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Breaking Down Panthers LB Situation
May 09 2012 01:37 PM | Dash Global in Carolina Panthers
One of the big question marks is who is gonna start and where. Looking purely at ability / strategic standpoint who is really the best suited to play the MLB, WLB, SLB.
First thing we need to do is fully understand the roles and differences between the 3 LB positions.
Middle Linebacker
The middle linebacker (MLB), sometimes called "Mike," is often referred to as the "quarterback of the defense". Often it is the middle linebacker who receives the defensive play calls from the sideline and relays that play to the rest of the team–and in the NFL he is usually the defensive player with the electronic sideline communicator. A jack-of-all-trades, the middle linebacker can be asked to blitz (though they often blitz less than the outside linebacker), cover, spy the quarterback, or even have a deep middle-of-the-field responsibility in the Tampa 2 defense. In standard defenses, middle linebackers commonly lead the team in tackles. The middle linebacker covers the "curl to flat"
Strongside Linebacker
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 possesses the ability to withstand, shed, and fight off blocks from a tight end or fullback 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.
Weakside Linebacker
The weakside linebacker, or the "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 the Will. The Will usually aligns off the line of scrimmage at the same depth as Mike. Because of his position on the weakside, the Will does not often have to face large interior linemen one on one unless one is pulling. In coverage, the 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", "Jack" and/or "Buck" Linebacker, their responsibility is more pass rush based but often is called into run stop (gap control) and pass coverage.
Now we need to examine our options.
Jon Beason 6ft 237lbs
40 yrd dash: 4.72
20 yrd dash: 2.72
10 yrd dash: 1.60
Bench: 19 reps
Broad Jump: 111 inches
Thomas Davis 6'1ft 230lbs
40 yrd dash: 4.60
20 yrd dash: 2.71
10 yrd dash: 1.64
Vertical: 36.5
Broad Jump: 115 inches
Shuttle: 4.01
3 Cone: 7.10
James Anderson 6'2ft 229lbs
40 yrd dash: 4.59
20 yrd dash: 2.68
10 yrd dash: 1.57
Vertical: 41.
Broad Jump: 121 inches
Shuttle: 4.08
3 Cone: 6.68
Luke Kuechly 6'3ft 242lbs
40 yrd dash: 4.58
Bench: 27 reps
Vertical: 38
Broad Jump: 74 inches
Shuttle: 4.12
3 Cone: 6.92
With the players we have I feel we are best served with Kuechly playing the WIL. He is pretty fast and has pretty good coverage abilities not to mention great pursuit. Keep Beason on in the middle. Have Anderson and Davis play the SAM.
First thing we need to do is fully understand the roles and differences between the 3 LB positions.
Middle Linebacker
The middle linebacker (MLB), sometimes called "Mike," is often referred to as the "quarterback of the defense". Often it is the middle linebacker who receives the defensive play calls from the sideline and relays that play to the rest of the team–and in the NFL he is usually the defensive player with the electronic sideline communicator. A jack-of-all-trades, the middle linebacker can be asked to blitz (though they often blitz less than the outside linebacker), cover, spy the quarterback, or even have a deep middle-of-the-field responsibility in the Tampa 2 defense. In standard defenses, middle linebackers commonly lead the team in tackles. The middle linebacker covers the "curl to flat"
Strongside Linebacker
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 possesses the ability to withstand, shed, and fight off blocks from a tight end or fullback 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.
Weakside Linebacker
The weakside linebacker, or the "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 the Will. The Will usually aligns off the line of scrimmage at the same depth as Mike. Because of his position on the weakside, the Will does not often have to face large interior linemen one on one unless one is pulling. In coverage, the 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", "Jack" and/or "Buck" Linebacker, their responsibility is more pass rush based but often is called into run stop (gap control) and pass coverage.
Now we need to examine our options.
