g-dawg Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 OK, the "hot topic" today seems to be Stephen Nicholas and the song used to describe his predicament would be from "The Clash" - song title: "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" Let's assume he GOES for purposes of this thread.Obviously-at least to me-we have two positions etched in stone:WLB-Sean WeatherspoonMLB-Curtis Lofton WLB: Sean Weatherspoon Assuming "Spoon" gets healthy, he should be a three down linebacker who never comes off the field except when he's tired. Spoon could probably play any of the three LB positions but his skills would be maximized as a WLB as he has the best coverage and blitzing ability of all the linebackers. MLB: Curtis Lofton I'm somewhat concerned by the offseason surgeries on both knees of Curtis Lofton. He is awfully young at 24 years old to be having so much surgery - but Lofton is tough as nails and always answers the bell when its time to strap on the chin strap. Lofton is a great tackler and moves foward well but is somewhat weak in coverage. He wants to be more of a three down linebacker but I still think he needs to come off the field more often than not in nickel coverage. Given his role as leader of the defense, we will probably leave Lofton in more than we should - but that's OK - you want your warriors on the field in tough situations. SLB: ???(Stephen Nicholas Position)Stephen Nicholas is a 4year player who will either be a RFA or UFA depending on resolution of the CBA. Nicholas is a 3 down LB that can play the run as well as the pass. Well, good chance that Nicholas is unfettered and his goal is to test the free agent market to get the best deal he can for himself and his family - I cannot blame him for that. I think most Falcons fans would like Nic to stay - as well as myself. However, I do not believe that Nicholas is a "must-sign" as we are fairly strong at the other two linebacking positions and the room for improvement - if any occurs - will come in pass rush and secondary. I think the Falcons could possibly improve on the SLB production over Nicholas by replacing him with two players. In obvious running situations, I believe Akeem Dent to be a potentially superior run-stopper over Stephen Nicholas. In passing situations, I believe Spencer Adkins speed could be utilized in nickel situations - obviously Adkins is a little bit of an unknown, but its worth investigating.Your thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted May 13, 2011 Author Share Posted May 13, 2011 atljbo posted this two years ago describing the differences and assigments between a 4-3 SLB and a 4-3 WLB - if you guys want to read. Good stuff and props to jbo. Strongside linebacker-SLB aka "SAM" The strongside linebacker (SLB) is often nicknamed "Sam" for purposes of calling a blitz. Since the strong side of the offensive team is the side on which the tight end lines up, or whichever side contains the most personnel, the strongside linebacker usually lines up across from the tight end. Often the strongside linebacker will be called upon to tackle the running back on a play, because the back will be following the tight end's block. He is most often the strongest linebacker, at the least he possess the ability to withstand, shed, and fight off blocks from a TE or a FB blocking the backside of a pass play. The linebacker should also have strong safety abilities in pass situation to cover the tight end in man on man situations. He should also have considerable quickness to read and get into coverage in zone situations. The purpose of the strongside linebackers is to read the quarterback's eyes and try to figure out what he is going to do before he does it. The "Sam" linebacker has to read the offensive play if he wants to shut down the opposing team's strategy on all 4 downs of the quarter, and for 4 quarters of a game. Weakside linebacker-WLB aka "WILL" The weakside linebacker , or "Will", must be the fastest of the three, because he is often the one called into pass coverage. He is also usually chasing the play from the backside, so the ability to maneuver through traffic is a necessity for Will. Will usually aligns off the line of scrimmage at the same depth as Mike. Because of his position on the weakside, Will does not often have to face large interior linemen one on one unless one is pulling. In coverage, Will often covers the back that attacks his side of the field first in man coverage, while covering the weak flat or hook/curl areas in zone coverage. In a 3-4 defense the "Will" Linebacker plays on the "weakside" of the two middle Linebacker positions and a 4th Linebacker comes in to play the weakside. Known as a "Rush", "Rover", and/or "Buck" Linebacker, their responsibility is more pass rush based but often is called into run stop (gap control) and pass coverage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Spencer Adkins is the guy i can see earning a spot in the rotation... I see us bringing back Mike Peterson.. He has stated that they team told him they want him back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted May 13, 2011 Author Share Posted May 13, 2011 Spencer Adkins is the guy i can see earning a spot in the rotation... I see us bringing back Mike Peterson.. He has stated that they team told him they want him back.jbo,i agree. however I think peterson comes back with a lesser role if everyone stays healthy - he will still play though.....how did you like me digging up your old post from two years ago? - i did a search of SLB vs. WLB and your post came up in google..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1970 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Curtis Lofton and Stephen Nicholas have made National Football League plays. Sean Weatherspoon? Not yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muskokas finest © Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Since the talk is we'll spend free agent $$$ on the defense, let's get James Anderson out of Carolina to play the strongside LB position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 jbo,i agree. however I think peterson comes back with a lesser role if everyone stays healthy - he will still play though.....how did you like me digging up your old post from two years ago? - i did a search of SLB vs. WLB and your post came up in google.....Its a good post I think Mike P will play on run downs (with Dent if he earns a spot in the rotation) .. Adkins can play in nickle packages ... I saw him in a couple of nickle packages last year but mainly played ST.... I see a heavy rotation at that position if Nicholas walks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Since the talk is we'll spend free agent $$$ on the defense, let's get James Anderson out of Carolina to play the strongside LB position.If we sign a DE... I wouldnt risk giving up Nicholas comp pick by signing a LB... