Tag: Linebackers

Packers expected to target top ILBs in free agency

It’s increasingly clear the Packers want to add a veteran linebacker in free agency.i

With the opening of the legal tampering a week away and the official start of free agency set for next Wednesday, a few things have become increasingly clear for the Green Bay Packers and their plan this offseason.

For starters, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst wants to add a receiver or tight end before the draft. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported the Packers are expecting to add a pair of pass-catchers, with tight end Austin Hooper pinpointed as a primary target.

The Packers also want to come away with a veteran inside linebacker. Various reports have linked the Packers to at least three of the top available linebackers: Cory Littleton, Joe Schobert and Nick Kwiatkoski. The Packers also haven’t ruled out re-signing Blake Martinez, who will be an unrestricted free agent following three-straight 140-tackle seasons.

It’s difficult to imagine the Packers exiting the first few waves of free agency without at least one linebacker, although it’s possible the demands of the market could push the top options out of Gutekunst’s price range. Sacrifices might need to be made – like allowing Bryan Bulaga walk – to make it all work. But the Packers look determined to improve the middle of the defense.

Littleton looks like a perfect fit. He has range, elite coverage ability and a loaded toolbox of ways to attack plays at the line of scrimmage. He’s also experienced playing as the lone off-ball linebacker in the coverage-heavy schemes Mike Pettine prefers.

Schobert, a former Badger, makes more plays in the passing game but has many synonymous traits to Martinez, who didn’t have enough to overcome some of the difficult situations put on his plate in 2019.

Kwiatkoski is especially intriguing, given how well he played in spurts as a backup and spot starter in Chicago. He’s tough against the run, good on the blitz and effective enough in coverage. In Week 15 at Lambeau Field, he sacked Aaron Rodgers and nearly intercepted him on a pass over the middle.

The Packers struggled defending the run and were often exposed covering the middle of the field, two jobs expected of an inside linebacker. Martinez and Blake Goodson are free agents, providing an opportunity for the Packers to completely rebuild the position this offseason. A veteran and a draft pick could quickly turn around a position that has been an issue for the Packers for several years.

Gutekunst hasn’t been shy about attacking problem areas. He spent money and draft picks to completely revamp the outside linebacker and safety positions last offseason. Receiver, tight end and inside linebacker are in his crosshairs this spring.

Other free-agent linebackers include Jamie Collins, Josh Bynes, Danny Trevathan, Nigel Bradham, Reggie Ragland, Mychal Kendricks, Nick Vigil, Alec Ogletree, Wesley Woodyard, De’Vondre Campbell, A.J. Klein and Patrick Onwuasor.

Kaden Elliss talks injury progress, new Saints linebackers coach Michael Hodges

New Orleans Saints linebacker Kaden Elliss saw his rookie year ended by injury, but he’s working to return in 2020 and work with a new coach

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New Orleans Saints linebacker Kaden Elliss didn’t have quite the rookie he anticipated last season, going down in Week 3 with a torn ACL. He’s been diligently rehabbing his surgically-repaired knee, and took some time to speak with host Chris Rosgovlou on the “Straight-Up Saints” podcast about his experience. Last year’s seventh-round pick out of Idaho also shared his take on the Saints’ replacement for linebackers coach Mike Nolan, who was hired away by the Dallas Cowboys.

Nolan was succeeded by his former assistant, Michael Hodges. And that’s a move that Elliss welcomed, having seen firsthand the work Hodges had put in to earn it. Elliss said, “I’m so excited about Coach Hodges getting that promotion. He’s an amazing guy and has such a hunger and passion to get better everyday. The move [Nolan to Dallas] is what it is — it’s a business. But I’m also very excited where we are. I’m super excited to have Coach Hodges running this room and I know the other guys are too.”

Like teammate Alex Anzalone, who recently announced that he was “Good to go,” following 2019 shoulder surgery, Elliss is eager to get back on the field. While he projects as a backup middle linebacker in 2020 (filling in as Anzalone’s understudy, incidentally), Elliss was also a prominent member of the special teams units during his brief appearances early last season. He also suggested this year’s organized team activities as a potential return date.

