Jump to content
  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Is the MLB position dying out?


tarheelpride

Recommended Posts

Ran across an article talking about why MLB's are on their way out.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/john_lopez/06/30/linebackers/index.html

What are ya'lls thoughts, especially with us having Beason in the middle? i think we got a rare player in the middle and it'll only help us in the future.

It's true to a degree, as more teams switch to the 3-4 ILB's take over. One dominate defender hawking the middle is gone. For the few teams with base 4-3's though that middle defender has to be gold...like Jon Beason.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...he did have the following to say:

That's not to say there is no place for fierce players like San Francisco's Willis, Houston's Ryans or Carolina's Jon Beason. Teams still must stop the run in order to be successful. And middle linebackers have evolved as well, becoming faster and better in pass coverage without losing tackling punch. But those kinds of talents are rare.

Regardless, I'm not too concerned about John P. Lopez's opinion on the evolution of pro defenses. The day that the middle linebacker position "dies out" is the day that NFL defenses decide that tackling isn't important and/or NFL offenses decide to stop running the ball.

Anyone else want to take up the argument that MLBs are "a dying breed"?

Who the eff is John P. Lopez anyway? Never heard of the guy. Apparently he used to write for the Houston Chronicle and has a radio show in Houston. He has two articles on SI.com. This one, and one about how Mario Williams proved to be a better draft pick than Reggie Bush or Vince Young (thanks for insight, champ). This guy isn't off to a good start at SI.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i was shocked when in the article he didn't mention beason as being among the top 5 MLB's today

The pictures that are linked from the article show him saying...

He has great instincts, is a big-time finisher at the point of impact and is athletic enough to drop into coverage. And he's just getting started. It's a race between Beason, Patrick Willis and DeMeco Ryans to earn the title of best middle linebacker in the game.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ran across an article talking about why MLB's are on their way out.

I didn't interpret the article at all as saying MLB's are on their way out. I garnered from it that the position is evolving from the chase and smash MLB position of old, see their examples of such: Nitzchke, Singletary, Lewis, Butkus, Lambert, Seau, etc...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

More teams switch to the 3-4, the best MLB players are picked up by the 4-3 teams. Teams adapt to the 3-4, the 4-3 teams with the best MLBs excel, teams start shifting back to the 4-3. Reverse, rince, repeat.

Things change, but things stay the same.

So it goes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd like to ask a question to those more knowledgeable on the subject. What exactly is the difference between an ILB like Patrick Willis or Ray Lewis, and a MLB(4-3) like Jon Beason? I know the difference between schemes but I hear from alot of people that MLB(3-4) and MLB(4-3) are different positions.

Im guessing a 3-4 ILB has more responsibility to stop the run compared to a 4-3 MLB, which maybe why Patrick has so many tackles.

Does a 4-3 MLB have a more commanding role of the defense? Is he more responsible for reading the offense?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Bryce has been playing the best ball of his career the last three games IMO. He wasn't the reason we dropped the game in NOLA. Seattle's defense will be his toughest challenge yet this season 
    • I'll be at the game Sunday and up until last year I had a perfect attendance record. Now however I have seen us lose to the Chiefs (last year) and the Bills (this year). So we can no longer rely solely on my ability to pound overpriced beers to propel us to a win. 
    • I haven't been able to watch Seattle on a dedicated basis but the Seahawks are a much better team by the all accounts: eye test, record and DVOA. Defensively they are sick. Best DVOA in the league first in rushing and second in passing. Offensively their passing game has been on fire this year led by JSN I can easily see this being like the Buffalo game where things just get out of hand for us early, that being said this league really is week to week and Seattle does have the disadvantage of traveling cross country for an early game.  If and big if, the Panthers are able to effectively run the ball and limit the amount of time Seattle's offense has to generate explosive plays we have a path to winning this game.  Seattle fans won't be happy to hear this but bad Darnold is always lurking in the background. He is truly an enigma to root for bc he will have an incredible throw that only a few people can make but then will turn around and throw the most bone headed pick of all time.  I think ultimately we drop this one as ultimately it's human nature to be looking forward to that week 18 game. But man how special would it be to be leaving the stadium on Sunday with a win and a miracle dolphins upset 
×
×
  • Create New...