Zach Thomas signs with the Cowboys (1 Viewer)

[Jene Bramel]

ESPN.com

Current depth chart argues strongly that he would become the WILB in Phillips' 1-gap 3-4 scheme. If he stays healthy, it'll be an excellent slot for him. Much better for him (and his IDP value) than New England would have been.

 

[FTRWRTR]

As someone who owns him in my IDP league I wanted to see him end up in new orleans, but if you say this is a good situation for him I trust you

 

[Jene Bramel]

As someone who owns him in my IDP league I wanted to see him end up in new orleans, but if you say this is a good situation for him I trust you

I'm projecting him to play the same position that Donnie Edwards and Patrick Willis and Ray Lewis and Keith Brooking have played to great success. The WILB in a 1-gap 3-4 functions very similar to a 4-3 MLB. The thread on the 3-4 scheme has a few posts discussing the differences and the last post is specific to IDP leagues. Although Matt Wilhelm and Akin Ayodele bucked the trend last year, neither played every down and neither are as talented as a (healthy) Thomas.

 

[Rumblefish]

As someone who owns him in my IDP league I wanted to see him end up in new orleans, but if you say this is a good situation for him I trust you

I'm projecting him to play the same position that Donnie Edwards and Patrick Willis and Ray Lewis and Keith Brooking have played to great success. The WILB in a 1-gap 3-4 functions very similar to a 4-3 MLB. The thread on the 3-4 scheme has a few posts discussing the differences and the last post is specific to IDP leagues. Although Matt Wilhelm and Akin Ayodele bucked the trend last year, neither played every down and neither are as talented as a (healthy) Thomas.

What's the impact on the value of Bradie James?

 

[Jene Bramel]

As someone who owns him in my IDP league I wanted to see him end up in new orleans, but if you say this is a good situation for him I trust you

I'm projecting him to play the same position that Donnie Edwards and Patrick Willis and Ray Lewis and Keith Brooking have played to great success. The WILB in a 1-gap 3-4 functions very similar to a 4-3 MLB. The thread on the 3-4 scheme has a few posts discussing the differences and the last post is specific to IDP leagues. Although Matt Wilhelm and Akin Ayodele bucked the trend last year, neither played every down and neither are as talented as a (healthy) Thomas.

What's the impact on the value of Bradie James?

Probably decreases it a little, but it'll depend on whether Thomas is able to stick in the nickel and dime packages. James is a better blitzer than Thomas and supports the run well enough that they may keep the James/Burnett/Williams group up the middle. On base downs, though, Thomas is going to soak up some tackles that Ayodele couldn't. Since James has never been a big tackle guy or IDP value -- despite his shaky ILB teammates -- it may not impact his bottom line value much at all.

 

[Benchwarmers]

I could see him playing 1st and 2nd down but the Cowboys have depth the Dolphins didnt so I think he comes off the field in 3rd down situations. James and Burnett might get some looks in a rotation. Ayodele is odd man out right now.

 

[Rozelle]

Were the Cowboys using Williams as a LB in dime?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Were the Cowboys using Williams as a LB in dime?

When healthy, Burnett was the dime backer. Williams played in the dime, but wasn't in the box as often as when the Cowboys went 4-2-5 with James in the lineup.