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clark Kent™ Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 I do not think that Adkins would be superior to Nicholas in coverage. Being good at coverage is not just about having a fast 40 yard dash. It is about knowing the system, instincts and probably most importantly footwork. Adkins would be a downgrade in all departments except probably pass rushing. And I am a huge Adkins fan. That is just how i see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted May 13, 2011 Author Share Posted May 13, 2011 I do not think that Adkins would be superior to Nicholas in coverage. Being good at coverage is not just about having a fast 40 yard dash. It is about knowing the system, instincts and probably most importantly footwork. Adkins would be a downgrade in all departments except probably pass rushing. And I am a huge Adkins fan. That is just how i see it.was Nicholas that good in coverage? did not really notice that. Falcons pass defense was so awful the only one that stood out to me was Grimes - and even Grimes gave up his share of big plays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hashbrown3 Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 (edited) If you missed the article about the Nic situation here it is... http://www.thefalcoh...rom-the-falconsthis might be the year that we utilize some of the players we have been grooming... Oline, Adkins, etc... But it is clear that Nic has not signed his tender so I am sure TD and Smitty have some plan in place and another reason we grabbed Dent. What a name for a LBer huh? Edited May 13, 2011 by HASHBROWN3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted May 13, 2011 Author Share Posted May 13, 2011 If you missed the article about the Nic situation here it is... http://www.thefalcoh...rom-the-falconsthis might be the year that we utilize some of the players we have been grooming... Oline, Adkins, etc... But it is clear that Nic has not signed his tender so I am sure TD and Smitty have some plan in place and another reason we grabbed Dent. What a name for a LBer huh?I don't understand the whole "signed tender" thing. I do remember that Vincent Jackson did not sign his tender and when he came back he made less money - I don't think the NFL player that does not sign his tender gets any more access to free agency or being unfettered than does an NFL player that signs his tender.....basically its a form of "protest" that benefits the player in no way. Right? :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clark Kent™ Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 was Nicholas that good in coverage? did not really notice that. Falcons pass defense was so awful the only one that stood out to me was Grimes - and even Grimes gave up his share of big plays.I'm not sure where he ranks as far as other LB's, but from what i saw he looked pretty solid in coverage. Fact is we haven't seen Adkins cover anything. But from the pre season games he has been in you can see alot of holes in his footwork.Spoon was the same way last year. He made alot of unnecessary moves. So i don't see Adkins being an improvement in coverage. Especially if we are just basing that off of his 40 time. Thats just my opinion though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted May 14, 2011 Author Share Posted May 14, 2011 I'm not sure where he ranks as far as other LB's, but from what i saw he looked pretty solid in coverage. Fact is we haven't seen Adkins cover anything. But from the pre season games he has been in you can see alot of holes in his footwork.Spoon was the same way last year. He made alot of unnecessary moves. So i don't see Adkins being an improvement in coverage. Especially if we are just basing that off of his 40 time. Thats just my opinion though.Spoon's season was basically a "lost season" from the point where he got injured and was never 100% coming back.Spoon can cover like a madman....just watch the SeniorBowl highlights and be amazed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted May 14, 2011 Author Share Posted May 14, 2011 If we sign a DE... I wouldnt risk giving up Nicholas comp pick by signing a LB...agreed.......of course if we signed Ray Edwards wouldn't that nullify any comp pick for Nicholas or "Nicholas + Clabo" or some other combination? Ray Edwards is a premier free agent none of ours are... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clark Kent™ Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 Spoon's season was basically a "lost season" from the point where he got injured and was never 100% coming back.Spoon can cover like a madman....just watch the SeniorBowl highlights and be amazed Oh yeah I am not discrediting Spoon by any means. I watched the SeniorBowl live when he covered McCluster coming out of the backfield and was pretty must step for step with him. My point was despite how great he is in coverage he still took a good bit of false steps and I imagine that Adkins would be much worse than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted May 14, 2011 Author Share Posted May 14, 2011 Oh yeah I am not discrediting Spoon by any means. I watched the SeniorBowl live when he covered McCluster coming out of the backfield and was pretty must step for step with him. My point was despite how great he is in coverage he still took a good bit of false steps and I imagine that Adkins would be much worse than that.perhaps.....one thing for certain about Adkins - no way for you and I too know as the only time on the field for Adkins(other than special teams) is on the practice field - and neither you nor me get to watch the practices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 was Nicholas that good in coverage? did not really notice that. Falcons pass defense was so awful the only one that stood out to me was Grimes - and even Grimes gave up his share of big plays.Nic was very very good in coverage... He is a very under-rated LB... I want us to resign him but im just saying if we dont resign him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1970 Posted May 14, 2011 Share Posted May 14, 2011 Spoon was great in coverage? In the Senior Bowl? OK.He looked like a wet behind the ears rookie in coverage last year in the NFL. Not on the same planet in coverage compared to Nic at this point. Closer to Pete or Lofton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted May 14, 2011 Author Share Posted May 14, 2011 Spoon was great in coverage? In the Senior Bowl? OK.He looked like a wet behind the ears rookie in coverage last year in the NFL. Not on the same planet in coverage compared to Nic at this point. Closer to Pete or Lofton.one thing I will agree w/ you on, although disagreeming w/ your general theme here - not a large enough "sample size" on Weatherspoon at the NFL level.But, c'mon now FFS1970 - Spoon barely got started before he was de-railed by injury - and when he came back he was not 100% - this has been written about and admitted to by Mike Smith that Spoon was not 100%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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