Tag: Linebackers

Falcons 2020 roster breakdown: Linebacker

The Atlanta Falcons have one of the more productive linebacking corps in the NFL, but they got away with having very little depth throughout the season.

The Atlanta Falcons have one of the more productive linebacking corps in the NFL, but they got away with having very little depth throughout the season.

Deion Jones and Foye Oluokun are going into 2020 as the team’s primary linebackers, but who will join them for the upcoming campaign? The Falcons could stand to add some depth and a strong-side linebacker starter. Here’s a breakdown of the position, with possible free agents and draft picks Atlanta could consider in the offseason.

2019 Depth Chart and Results

LB Deion Jones

110 tackles, 4 QB hits, 8 tackles-for-loss, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, 5 pass deflections, 1 defensive touchdown

LB De’Vondre Campbell

129 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 QB hits, 6 tackles-for-loss, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 5 pass deflections

LB Foye Oluokun

56 tackles, 2 tackles-for-loss, 1 fumble forced

LB Kemal Ishmael

41 tackles, 2 tackles-for-loss, 1 fumble forced

LB Duke Riley

13 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

Traded to the Eagles before the trade deadline

Current 2020 Contracts

LB Deion Jones

3 years left for $11.155 million average

LB Foye Oluokun

2 years left for $741,657 average

LB Ahmad Thomas

1 year left for $660,000

Pending Free Agents: What Happens?

LB De’Vondre Campbell

While the Falcons would love to keep the man who led the team in tackles the last two seasons, De’Vondre Campbell may be pricing himself out of what the Falcons can afford for his role. Campbell is best served as a strong-side linebacker who blitzes exotically in different sets. Having him cover on over half of his plays isn’t where he’s best utilized, but that seems to be how Dan Quinn wanted to use him at times. His projected contract of around $7-8 million per season seems a bit too rich for what Atlanta uses him for.

LB Kemal Ishmael

The long-time veteran Kemal Ishmael has been one of the best seventh-round picks of Thomas Dimitroff’s tenure. First used in Mike Smith’s defense as a strong safety, Ishmael has turned it around as a linebacker later in his career. His early comparison to Coy Wire continues to make more and more sense as he turns into a true special teams ace and a long-term reserve linebacker. The Falcons should be able to bring him back for around $1 million per year.

Possible Cuts

None.

Free Agents to Consider

LB Kevin Pierre-Louis

What’s interesting about a guy like Kevin Pierre-Louis is how he can be effective at three different aspects of linebacker play — short zones, playing the run, and intermediate zones — but coaching staffs have no idea how to use him. He has great size and athleticism, and the right team would use him correctly. Atlanta bringing him in as a depth linebacker would be ideal as he could play both weak-side and middle effectively.

LB Jeremiah Attaochu

One of the bigger draft misses of the past decade that I’ve had is Jeremiah Attaochu. He should have been much better than he showed, but he could never put it all together for the Chargers and has spent the last two seasons trying to find roles for the Jets and Broncos. In Atlanta, a role similar to what De’ Vondre Campbell played on base downs with some snaps as an outside pass rusher in the nickel could be just what the doctor ordered to fix his career. Attaochu could have the same impact as Vic Bealsey, tallying five or six sacks for a tenth of the cost.

LB Deone Bucannon

When Deone Bucannon went to the Cardinals in 2014, it was with the idea that he’d complement Daryl Washington in the middle of the defense. It turned out that he had to replace him. As Todd Bowles left Arizona, so did Bucannon’s effectiveness. However, the Falcons could use Bucannon in nickel sets and base sets as a weak-side linebacker to complement Deion Jones, while helping to spell Foye Oluokun. Bucannon isn’t what he once was as a leader of a defense, but he’s still an asset for a team that needs depth.

Best Fits in the 2020 NFL Draft

LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma

Kenneth Murray has potential to be a first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He’s a talented run defender, but he has very solid coverage skills as well. He’s smart and a true leader of a defense. The problems he has come from his slow processing on the field. He doesn’t seem to trust his instincts even though they are leading him the right direction from the jump. If Jeff Ulbrich got a hold of him, that would change drastically.

LB Josh Uche, Michigan

If the Falcons were looking for an ideal strong-side linebacker, Josh Uche out of Michigan should be who they go after. He’s solid enough in underneath coverage to be effective there, but his real abilities shine when he’s shooting gaps against the run or as a pass rusher. The Falcons could have Uche play the role that Dan Quinn originally envisioned for Vic Beasley, and he compares favorably to a young Bruce Irvin. Uche could be a good pick in the second round.