Elliss continued, “I’m working down here with the staff and they’re doing an awesome job helping me get better than I’ve ever been. It’s been a goal of mine to be ready for OTAs. We’re still working toward that goal, but we’ve got a little while longer to see how a couple more things go.”

The Saints typically hold OTAs in late May and early June, following weekend-long rookie minicamp practices. This gives them an opportunity to fill out the offseason 90-man roster while auditioning undrafted rookies and veteran free agents. If Elliss is able to suit up, it would give the coaching staff a great barometer of where he’s at as a player post-surgery, and where he might be able to slot in for 2020. With a familiar presence on hand in Hodges, it’s a safe bet that the Saints will do what they can to put Elliss in the best position to succeed.

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Chiefs can address expected linebacker departures in free agency

A look at three replacement options at the linebacker position for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency.

The Kansas City Chiefs are trying to keep the band together after their Super Bowl LIV victory. One position that is expected to have some turnover, however, is the linebacker spot. Starter Reggie Ragland and reserve Darron Lee are both scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. Another starter in Damien Wilson has a club option on his contract that could save the Chiefs $3 million in cap space. The Chiefs would like to keep all of these players, but with salary cap restraints, it seems highly unlikely.

With the Chiefs already hard against the cap trying to retain their own free agents, shelling out top dollar in free agency for a replacement doesn’t seem feasible either. As amazing as it would be to add a player like pending free agent LB Cory Littleton, the Chiefs will quickly be priced out of his market.

There will be some options, however, that shouldn’t break the bank for Kansas City and could fill in nicely. Here’s a look at three pending free agents that the Chiefs could add in free agency:

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals WLB Nick Vigil

Vigil is a wildly underrated player because he’s been playing for a bad Bengals team on a bad linebacker corp. In 2019, Vigil played 986 defensive snaps which were the most of his career. He amassed 111 tackles, one sack, one interception, five passes defended and one forced fumble. He’ll be a good fit at weakside linebacker because of his coverage ability.

The Chiefs have some options on the roster at the weakside position, namely Dorian O’Daniel, but you need to bring in more competition if you’re Brett Veach. This seems like the type of player that the Chiefs could snag on a short-term deal who could come in, earn the starting job and cash in as a free agent in a year or two.

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Cowboys-centric defensive winners, losers from 2020 scouting combine

The defense took their turn over the weekend, but not everyone rose to the occasion, including one of the Cowboys’ top targets at safety.

Mere mortals spent the weekend running errands, going out with friends, sleeping in, and maybe enjoying a little downtime from work. For those looking to make a living playing defense in the National Football League, though, the stakes this past Saturday and Sunday were exponentially higher.

Defensive linemen and linebackers competed in their drills in Indianapolis on Day Three of the NFL Scouting Combine, while safeties and cornerbacks had to wait until the final day to show teams what they can do on the field. Representatives from Dallas were undoubtedly paying close attention, as the Cowboys’ defense in 2019 exposed several glaring weaknesses that need to be addressed heading into next season.

Here’s a quick look at who overperformed and who underdelivered in Indy.

Day 3 Winners

Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson

Simmons is sure to be one of the defensive darlings from the 2020 Combine, and with good reason. The Clemson junior torched the competition with 4.39-second 40-yard dash, even beating the combine times of noted speedsters Derwin James (Chargers safety, 2018) and Jalen Ramsey (Rams cornerback, 2016). And remember, he’s a linebacker. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow said that Simmons was the single biggest thing he had to worry about in the national championship game. High praise, indeed. the 2019 Butkus Award winner didn’t even participate in drills in Indianapolis, but his freakish workouts will make him a blazing-hot commodity out of the Day 3 position group.

Willie Gay Jr., LB, Mississippi State

Gay may have been something of an under-the-radar secret before Indianapolis, but his weekend work at the combine assured that it’s not just the hardcore draftniks who know his name now. His bench press, broad jump, vertical jump, and 40 scores were all Top 5 for linebackers, and he demonstrated notably quick feet during drills. If there’s knock, it’s off-the-field issues; Gay has admitted to cheating on a chemistry exam in 2019 and getting an 8-game suspension because of it. He also reportedly got into a physical altercation with his team’s quarterback late in the season. But his combine numbers will help some team decide he’s worth taking a chance on.

Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma

Gallimore doesn’t move like a big man, but the 304-pounder ran the fastest 40 for a three-bill D-lineman since 2000. He went on to show incredible change of direction skills, impressive power, and quick feet every time he was asked. Gallimore was the top high school prospect coming out of Canada in 2015, and ended up leading the Sooners to a Big 12 championship as a college senior with a season that earned him third-team AP All-American honors.

Jabari Zuniga, DE, Florida

Zuniga is known to evaluators as a player who’s shown flashes of greatness, but couldn’t do it consistently. Last year, he played just five games for the Gators due to an ankle injury. The redshirt senior needed a great combine. He had it. With good speed, a position-best broad jump, and a solid vertical score, Zuniga put himself in a much better light by the end of Day Three.

Day 3 Losers

Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn

“Loser” is a harsh label to slap on the 2019 unanimous All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year. But Brown has drawn early comparisons to NFL legends thus far, and his combine performance was just average at best. Some drills were legendarily poor; his 3-cone time was the fourth-worst in combine history. Of course, a subpar workout doesn’t make Brown a bust, but it could cause him to slip a bit in April’s draft and cost him some dollars on his rookie deal.

A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa

The junior had been a standout on the Hawkeyes defensive line since his freshman year, but his combine stood out in all the wrong ways. Once projected to be a first-round selection, the consensus now says his weekend’s lack of athleticism will drop Epenesa into the second round. There’s already talk of the 275-pounder needing to put on some weight in order to play at the pro level.

Day 4 Winners

C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida

The junior lit up the stopwatches in his 40-yard dash after impressing scouts with 20 reps in the bench press. He drilled well, too, showing off a nice catch radius. That will serve him well in the upcoming draft, since most of the concerns about Henderson are about his tacking abilities. They’re probably not serious enough to drop him out of the first round, though. And for some evaluators, it’s a nitpicky gripe about a true shutdown cover man who’ll be paid to do his best work to prevent catches, not clean up after them.

Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois

Chinn showed that the small-school guys can play, too. The safety’s broad jump was the second-best across all positions at the combine, and he wowed with most of his other drills, too. The Southern Illinois Saluki continued to attract big buzz following his invitation to the Senior Bowl. That could translate to a draft day leap for Chinn, of whom CBS Sports insider Jason La Confora says, “multiple teams… have a late-first/early-second grade on him.”

Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

Okudah came in to the weekend as a near-lock to be one of the first players selected in April. His workouts did nothing to dampen that expectation, with excellent 40 times and vertical and broad jumps that were near the very top. The unanimous first-team All-American did go down awkwardly during a drill, though, and had to skip the rest of the Day Three events. The hit to his head/neck area isn’t expected to be much to worry about, but it cut short a superb combine performance.

Essang Bassey, CB, Wake Forest

The first thing most evaluators mention regarding Bassey is his lack of size. But during coverage drills, in Indianapolis, the Wake Forest product showed great hands and fluid movement that could well put the three-year college starter on track for a Day Two selection in April’s draft.

Day 4 Losers

Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State

Sharing the Buckeye secondary with Jeffrey Okudah is tough duty, but Arnette didn’t do much to shine on his own in Indy. After a wrist injury in college, he had returned to Ohio State for one more season in hopes of catapulting his draft stock, but a relatively slow (for his position) 40 time didn’t move him out of being projected Day Two pick.

Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State

Speed kills in the NFL, but the lack of it can also kill a prospect’s chances of grabbing a first- or second-round look. Dantzler was once projected as a Top 5 corner in the 2020 Draft, but a 4.64 time in the 40 is going to make that tough to achieve. That comes after he skipped the team’s bowl game specifically to prepare for the draft. He’s tall and physical, but teams won’t like the fact that he couldn’t turn on he jets when he needed to. Dantzler may fall as far as the third round now.

Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama

One of the Cowboys’ supposed top targets did not have a good weekend. The Crimson Tide junior came up limping at the end of his first 40-yard dash and had to withdraw from on-field drills. Still projected to be a first-round pick, McKinney will now have to wait until Alabama’s pro day to solidify his draft status.

