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Well, we didn't fill the need of ILB in the draft. (I like the Barr pick...but trading back for CJ Mosely would have been my choice)

What are the options going forward?

Pat Angerer - FA
Desmond Bishop - FA (Re-sign him)

Give it Jasper Brinkley?

Move Chad Greenway to ILB?

Thoughts?

I'm sure Brinkley will be our starting MLB.

nolandgilmore wrote:Well, we didn't fill the need of ILB in the draft. (I like the Barr pick...but trading back for CJ Mosely would have been my choice)

What are the options going forward?

Pat Angerer - FA
Desmond Bishop - FA (Re-sign him)

Give it Jasper Brinkley?

Move Chad Greenway to ILB?

Thoughts?

The feeling I have, is that they feel like the answer/solution is already on the team. Chris Borland was around for most of the draft, Shane Skov was undrafted, there were a few other undrafted ILBs that could have been signed to compete if they felt they still needed help. Personally, I don't like our in house choices at the moment, but I guess Im going to need a year or 2 to see what a Zimmer Defense does. I like fast guys who can tackle and cover myself. Mosley would have been perfect fit in a Shawn (Me) Defense. But since I don't build the rosters, or coach the teams, I need to sit back and get a good grasp of what Zimmer is trying to build. To me, the years of the big thumping MLBs, that can't cover, and can't play sideline to sideline are coming to an end. I like the defenses with fast athletic LBs. Anyway, off my soapbox and back to your question. Unless they have some ace up their sleeve, that they are just holding off on, I believe that they are content with Mauti, Cole, Brinkley, and the rest of the community on the island of misfit LBs this year. They had every chance to address it more in the 7th round of the draft, but they didn't go in that direction. Then with the UFAs, they also did not pick up much along those lines. Makes me believe that the think they have their solution.

Who is to say the ILB will be asked to do the same things in the Zimmer system vs. what it was asked to do in the Frasier/Williams Cover 2?

Greenway was our SAM all those years, and now Zimmer is talking about Barr as the SAM in a role much more similar to a James Harrison, ie a Pass Rusher, than what Greenway played. That in of itself implies that the roles of the Mike and Will will also change quite a bit. Also, if Greenway isn't the SAM then what is he? Maybe he is in the middle?

I'm not saying this group will suddenly be lights out, but I think it is a mistake to project the relative talent of this group and it's performance based on what they did in a different system with different roles. They are going to be asked to do different things, some of which our marginal guys might actually be better at than what they were asked to do in the Cover 2. They could still suck as well. We just won't know until at the earliest Pre-Season.

I think if Mauti remains healthy he is the best fit for starting Mike Linebacker. I like Audie Cole too but I think he is a back-up at best. I think Jasper Brinkley is a back-up at best too. I'm pulling for Mauti in training camp. Not only does he have potential, he can also be that vocal leader for our defense like he was for Penn State.

We don't know what Zimmer has in mind for a D right now. If its the same D as we have been running with Childress and Fraizer, Barr was a bigger mistake then even some think. Theres where I don't believe in BPA. But I have a feeling Zimmer is going to use Barr in at least 50% of the plays by the end of the year. Barr is a freak. Getting the most out of a freak like that is WHY we hired Zimmer. Now I don't think Zimmer is some sort of god. I don't think he knows how to run multiple forms of D's though.

I hope to god I never see Jasper playing MIKE ever again. Cole did just fine. Mauti will do better if hes healed properly, and the multi million dollar Greenway should be able to figure it out. I don't think Zimmers new D is going to allow Greenway to just sit back, let the guy catch it in front of him, then tackle.

I hope to god I never see Jasper playing MIKE ever again. Cole did just fine. Mauti will do better if hes healed properly, and the multi million dollar Greenway should be able to figure it out.

I second that. Can you imagine a base defense with Greenway, Jasper, and Barr in the middle of the field? . At least you can trust Zimmer to coach them, and make changes if something isn't working. And if this is anything like a number of NFL defenses, the mike will likely only be on the field for a fraction of the downs anyway.

80 PurplePride 84 wrote:Brinkley might be competent in Zimmer's scheme. He's a two down thumper but atrocious in coverage and Zimmer's Defense does ask for much covering from the MLB.

So who's going to cover? Our corners can't even cover. Smith is competent, but hardly a cover safety. And the guy next to him? HA! This isn't Cinci. Let's hope Zimmer can make it work. Otherwise we have one, maybe two guys on the entire defensive roster with any real ability to cover anyone, regardless if they are receivers, tight ends, or backs.