LB Troy Dye, Oregon

If you wanted to carbon copy De’Vondre Campbell into a player at the college level, Troy Dye would be what you came out with. Dye is a talented coverage player and run defender. But he does get bullied around occasionally and will have trouble maintaining his gap discipline at times. The Falcons would really need to coach him up to be ready for the 2020 season unless they just want to use him as depth and hope that a free agent signing addresses the starting strong-side linebacker role.

Out-of-Box Move the Falcons Should Consider

Trading up into the top 10 for LB/S Isaiah Simmons

Sometimes, the best way to improve a defense isn’t to add a defensive lineman or a linebacker, but rather to bring in a play-maker to the middle of the defense. Isaiah Simmons is the best linebacker or safety in this draft. His build is similar to that of Kam Chancellor, but he has athleticism closer to Taylor Mays. He’s one of the stronger all-around players in this draft.

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2020 NFL Scouting Combine: List of linebackers expected to attend

The Seattle Seahawks have one of the best linebacking corps in the NFL, but could still be looking at the scouting combine prospect list.

There’s no denying the Seattle Seahawks have one of the best linebacking corps in the league but there’s no harm in adding a little extra depth or some youth at the position.

Ahead of April’s NFL draft, the following linebackers are slated to participate in the scouting combine at the end of the month.

LINEBACKERS
Joe Bachie, LB, Michigan State
Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue
Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin
Francis Bernard, LB, Utah
Daniel Bituli, LB, Tennessee
Shaun Bradley, LB, Temple
Jordan Brooks, LB, Texas Tech
Cameron Brown, LB, Penn State
K’Lavon Chaisson, LB, LSU
Nick Coe, LB, Auburn
Carter Coughlin, LB, Minnesota
Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State
Michael Divinity, LB, LSU
Troy Dye, LB, Oregon
Tipa Galeai, LB, Utah State
Cale Garrett, LB, Missouri
Willie Gay Jr., LB, Mississippi State
Scoota Harris, LB, Arkansas
Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State
Khaleke Hudson, LB, Michigan
Anfernee Jennings, LB, Alabama
Clay Johnston, LB, Baylor
Azur Kamara, LB, Kansas
Terrell Lewis, LB, Alabama
Jordan Mack, LB, Virginia
Kamal Martin, LB, Minnesota
Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
Dante Olson, LB, Montana
Jacob Phillips, LB, LSU
Michael Pinckney, LB, Miami
Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami
Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
Chapelle Russell, LB, Temple
Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
Justin Strnad, LB, Wake Forest
Darrell Taylor, LB, Tennessee
Davion Taylor, LB, Colorado
Casey Toohill, LB, Stanford
Josh Uche, LB, Michigan
Mykal Walker, LB, Fresno State
Curtis Weaver, LB, Boise State
Evan Weaver, LB, California
Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
David Woodward, LB, Utah State

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State of the position: Bills linebackers

Here is the state of the Buffalo Bills’ linebackers entering the 2019 offseason.

Here is Bills Wire’s position-by-position breakdown of the team’s roster, continuing with the linebackers, including the season that was and projecting forward:

Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Buffalo’s young linebacker duo of Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano give the Bills’ linebacker position group arguably the brightest future among any unit on the team. Edmunds, in his second season as the team’s middle linebacker, was named to his first Pro Bowl. Milano, for his part, has been an all-everything player for the Bills, effectively stuffing the run and playing in coverage. Both players reached the century mark in tackles, with Edmunds registering 115 in total and Milano hitting an even 100.

Lorenzo Alexander was the third linebacker when the team employed a 4-3 system. He added 50 total tackles, two sacks, and nine passes defensed in his final season. The leadership he bestowed upon this team will be the greatest attribute that this team will miss with his retirement.

Julian Stanford, Corey Thompson, and Maurice Alexander provided depth for the unit. However, most of their contributions occurred on special teams. With the league trending toward nickel packages as the base unit, Edmunds and Milano garnered most of the snaps, and they rarely needed to come off the field.

Tyrel Dodson missed the first part of the season due to a suspension for multiple transgressions and then landed on the team’s practice squad. Vosean Joseph missed the entire season due to a shoulder injury.

Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Matt Milano. Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Cap situation

Buffalo’s linebackers have far exceeded their value, thanks to the rookie wage scale. Edmunds will count approximately $3.4 million against the salary cap, while Milano will constitute a paltry $800,000 on the books. Milano will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 season. However, it won’t be surprising when the Bills present an extension to Milano. Edmunds has two years left on his rookie deal, and it’s anticipated that Buffalo will make an extension happen as soon as allowed by the CBA, or the team will flex his fifth-year option as a former first-round pick.

Alexander’s retirement eliminates one player from the fold. Technically, he’s a restricted free agent. However, it’s nice to see a player whose been such a positive member of the organization wrap up his career in an uplifting manner. Along with his leadership, his role as a pass rusher with coverage skills must be replaced.

