secondary.

Players on new teams with nice potential

DL Darren Howard

Signed with the Eagles. If he can stay healthy, will no longer have to play in rotation (although Trent Cole will still get some snaps in pass rushing situations) and has a DL to keep the heat elsewhere (Kearse, Patterson). Could be more valuable than he was in NO.

LB Will Witherspoon

Plenty of discussion about him already. No reason to think he won't approach LB1 numbers in STL.

LB Shawn Barber

Probably moves into the WLB gig in Philly. Matt McCoy may have something to say about it. Not likely to be a big fantasy producer, but may be worth rostering if he wins the job.

LB Anthony Simmons

Reaching here, but assuming his wrist has healed fully and he wins a job in NO, there's no reason to think he can't give you starting quality numbers in leagues that start 3 LBs.

DB FA Sucked

Meh, guys like Lawyer Milloy, Corey Chavous, Dexter Jackson, Renaldo Hill, and Chris Hope moved to okay situations. And Milloy could put up some numbers in Atlanta. None have true stud potential though. But Adam Archuleta, Will Demps, Marquand Manuel, Marlon McCree, and Tank Williams all ended up in places where there's another nice option at safety already or a system that just isn't very attractive.

Same team, but new upside

DL Tony Hargrove

Maybe not new upside, but if this guy can rid himself of the questions that plagued him with the previous coaching staff, he's got the potential to be a nice three down player. Being in a contract year won't hurt.

LB Thomas Davis

Not confirmed yet, but there's no reason to suspect that Davis won't be the WLB in Carolina. He should be a three down LB and put in the position to make plenty of big plays. Sky's the limit.

DB Brodney Pool, Sean Jones

Pool may be the better bet here, but both are big safeties that could take a big step forward this season with Chris Crocker gone.

DB Marlin Jackson

Colts have said they want Jackson involved more. If he earns a starting corner gig, he's the prototypical big, run supporting player in the Tampa-2. Even if he plays safety with some slot coverages, he'll still have nice value.

DB Josh Bullocks

Expect Bullocks to keep the starting position he took over following Jay Bellamy's injury last year. He should easily reach starting level production.

 
I'm sure I've missed a few, but here are some guys with new outlooks for 2006.

Players who could benefit from new defensive scheme

DL Anthony Weaver/Antwan Peek

Weaver was given a fat contract by the Texans to play DE in their new 4-3 front. He's never been much of a pass rusher, though, and he's not played end in a true 4 man front in the NFL yet. Antwan Peek gets the RDE slot, but he's barely 240 pounds and will get owned against the rush. Neither look like great options. But be on the lookout for rookie with potential here.

LB EJ Henderson, Dontarrious Thomas, rookie TBD

Vikings move to the Tampa-2 this year. Whoever falls into the WLB slot could produce LB1 numbers. EJ probably stays in the middle and Dontarrious Thomas has been inconsistent. It's the rookie TBD to watch for here. If Ernie Sims lands in Minnesota, watch out. There's a bunch of guys in this deep LB draft class that could work out of the second/third round as well.

LB Kailee Wong, Sam Cowart, Morlon Greenwood, Dashon Polk, rookie TBD

MLB (and probably WLB) positions will be productive here. Nobody really knows how this one shakes out though. Wong and/or Cowart are probably your best bets, but neither have stayed healthy of late. Polk is interesting too, but this may be another spot where a rookie will be your target.

LB Teddy Lehman, Alex Lewis

The Lions go to the Tampa-2 as well. Unfortunately, like the Vikes, there's no obvious WLB candidate here. Lehman could be ideal, but he can't stay healthy. Another rookie to grab?

DB Nate Clements, Terrence McGee, Antoine Winfield, Dre Bly

All guys on teams moving to the Tampa-2. All have shown some interest in run support. Clements has the size, but guys like Ronde Barber have been nice tackle producers despite less than ideal measurables. All of these guys have been decent fantasy DBs in the past; they may move into Charles Tillman territory in 2006.

DB Glenn Earl, CC Brown

Meh. Somebody will eventually get some stats in the Houston secondary.

Players on new teams with nice potential

DL Darren Howard

Signed with the Eagles. If he can stay healthy, will no longer have to play in rotation (although Trent Cole will still get some snaps in pass rushing situations) and has a DL to keep the heat elsewhere (Kearse, Patterson). Could be more valuable than he was in NO.

LB Will Witherspoon

Plenty of discussion about him already. No reason to think he won't approach LB1 numbers in STL.

LB Shawn Barber

Probably moves into the WLB gig in Philly. Matt McCoy may have something to say about it. Not likely to be a big fantasy producer, but may be worth rostering if he wins the job.

LB Anthony Simmons

Reaching here, but assuming his wrist has healed fully and he wins a job in NO, there's no reason to think he can't give you starting quality numbers in leagues that start 3 LBs.

DB FA Sucked

Meh, guys like Lawyer Milloy, Corey Chavous, Dexter Jackson, Renaldo Hill, and Chris Hope moved to okay situations. And Milloy could put up some numbers in Atlanta. None have true stud potential though. But Adam Archuleta, Will Demps, Marquand Manuel, Marlon McCree, and Tank Williams all ended up in places where there's another nice option at safety already or a system that just isn't very attractive.

Same team, but new upside

DL Tony Hargrove

Maybe not new upside, but if this guy can rid himself of the questions that plagued him with the previous coaching staff, he's got the potential to be a nice three down player. Being in a contract year won't hurt.

LB Thomas Davis

Not confirmed yet, but there's no reason to suspect that Davis won't be the WLB in Carolina. He should be a three down LB and put in the position to make plenty of big plays. Sky's the limit.

DB Brodney Pool, Sean Jones

Pool may be the better bet here, but both are big safeties that could take a big step forward this season with Chris Crocker gone.