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2020 NFL Combine winners: Linebackers

Examining and identifying the top on-field linebackers performances from the 2020 NFL Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine continued their on-field drills on Saturday night, this time featuring interior defensive lineman, EDGE rushers, and linebackers. As always, the workouts begin with the 40-yard-dash, and when they shifted into position drills, we got to see a handful of new drills.

The Lions seem pretty content with their off-the-ball linebackers, but they’re always looking for upgrades and players that can contribute on special teams — which this group is full of. Let’s take a look at those who earned positive marks today.

Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

6-3.5, 238, 40 y/d: 4.39, Vertical: 39″, Broad: 11′

It doesn’t matter if you like him as a linebacker or a safety, Simmons is a playmaker who ran one 4.39 second 40-yards dash and then did a Deion Sanders-like walk off — and most could care less he didn’t do any on-field drills.

With the way the Lions deploy their linebackers, I still believe Simmons is best suited as a hang defender role — similar to Tavon Wilson’s role, taking snaps in the box, over the slot, at MIKE, and single-high safety — in the Lions scheme because it would allow him to operate with more freedom, at all levels of the defense and expand the secondary’s coverage exponentially.

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The biggest obstacle I see with the Lions and Simmons potential marriage is that it goes against tradition for NFL teams to draft off-the-ball players early because of the value they get out of that position. Recently there has been a trend that has seen more off-the-ball prospects selected in the top-10, and Simmons is a special enough talent to keep the trend going, but I’m not sure the Lions are a team that would target him early.

Malik Harrison, Ohio State

6-2.5, 247, short shuttle: 4.32

Harrison, a more traditional style of linebacker for the Lions scheme, took advantage of a couple of key injuries to linebackers rated ahead of him and stole the show. Clearing the Lions’ benchmarks in both jumps and the short shuttle, Harrison is a perfect fit in the Lions scheme if they are looking for an upgrade on Day 2. With the Lions, Harrison would fit in as a WILL with potential to switch with the MIKE on any given play, and would be a nice complement to Jahlani Tavai as a potential starting pair down the road.

Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State

6-1, 243, 40 y/d: 4.46, short shuttle: 4.3

Gay’s size, speed, and quickness were all on display at the Combine and if he had a clean off-the-field background — he was suspended for eight games last season — he would probably be much higher on the Lions draft board.

Notes:

  • Kenneth Murray (6-2.5, 241, Oklahoma) ran a 4.52 40-yard dash on his first attempt but was injured in his second and unable to finish the day. The testing he was able to complete was all terrific.
  • Casey Toohill (6-4.5, 250, Stanford) hit all the Lions athletic benchmarks, which could get him an undrafted free agent offer from Detroit.

Who and what to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine: Linebackers

The Lions Wire staff has identified which linebackers Detroit Lions fans should be watching at the 2020 NFL Combine.

The 2020 NFL Combine on-field workouts begin Thursday, February 27th in Indianapolis but the linebackers won’t take the field until Saturday, February 29th. One interesting note about some of the players in this group is that while they will work out with the linebackers, they may play another role in the Lions scheme.

This is the latest in a series of articles leading up to this year’s NFL Combine, where the Lions Wire team has identified players they will be tracking in order to determine potential fits within the organization.

If you missed the previous articles in this series, be sure to check out our quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen, interior defensive linemen, and EDGE rushers previews.

Off-the-ball linebacker traits to evaluate

There are several on-field drills that emphasize a player’s abilities and the main areas Lions’ scouts will likely be focusing for the linebackers are:

  • Lateral movement should be smooth and quick.
  • Reaction to instructions, too many times prospects guess the command and make mistakes.
  • Can they turn and unlock their hips when dropping into coverage?
  • Head up and eyes on the ball.
  • Which linebackers take place in EDGE rushing drills? How do they perform under those expectations?

Isaiah Simmons, Clemson

Suggested by: Bryce Rossler

Simmons was a chess piece at Clemson, seeing snaps at free safety, strong safety, over the slot, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, and outside corner. And at the college level, he played all of them at a high level.