Jon Beason 6ft 237lbs
40 yrd dash: 4.72
20 yrd dash: 2.72
10 yrd dash: 1.60
Bench: 19 reps
Broad Jump: 111 inches
Thomas Davis 6'1ft 230lbs
40 yrd dash: 4.60
20 yrd dash: 2.71
10 yrd dash: 1.64
Vertical: 36.5
Broad Jump: 115 inches
Shuttle: 4.01
3 Cone: 7.10
James Anderson 6'2ft 229lbs
40 yrd dash: 4.59
20 yrd dash: 2.68
10 yrd dash: 1.57
Vertical: 41.
Broad Jump: 121 inches
Shuttle: 4.08
3 Cone: 6.68
Luke Kuechly 6'3ft 242lbs
40 yrd dash: 4.58
Bench: 27 reps
Vertical: 38
Broad Jump: 74 inches
Shuttle: 4.12
3 Cone: 6.92
With the players we have I feel we are best served with Kuechly playing the WIL. He is pretty fast and has pretty good coverage abilities not to mention great pursuit. Keep Beason on in the middle. Have Anderson and Davis play the SAM.
57 Comments
Question.
Let's say Beason as an individually a better player at MLB than WLB.
That said, let's also assume for the question that Rivera can put together the best overall D on the field if moves Beason to WLB.
Do you want Beason at WLB or MLB under that scenario?
No question, you go with whatever setup,that gives you the best D possible. If that means Beason at WLB so be it. Still think Kuechly will be a better WLB than Beason
This is what I was saying.
It doesnt really matter that Beason is / was our MLB.
What it SHOULD come down to is where does each player give us the best chance to win.
If our team is better served with Beason at the WIL than so be it, same thing with Kuechly as the WIL.
But should looking at both Beason and Kuechly and their abilities, id say Kuechly will better serve us on the outside.
Yes, it was a hypothetical.....one that could be a possible outcome.
Luke likely will be out MLB if he is what the Panthers think he is. Maybe not this year but soon
I know...I found those typos......damn Iphones. My fingers are too damn fat for that little keyboard.
Damn, I am so out of shape that my fingers are obese. I gotta get may ass back out running.
i agree, though, that we probably really didn't see a whole lot of what that scheme could do, though, esp. considering that a few of the players they were counting on and building around were out of the picture and they essentially had to scrap together what they could with inexperienced players and scrubs.
we should see a much more complex defense this year. i think that is why they chose kuechly, though. out of all the players on the board he was going to be more able to pick things up and hit the field ready to go...maybe not as the mike, but anywhere else on the mid-field he would be able learn quickly and play at a high level. in a lot of teams he could probably come right in at Mike and start but not when you've got a guy of beason's caliber.
There is no question that Beason will have a leg up on a rookie just coming into the league if everything else is equal. I expect Beason will help Kuechly out quite a bit and Luke will count on Beason to help transition him to the pro game. Unlike some folks on this board who seem to have an adversarial attitude to players who aren't their favorites, I suspect the players themselves know that it will take a combined effort from all of them to be great this year and they will work hard to help everyone improve.
If Beason starts it is a great thing because it means he is 100% back and the team benefits immensely. If you a Panther's fan and not a fan of an individual player you have to root for everyone to play well and contribute.
Just because someone has muscles dont necessarily mean they are strong.
Jus sayin....
I think Beason said he hasn't benched since being in the NFL....
I would not bet all that if I were you. Part of benching a lot is simply routinely doing bench presses
I dont think he has a chest like that without benching.....
Sure you can. Don't need to bench to build muscle or a beach body.
I have heard of people being LEAN without lifting weights.
But how does one get SWOLL without lifting weights.
Lets be real here, Beason is a NFL LB, the dude lifts a lot of weights.
You can lift weights without doing the bench press. I wasn't implying he didn't lift. He lifts a lot. Lots of guys stay away from doing bench press nowadays.
You can target specific muscles better using free weights. Lot of NFL programs don't have them doing the classic bench
Yea, he might not be doing a bench, but he is certainly doing free weight chest exercises. You dont get swoll like that without lifting weights. Beason is built like a tank from the hip up!