FentayeJones Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 (edited) Coming into this summer, the Falcons' starting set of linebackers seemed fairly obvious. Brooks Reed and Justin Durant were going to man the outside, Paul Worrilow was going to park himself in the middle for the third consecutive year, and that the options for reserves were pretty clear.Now, though? It's not quite so clear.That begins with Allen Bradford, the 26-year-old who spent the 2014 season with the Seahawks and got in just one game. We've only seen one week in training camp, so it would be irresponsible of me to tell you that Bradford has a clear path to a starting job. He has, however, run with the starters multiple times already, drawn notice from William Moore, and has a certain level of familiarity with what Dan Quinn likes to do on defense. I wasn't even counting on him to grab a roster spot, and all of a sudden it looks like he'll legitimately compete for a role. Here's Moore, responding to a question specifically about Brooks Reed and Justin Durant."You gotta mention Bradford in that, also...Coach Quinn knew what he was doing when he brought (these new players) in here."Worrilow has drawn a ton of praise from the coaching staff and appears to be in terrific shape, so Bradford's chances of knocking him out of a starting gig are slim, and he's not getting on ahead of Justin Durant or Brooks Reed. Yet Bradford's strong performance to this point indicates he may be in line for a legitimate job...though it's also true that Marquis Spruill and others are drawing significant snaps over the middle. The Falcons more or less were down to street free agents and young players who weren't entirely ready for the spotlight in their backup roles the last two season, so this is nice.The other major question mark comes on the strong side, where the steady veteran Reed was the presumptive starter. Thus far in training camp, he's been a little limited as he battles flare-ups of the same hip/groin injury that was nagging him earlier in the spring. If this continues, it's going to give the Falcons a reason to consider a veteran insurance policy, or at least keep an extra linebacker around to cover for Reed and Durant, who has struggled with injury the last couple of years.It's still possible—perhaps even likely—that the three most-used linebackers will be Reed, Durant and Worrilow, and that the reserves will shake out according to what most of us thought. It's just not as much of a fait accompli as I think we all believed a month ago, and Bradford and Spruill could have a lot to do with that.I personally like the quote in bold from Wil Moe.http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2015/8/9/9090533/is-the-falcons-linebacker-corps-in-more-flux-than-we-realize Edited August 9, 2015 by FentayeJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazoo Posted August 9, 2015 Share Posted August 9, 2015 I personally like the quote in bold from Wil Moe.http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2015/8/9/9090533/is-the-falcons-linebacker-corps-in-more-flux-than-we-realizeIf you think about it, what we brought in during the offseason to help an otherwise miscast LB corps, is nothing short of amazing. Now we will utilize the ones we had better, and have so much more diversity and flexibility with the new LBs here, it should be a solid, versitile group this year.We've gone from what I would rate a D- last year, to a solid B this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trubirdfan4life Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 You just dont have a good defense with great linebacker play. If we can get even 2012 level play out of the linebackers....we will be top 15 to 20.....spoon and nicholas were competent. That what we need.....sound competent linebacker play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Falcon Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 GOOD!!!!!!! A lot of people on these boards thought Worrilow is a "sure" in at MLB. Glad these coaches see otherwise. And where are ALL the posts/responses? I guess the sackswingers wasn't expecting to read this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moist Words Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 GOOD!!!!!!! A lot of people on these boards thought Worrilow is a "sure" in at MLB. Glad these coaches see otherwise. And where are ALL the posts/responses? I guess the sackswingers wasn't expecting to read this.Weren't expecting to read what? That there is an open competition which has been stated by multiple posters on here?Even in that article the writer states that it's a slim chance that Worrilow loses the starting spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtlantaFanatic Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Bradford I expect to make the team but as a backup.Reed is a veteran so they are more concerned with getting him healthy then getting him in practice I'd assume. He's the obvious starter. Durant could be a star and a definite upgrade over Spoon if he stays healthy. Spruill is basically a redshirt rookie and we have no idea what he can do yet.Stupar is ST. Bartu is pretty obviously a backup quality linebacker that was forced to start last year.Worrilow is a smart, hard-working guy that will improve with better DT and OLB play. Easily the starter unless Spruill or Akunne just comes in and blows us out of the water.I'm not sure what the writer is implying here but so far nobody has looked good enough to take a spot away from Durant/Wor/Reed. Bradford could be our best backup though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Five_Fifs Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 How many linebackers are we keeping? 