FalconFanSince1970 Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 For Mike Smith to be a defensive minded coach and VanGorder the good young defensive coordinating mind, our LBs sure do suck. Lofton gets a pass cause he's a rookie. Plus he's the best of the lot so far. Brooking started declining before the new regime got here and then the new regime turned Boley into a hasbeen quicker than you can say Don Blackmon. Each week I see 4-3 LBs on other teams making impact plays. Our LBs make one every now and then. Thank God Lofton got a sack yesterday. Just look at some of the numbers from the top 3 LBs from these teams. I didn't show any 3-4 teams which normally have more impact plays on average:TEAM TOTAL TACKLES IMPACT PLAYS (Sacks, PDs, INTs, FFs, FRs)TB 122 19ARI 114 16CAR 145 11NO 133 11DEN 166 9.5ATL 114 8Is it our LBs or is it he system? Or both? Or is it me? :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1970 Posted November 18, 2008 Author Share Posted November 18, 2008 OK three weeks after I started this thread it seems the AJC beatwriters are starting to ask the same sort of questions. Here's a little blurb from an article in today's AJC Sports section:Where are the linebackers?The linebacker unit figured to be the strength of the team. According to the official game book, against Denver four of the top five tacklers were defensive backs. Rookie Curtis Lofton led the linebacker unit with six tackles. Veterans Michael Boley (three) and Keith Brooking (two) were not in the top group. It might be time for special teams maven Stephen Nicholas to get some more playing time.LINK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullitt Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Comparison of our LBs to other LBs in our division total tackles Sacks Stuffs FF PDLofton 56 1 3 1 1Brooking 52 0 1 0 0Boley 42 0 1 0 7Beason 84 0 1.5 0 5Vilma 79 0 3.5 0 4Ruud 79 3 2 0 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucman™® Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Comparison of our LBs to other LBs in our divisionCan't touch our LB core... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Tzu 7 Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 You can't use stats like tackles without also looking at how long the defense os on the field compared to other teams.For most of the season our offense has been running the ball well and eating up clock and keeping the linebackers on the field. Oakland game is a perfect example. Teams with bad offenses probably have a higher number of tackles from their linebackers.Look back at the stats of the Jacksonville linebackers for the last few years to get an idea of what the numbers in this system should look like.Oh and Van Gorder got out-coached and out-schemed by Shanahan. Van Gorder is still an NFL rookie when it comes to being a D Coordinator.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tandy Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Can't touch our LB core...Bragging is an unbecoming trait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucman™® Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Bragging is an unbecoming trait Well, If you got it... Show it :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIDDA Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Well, If you got it... Show it :Pyeah, I can't hold that one against you.Some people just look at stats versus the way the games actually play out. If our DB's are getting most of the tackles that would indicate (to me) teams are passing alot when they play us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaigle Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Sometimes you just run into a better team.And Sometimes you just run into a more prepared team ie the Broncos Sunday or the NY Giants in the superbowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tandy Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Sometimes you just run into a better team.And Sometimes you just run into a more prepared team ie the Broncos Sunday or the NY Giants in the superbowl.And sometimes - they are hungrier than you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaigle Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Bragging is an unbecoming trait yep that's true tooI've been very proud of this team this year, they have far exceeded my expectations so far.I can't understand how some posters feel this team has finished it's rebuilding process and should be making a run at 16-0 this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tandy Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 yep that's true tooI've been very proud of this team this year, they have far exceeded my expectations so far.I can't understand how some posters feel this team has finished it's rebuilding process and should be making a run at 16-0 this year.Don't bother. Just move on to the next subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullitt Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Can't touch our LB core...Sigh... true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullitt Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 You can't use stats like tackles without also looking at how long the defense os on the field compared to other teams.For most of the season our offense has been running the ball well and eating up clock and keeping the linebackers on the field. Oakland game is a perfect example. Teams with bad offenses probably have a higher number of tackles from their linebackers.Look back at the stats of the Jacksonville linebackers for the last few years to get an idea of what the numbers in this system should look like.Oh and Van