Thompson has one more year on his deal with a cap hit of $660,000. He will be a restricted free agent after this upcoming season. Joseph enters the second year of his deal with a cap hit of approximately $590,000.

Stanford and Maurice Alexander are unrestricted free agents, but the Bills had huge improvements on special teams this year, and bringing them back could be in the team’s best interest.

The future

Let’s not play games–this unit is all about Edmunds and Milano. Even with projections of future cap hits in excess of $13 million for each player, Buffalo will find a way to get these players into the fold for the long-term. Milano is on pace to become one of the biggest draft steals in the franchise’s history. Edmunds is Buffalo’s answer to Luke Kuechly. The Virginia Tech’s future is insanely bright as a core piece of Buffalo’s defense.

The involvement of a third linebacker is reduced with teams setting on nickel formations as their base defense. Thus, this spot doesn’t carry the weight that it did for decades. Nevertheless, it’s still a spot that needs to be filled with a competent player. Alexander played 48-percent of the team’s defensive snaps. Buffalo will need someone to fill this role. This player could also be someone who has a specialty in rushing the passer. There are many economical players who could fit this role, but the price needs to be right. Someone such as Green Bay’s Kyler Fackrell may be the type of low-budget option to fill this spot on the Bills roster. Or is an in-house option such as Joseph possible? Or via the draft a player such as Application State’s Akeem Davis-Gaither or Michigan State’s Kenny Willekes a rookie solution?

The Bills could also find a stronger option in case Edmunds is to miss any time on the field. It might be a challenge finding an unrestricted free agent who would want to come without the promise of playing time, but that will be Brandon Beane’s task (albeit not a major priority) this offseason.

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Cowboys interviewing George Edwards for role with defense

Coming home again? Dallas has an opening for a linebackers coach and Minnesota just fired their DC, George Edwards. A match made in heaven?

The Dallas Cowboys coaching staff may be on the verge of growing even stronger for the 2020 season. Mike McCarthy has assembled several experienced members to work with defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.

Based on the names available, there was definitely a nod to experience. Now that all but two teams have been eliminated from the playoff chase, a few more names have been added to the pool and one in particular seems to have piqued Dallas’ interest. It’s a name that is familiar to the Jones family, too, as former Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards is now on the market and interviewing in Dallas, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer.

The Cowboys have not yet named a linebackers coach, though they have hired Scott McCurley to the staff. McCurley was an assistant with Green Bay, including many years helping with the linebackers, for 13 seasons with McCarthy in Green Bay. Edwards’ specialty is the linebacker position, and that’s where he’s worked with Dallas in the past.

Edwards was a linebackers coach with Dallas from 1998, under new head coach Chan Gailey, through 2001, under Dave Campo. It was during this time he first worked with Mike Zimmer, who was Dallas’ DC from 200 through 2006.

Edwards has spent the last six years with Minnesota under Zimmer. Zimmer gets the lion’s share of credit for the Vikings’ defensive performances, but it’s been a great run for the unit in general and Edwards certainly deserves some of that credit.

Here’s a listing of their DVOA finishes (a Football Outsiders metric that measures per-play performance that takes into account opponent strength and game situation) during Edwards’ tenure.

2019: 7th
2018: 4th
2017: 2nd
2016: 8th
2015: 14th
2014: 23rd

The ascent is clearly evident as the regime got its claws into the personnel and affected change.

Here’s a look at Edwards’ history as a defensive coordinator, which also included stints with Washington and Buffalo.

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Former Texas Defensive Coordinator Todd Orlando named USC’s DC

After being hired by Texas Tech to be the LB coach, Todd Orlando has been hired by USC as their DC. He will be replacing Clancy Pendergast.

Nine days after being hired by Texas Tech to be their linebackers coach, Todd Orlando has left the Red Raiders in favor of taking the defensive coordinator job at Southern California. This being his first job in the Pac 12, Orlando will be replacing Clancy Pendergast in Los Angeles.

The Trojans defense struggled in 2019, giving up 29.4 points per game this season. Giving up over 400 yards a game, teams were able to run all over USC last season, letting up 162.8 rushing yards per game. The final straw for Pendergast came in the bowl game against Iowa, where the Hawkeyes scored 49 points.

This will be Orlando’s fifth different defensive coordinator job. It will be an uphill climb for him though, as USC has had a difficult time recruiting, ranking 10th in the conference.

Hopefully for Orlando, his defense will suite the Pac 12 better than it did in the Big 12. The Trojans are a ticking time bomb, being on the brink of firing their head coach Clay Helton. If Orlando can improve the defense, maybe USC won’t have to make any of those moves.

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Texas sends two players home before Alamo Bowl

Texas has sent home two players ahead of tomorrow’s Alamo Bowl. LBs David Gbenda and Byron Vaughns violated team rules and will not play.