6 or 7? WorrisomeDurantReedSchoefieldAre fairly secure.....Bartu, Bradford, Stupar, Spruill, Starr....Even if we keep 7, we're gonna cut a relatively decent guy. I'm fairly excited by that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 GOOD!!!!!!! A lot of people on these boards thought Worrilow is a "sure" in at MLB. Glad these coaches see otherwise. And where are ALL the posts/responses? I guess the sackswingers wasn't expecting to read this.How you were able to read this article, and get this from it, is nothing short of astonishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moist Words Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 How you were able to read this article, and get this from it, is nothing short of astonishing. This board is often a perfect example of people only seeing what they want to see instead of what's actually there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuggle'2 Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 This board is often a perfect example of people only seeing what they want to see instead of what's actually there.Yep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citsalp Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 GOOD!!!!!!! A lot of people on these boards thought Worrilow is a "sure" in at MLB. Glad these coaches see otherwise. And where are ALL the posts/responses? I guess the sackswingers wasn't expecting to read this. Just Wow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuggle'2 Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 GOOD!!!!!!! A lot of people on these boards thought Worrilow is a "sure" in at MLB. Glad these coaches see otherwise. And where are ALL the posts/responses? I guess the sackswingers wasn't expecting to read this.Man, you have no idea what you just read do you? lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FentayeJones Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share Posted August 10, 2015 GOOD!!!!!!! A lot of people on these boards thought Worrilow is a "sure" in at MLB. Glad these coaches see otherwise. And where are ALL the posts/responses? I guess the sackswingers wasn't expecting to read this.Read a little closer man. The article is referring to the backup positions as being unsettled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlking Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 GOOD!!!!!!! A lot of people on these boards thought Worrilow is a "sure" in at MLB. Glad these coaches see otherwise. And where are ALL the posts/responses? I guess the sackswingers wasn't expecting to read this.Quinn saw enough tape of Worrisome to know that he needs options at Mike linebacker........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFalcoholic Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Quinn saw enough tape of Worrisome to know that he needs options at Mike linebacker...........Yeah, there's this crazy thing called depth that we've never had, that we do now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlking Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Bradford I expect to make the team but as a backup.Reed is a veteran so they are more concerned with getting him healthy then getting him in practice I'd assume. He's the obvious starter. Durant could be a star and a definite upgrade over Spoon if he stays healthy. Spruill is basically a redshirt rookie and we have no idea what he can do yet.Stupar is ST. Bartu is pretty obviously a backup quality linebacker that was forced to start last year.Worrilow is a smart, hard-working guy that will improve with better DT and OLB play. Easily the starter unless Spruill or Akunne just comes in and blows us out of the water.I'm not sure what the writer is implying here but so far nobody has looked good enough to take a spot away from Durant/Wor/Reed. Bradford could be our best backup though.How is taking bad angles to almost every running play translate to being smart????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaigle Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 A discussion of LBs and no mention of Beasleyyep the Falcons list him as an OLB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 How is taking bad angles to almost every running play translate to being smart?????Oh boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 A discussion of LBs and no mention of Beasleyyep the Falcons list him as an OLBLB vs OLB/DE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runshoot Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 How is taking bad angles to almost every running play translate to being smart?????How is he taking bad angles yet still leads the team in tackles 2 years in a row?Try again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadMoonRising Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 GOOD!!!!!!! A lot of people on these boards thought Worrilow is a "sure" in at MLB. Glad these coaches see otherwise. And where are ALL the posts/responses? I guess the sackswingers wasn't expecting to read this.I must have read a different article that you just did? Otherwise you didn;t read it and presumed it was anti Worrilow perhaps?All this states is even in open competition is Worrilow is winning the job by a large margin and that the coaching staff likes him in the spot, but they have some talent else where they want to find a spot for.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlking Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 (edited) How is he taking bad angles yet still leads the team in tackles 2 years in a row?Try again.Worrisome has turned into the Pero Antic of the Falcons..........Heck, even Biermann dont get anymore press.........lmao Edited August 10, 2015 by atlking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaigle Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 LB vs OLB/DEDE== Clayborn, Goodman, Hageman, Jackson, Matthews, MeredithOLB===Beasley, Bierman, Durant, Maponga, Reed, SchofieldLB === Akunne, Anyama, Bartu, Bradford, Spriull, Starr, Stupar, Warrilow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 How many linebackers are we keeping? 6 or 7?WorrisomeDurantReedSchoefieldAre fairly secure.....Bartu, Bradford, Stupar, Spruill, Starr....Even if we keep 7, we're gonna cut a relatively decent guy. I'm fairly excited by that.I don't think Bartu has much of a shot to make the roster, TBH.I'd guess Bradford and Spruill make the final 53 but Spruill is probably inactive for most game days. One thing people should consider is that Beasley is going to slot in to a LB slot for a fair amount of snaps, IMO. I'd guess they use him similar to how Bruce Irvin was used. Given the depth along the DL, they'll view Vic is a two-level player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtlantaFanatic Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Oh boy. Should I take the bait? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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