DB Marlin Jackson

Colts have said they want Jackson involved more. If he earns a starting corner gig, he's the prototypical big, run supporting player in the Tampa-2. Even if he plays safety with some slot coverages, he'll still have nice value.

DB Josh Bullocks

Expect Bullocks to keep the starting position he took over following Jay Bellamy's injury last year. He should easily reach starting level production.
Inbreeder, GREAT stuff over the past few days from you.
 
Yes, Inbreeder has been on fire of late. :thumbup:

Just a couple of more names to throw in the hat.

Andre Carter escaped the 9ers for greener pastures in Washington. This is a guy who was the 7th overall pick in '01 and posted a mark of 45-9-12.5 in '02. Nagging injuries and then a failed attmpt at playing OLB in a 3-4 last year made it clear that he needed a change of scenery. He'll likely start opposite Phillip Daniels and should be a big improvement over Wynn, especially when it comes to rushing the passer.

With Milloy moving on, Coy Wire is in line to finally get his shot at the SS position in Buffalo. He's shown signs of quality production in brief stints of playing time over the past couple of years.

Shaun Williams may benefit from the Thomas Davis situation. Indeed they may have brought him in specifically to fill the SS position so that Davis could move to LB. Williams had several strong years with the Giants before a string of injuries crippled his production over the past couple of seasons and eventually made him expendable. The Panthers SS hasn't traditionally been a fantasy productive position but the situation is worthy of mention.

The Cowboys were looking for a big bruising "Parcells type" of inside LB to pair with Bradie James. Enter Akinola Ayodele at 6'2" and 246. James put up average numbers last year and never really stepped up and took charge. Ayodele has never played on the inside but he has the mentality and physical skills to fit well.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yes, Inbreeder has been on fire of late. :thumbup:

Just a couple of more names to throw in the hat.

Andre Carter escaped the 9ers for greener pastures in Washington. This is a guy who was the 7th overall pick in '01 and posted a mark of 45-9-12.5 in '02. Nagging injuries and then a failed attmpt at playing OLB in a 3-4 last year made it clear that he needed a change of scenery. He'll likely start opposite Phillip Daniels and should be a big improvement over Wynn, especially when it comes to rushing the passer.

With Milloy moving on, Coy Wire is in line to finally get his shot at the SS position in Buffalo. He's shown signs of quality production in brief stints of playing time over the past couple of years.

Shaun Williams may benefit from the Thomas Davis situation. Indeed they may have brought him in specifically to fill the SS position so that Davis could move to LB. Williams had several strong years with the Giants before a string of injuries crippled his production over the past couple of seasons and eventually made him expendable. The Panthers SS hasn't traditionally been a fantasy productive position but the situation is worthy of mention.

The Cowboys were looking for a big bruising "Parcells type" of inside LB to pair with Bradie James. Enter Akinola Ayodele at 6'2" and 246. James put up average numbers last year and never really stepped up and took charge. Ayodele has never played on the inside but he has the mentality and physical skills to fit well.
no link but from what i read on a buff board a few weeks ago the sentiment seems to be that WIRE is NOT the man you will see at SS
 
Yes, Inbreeder has been on fire of late. :thumbup:

Just a couple of more names to throw in the hat.

Andre Carter escaped the 9ers for greener pastures in Washington. This is a guy who was the 7th overall pick in '01 and posted a mark of 45-9-12.5 in '02. Nagging injuries and then a failed attmpt at playing OLB in a 3-4 last year made it clear that he needed a change of scenery. He'll likely start opposite Phillip Daniels and should be a big improvement over Wynn, especially when it comes to rushing the passer.

With Milloy moving on, Coy Wire is in line to finally get his shot at the SS position in Buffalo. He's shown signs of quality production in brief stints of playing time over the past couple of years.

Shaun Williams may benefit from the Thomas Davis situation. Indeed they may have brought him in specifically to fill the SS position so that Davis could move to LB. Williams had several strong years with the Giants before a string of injuries crippled his production over the past couple of seasons and eventually made him expendable. The Panthers SS hasn't traditionally been a fantasy productive position but the situation is worthy of mention.

The Cowboys were looking for a big bruising "Parcells type" of inside LB to pair with Bradie James. Enter Akinola Ayodele at 6'2" and 246. James put up average numbers last year and never really stepped up and took charge. Ayodele has never played on the inside but he has the mentality and physical skills to fit well.
no link but from what i read on a buff board a few weeks ago the sentiment seems to be that WIRE is NOT the man you will see at SS
Yeah, I also read Bowen was signed to start at SS for the Bills. However, this has me scratching my head. Bowen was essentially backup material before he jacked his knee in '04. I can't imagine him having the skill-set to outperform Wire at SS, even though Wire is no one to get excited about.
 
Wire certainly has his drawbacks but he's tough in run support and plays very physical. I just don't see Bowen as a better option unless they use Wire on early downs and Bowen in passing situations.

I'm wouldn't get excited about anyone that's a Bills safety. Just figure Wire is worth keeping an eye on.

 
Wire certainly has his drawbacks but he's tough in run support and plays very physical. I just don't see Bowen as a better option unless they use Wire on early downs and Bowen in passing situations.

I'm wouldn't get excited about anyone that's a Bills safety. Just figure Wire is worth keeping an eye on.
Agreed, sucktastic safeties behind London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes in the Cover-2 equals :X :yucky: Replacement level bye week filler at best.

 
I don't think anyone knows who will be the Bills SS right now. With a new coaching staff, new system, etc., Bowen and Wire will likely start out even and be given a chance to compete for the job. I give Wire an edge in run support, but Bowen an edge in coverage and playmaking. Could be an interesting battle during training camp and preseason.

 

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