Texas has sent home two players ahead of tomorrow’s Alamo Bowl against Utah. Linebackers David Gbenda and Byron Vaughns violated team rules and will not be playing in tomorrow’s game.

Both freshman, Vaughns has played in seven games this season. Recording 14 tackles in those games, he was a key contributor to the win against Kansas earlier this year. Of his eight total tackles that day, six of them were solo. Vaughns also forced a fumble in the loss to TCU.

Gbenda has played in four games, but only recorded a tackle against Kansas.

For a Texas defense that has struggled this season, losing depth at the linebacker position will not help. They will face off against Utah tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.

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Notre Dame Football: Four-Star ILB Jordan Botelho Signs with Irish

Te’o, Gilman, Tagovailoa-Amosa and Toma are only a few of the several names that have appeared and starred on Notre Dame’s roster in recent years.

Now it’s time to add another.

Jordan Botelho.

Notre Dame has created quite a recruiting pipeline to Hawaii over the last decade having several star players from the Aloha State.

Te’o, Gilman, Tagovailoa-Amosa and Toma are only a few of the several names that have appeared and starred on Notre Dame’s roster in recent years.

Now it’s time to add another.

Jordan Botelho.

Remember the name as the top-rated player in Hawaii, a product of St. Louis High School in Honolulu officially signed his letter of intent to join the Fighting Irish on Wednesday.

Botelho is listed at 6-2 and 229 pounds and committed to Notre Dame back in April of this year.

He’s been an absolute star the last two seasons picking up 25 sacks and forcing six fumbles in that time and has been rated as high as the sixth best interior linebacker in this year’s class.

Botelho signed with Notre Dame while being pursued by the likes of Washington, UCLA, Oregon, Cal, Oklahoma and others.

 

5 takeaways from Seattle’s 30-24 road victory over Carolina

The Seattle Seahawks improved to 11-3 by defeating the Carolina Panthers by a score of 30-24. Here are five takeaways from the game.

The Seattle Seahawks (11-3) defeated the Carolina Panthers (5-9) on the road by a score of 30-24, clinching the best road record in franchise history at 7-1 and a playoff berth virtue of the Rams falling to the Cowboys on Sunday. The Seahawks control their own destiny as they return home for the final two games of the regular season. Here are a few takeaways from the Week 15 win.

Russell Wilson returns to form

After throwing four touchdowns to four interceptions over as many games, Wilson returned to his form over the first nine weeks, throwing for 286 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also had a perfect passer rating through the first half. Wilson was poised, decisive and kept mistakes to a minimum. The Seahawks will need this kind of production from Wilson consistently if they wish to make a deep postseason run. A solid day for Seattle’s treasured franchise quarterback.

Veteran linebackers rack up interceptions

K.J. Wright recorded two interceptions, while Bobby Wagner had another. Whenever Seattle’s two veteran LBs had an opportunity to make a play, they made the most of it. The Seahawks gave the ball right back to Carolina after Wright’s first pick but turned his second one into points with a field goal. Wagner’s interception was athletic, worthy of the highlight reel, and prevented the Panthers from scoring points before halftime. Wagner suffered an ankle injury late and did not return, but walked off the field under his own power. A great day for the vets.

Chris Carson steps up in Rashaad Penny’s absence

After Rashaad Penny’s unexpected production over the past few weeks and his devastating ACL tear, Chris Carson was expected to carry the load as the workhorse back. He did that with superb ability this week against the Panthers’ porous run defense, rushing for 133 yards and two touchdowns, the second of which came on a fourth and 1 in a crucial moment in the game. He was perhaps the player of the game for the Seahawks, picking up first downs when they needed him to and never losing grip of the football. This performance was exactly what Carson and the team needed.

Tyler Lockett is healthy again

It is safe to say that Lockett is healthier than he was in the past three weeks. It showed on the field, as he recorded eight receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown, breaking his career-high of 965 receiving yards last year. He said in his postgame interview that he still feels a little sick from the flu, but he certainly looks better. He is knocking on the door of 1,000 receiving yards for the season, needing just six yards to reach the mark. If he accomplishes this, he will be the first Seattle receiver to do so since Doug Baldwin in 2016. Lockett looks to be returning to peak form on his road to 100% recovery, which is a very good thing for Seattle.

The Seahawks cannot blow many teams out

Seattle has only blown out an opponent once this year, the Cardinals on the road in Week 4. Once again, the Seahawks built up a sizable lead and found a way to nearly squander it. This team always keeps games competitive whether they are winning or losing. Pete Carroll loves to burn out the clock, but this tactic often leads to three-and-outs and gives the opposing team opportunities to play catch-up, which may eventually bite Seattle if not careful. It says something about the Seahawks’ resilience as they keep finding ways to win . . . but they have made many games closer than they should be on paper.

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