In the NFL, he likely won’t have that positional range, and depending on the scheme, he may be labeled either a linebacker or a safety. At the Combine, he will work out with the linebackers, but with the Lions, he would likely find the most success at the safety level, in Tavon Wilson’s role.

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Blessed with both speed and quickness, Simmons uses his rare athleticism to win in coverage, stop the run, and get home on disguised blitzes.

The Lions deploy three-safety sets roughly 50-percent of defensive snaps, and pairing him with Tracy Walker — along with last years third-rounder Will Harris in the third safety role — would give the Lions an instant upgrade in the secondary.

Zach Baun, Wisconsin

Suggested by: Jeff Risdon

Baun played outside linebacker in Wisconsin 34 scheme, alternating between rushing the passer and dropping into coverage. Due to his build (6-2.5, 240, with 31.13″ arms) and skill set, he is better suited for an off-the-ball role, and with the Lions, he is a natural fit for the Christian Jones role.

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Comfortable operating in space, Baun is a plus athlete who uses his intelligence, instincts, lateral quickness, and internal drive to flow to the ball all over the field.

Josh Uche, Michigan

Suggested by: Scott Warheit

Uche spent his first few years at Michigan adding weight and learning techniques as a situational stand-up pass rusher before finally earning a starting role in 2019. Like Baun, Uche is comfortable bending the edge and dropping into space, but Uche’s arm length (33.25″) and athleticism, makes him a player who will spend more time rushing the passer.

At 241-pounds, Uche is a bit undersized to be an every-down JACK linebacker in the Lions scheme, but his ability to drop into coverage and insane speed/bend off the edge makes him a unique prospect that is the perfect fit at SAM and WILL linebacker spots in a multiple scheme.

Malik Harrison, Ohio State

Suggested by: Scott Bischoff and Ty Finch

After examining three hybrid defenders in Simmons, Baun, and Uche, Harrison represents the first true off-the-ball linebacker on this list. Harrison has the size (6-2.5, 246 at Senior Bowl), speed, range, and power the Lions look for at their MIKE and WILL positions. He is gap sound, a complete run defender, and has shown some cover skills, which would make him an instant competitor in most schemes.

Jordyn Brooks, Texas Tech

Suggested by: Matt Urben

With speed, athleticism, and plus instincts, Brooks (est. 6-0, 241) is not talked about enough in the Lions community. He is a downhill, productive, run-stuffing inside linebacker, who fits the mold of a Lions linebacker, including struggling to cover tight ends and running backs. If the Lions plan on moving on from Jarrad Davis when his contract expires after this season, Brooks could be a target to develop and mix into a starter rotation in 2021.

Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State

Suggested by: Sonja Greenfield and Derek Okrie

Like Simmons, Davis-Gaither (6-1.5, 219 at Senior Bowl) would be a hang defender in the Lions scheme, but without the range to play deep safety. Davis-Gaither can rush the passer, cover the slot, and will be one of the quickest athletes on the field at any given time. If you like Miles Killebrew, then you’ll love Davis-Gaither, as he can do a lot of the same things Killebrew can, but with less power and more speed.

Troy Dye, Oregon

Suggested by: Max Gerber

Like Davis-Gaither, Dye (est. 6-3, 218) is another hang defender with speed to burn and strong tackling skills. In Detroit, he would play in the Killebrew role as a potential four-down defender, who would backup at WILL linebacker, see coverage work in obvious passing situations, with his skills truly shining on special teams.

Evan Weaver, California

Suggested by: Erik Schlitt

When watching Senior Bowl practices, Weaver stood out for being gap sound, recognizing the play early, and beating the offensive player to the correct hole. He has terrific football instincts and his anticipation shows up rep after rep. He attacks downhill with tenacity but won’t win any athleticism competitions, and at 6-2, 239 pounds, fits the profile of a Lions linebacker.

Shaq Quarterman, Miami

Suggested by: Zack Moran

Loaded with experience at the MIKE, Quarterman jumped onto the big stage as a true freshman. Quarterman is a two-down defender who attacks with power but lacks the range and athleticism to stay on the field in traditional third-down situations. He has a long history of production and rarely misses opportunities to make tackles, which will help him be an instant impact starter on special teams and reserve interior linebacker.

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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