Gorder got out-coached and out-schemed by Shanahan. Van Gorder is still an NFL rookie when it comes to being a D Coordinator..I agree - the stats don't tell the whole picture. But I still think Vilma, Ruud and Beason are playing better than any of our LBs right now. I think that is a fair statement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconMama Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 screw the bucs, panthers and saints linebackers.. although cato june is kinda cute :wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwarzenegger321 Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Okay I want to make a point here and hope everyone can at least consider this.Linebackers are only as good as the DT's in front of them. If a guard or center gets a free shot at a LB then it is not even a challenge. I rewatched the Denver game and our DT's were getting in the way of the LB's or the tackles werent holding them up and the LB's were getting creamed.You can have a team of Lawrence Ttaylors and they won't do much if the Olinemen are getting free shots at them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwarzenegger321 Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Our LB's are above average. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srichter23 Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 yeah idk why anyone would say our lb's suckthere's always room for improvement but this is just a sucky topic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theyhateme : ) Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 The system and/or LBs didn't %$&* when we won....I can name at least three or 4 things that contributed to the loss:1. The Roddy Drop2. Roddy stopped/or slowed down on that pass that was in the endzone3. Ryan overthrew a wide-open Finn in the endzone4. Houston gave up a 50+ yard pass on 3rd and long (I think) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Van Brocklin Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Okay I want to make a point here and hope everyone can at least consider this.Linebackers are only as good as the DT's in front of them. If a guard or center gets a free shot at a LB then it is not even a challenge. I rewatched the Denver game and our DT's were getting in the way of the LB's or the tackles werent holding them up and the LB's were getting creamed.You can have a team of Lawrence Ttaylors and they won't do much if the Olinemen are getting free shots at them.I agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconsfan567 Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Has anyone looked at the top tacklers in the league? What do most of them have in common? They are on are HORRIBLE defenses. Tackels is SOOOOOOOO OVERRATED! Here is the top 10 tacklers in the NFL and where their defense ranks in YPG and their team's rank in offensive TOP.1. D'Qwell Jackson - CLE - 99 (26th YPG) (25th TOP)2. Patrick Willis - SF - 90 (21st) (22nd TOP)3. Gary Brackett - IND - 89 (17th) (30th TOP)4. Kirk Morrison - OAK - 88 (25th) (26th TOP)5. Gibril Wilson - OAK - 86 (25th) (26th TOP)6. Jon Beason - CAR - 84 (8th) (21st TOP)7. London Fletcher - WAS - 84 (4th) (8th TOP)8. Jerod Mayo - NE - 84 (12th) (6th TOP)9. Chad Greenway - MIN - 81 (10th) (11th TOP)10. Barrett Ruud - TB - 79 (5th) (3rd TOP)Now that being said we also have to understand that we play a different kind of defense. We play a soft conservative defense. We are 10th in the NFL in TOP per game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconsfan567 Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Also doing some more research on tackles. We are 30th in the NFL in tackles with 588. Jacksonville is last with 558. Those that compared our defense to the Panthers and Bucs are gonna be surprised to hear that they are low on the tackles list also. The Panthers are 27th and the Bucs are 28th. Another great defense the Ravens is 29th. The Giants are 25th. I guess because all these teams don't have alot of tackles than they must suck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconfoozball Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Is It The System Or Do Our LBs Just Suck?Yes. :PNot really. They just don't get a lot of help up front. Well, I shouldn't say "a lot" , but maybe "enough" is a better way to put it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconboogie Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 We have digressed on the LB side. For the most part, they looked confused at times. I attribute that to scheme and coaching. Take the Denver's LBs, which were a ratchet guy (playing special teams, fullback and MLB), another rookie and a retread guy. They got coached up and played hard and aggressive and filled their gaps when they were suppose to and slowed down our running game.Boley, Brook and Lofton have been playing for 10 games now and don't have the chemistry or discipline for their gap assignments. I just hope they can correct the problem before Sunday....or its going to be a lonnnnnggggggg day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconsfan567 Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Am I the only who realizes that Grady Jackson (who's main job is to clog up the run) was getting pushed around? This is not the same Grady we saw at the beginning of the season. I don't know if his knee injury is more than he is letting it be know but I would like to see Jason Jefferson get some more snaps. Just too see if it makes any difference. Our DTs don't give our LBs much of a chance to make plays in the backfield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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