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Per the inaugural BGO Podcast, here's a distillation of what we had to say about the LB position heading into FA 2021.
My general takes were these:
- WFT is THIN at LB, but makes up for it by also being small.
- Would like to see meaningful FA investment in the position, targeting "value" signings versus premium.
- For the first time in a generation we have a front four capable of applying consistent pass pressure, so would like to see a focus on brining in fast, rangy LB's capable of covering RB's and TE's and being part of an aggressive, pressing, ball-hawking back seven. Think Richie Petitbone circa 1991.
Who we have:
OLB Cole Holcomb – 6’1 240, 24 years, 2 yr. experience, 45 tckls, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT. 15 starts in 2019 … 10 in 2020.
ILB Jon Bostic – 6’1 245, 29 years, 8 yr. exp., 61 tckl, 3 sacks, 1 INT. Started all but 1 game in 2 seasons here. Not a blue-chip player, but solid and dependable. One year left on contract.
ILB Mychal Kendricks – 5’11 240, 30, 9 yrs., played in 1 game 2020, no stats
LB Khaleke Hudson – 6’0 220, 23, 1 yr., played in 16, started 2, 8 tckls, no sack or INT
LB Jared Norris – 6’1 238, 27, 4 yrs., played in 11, 3 tacks, no sack or INT
LB Jordan Kunaszyk – 6’3 235, 24, 2 yrs., played in 6, 2 tacks, no sack or INT
Did I mention we were thin?
My first priority:
Re-sign FA Kevin Pierre-Louis [SIGNED w/ HOUSTON] – 6’0 231, 29 years, 7 yr. exp., 11 GS 2020, 36 tckl, 1 sack, 1 INT. Played in 13, started 11 in 2020. Showed potential to be reliable, even impact player on occasion last year. Not ideal size, but shows signs of the things I’m looking for—athletic, hard hitter, tackles with attitude. Added benefit of knowing JDR’s system already and JDR knows his game already. Win-win.
Other "in house" considerations:
Ryan Anderson – 6’2, 253, 27 years … has started 4 out of 52 games, 86 tackles, 6 sacks, 0 INT. I admit had high expectations … just haven't really materialized.
Reuben Foster – 6’1 228, no games played. No way to know what might be left in the tank. Still intriguing, yes, and worth consideration, but this ship may well have sailed. Be great to bring him to camp again with a no-risk kind of contract, just to (gently) kick the tires, but tough to invest any real money or potential roster spot on a guy who can’t stay on the field. We’ve seen that movie here.
Scanning the horizon for help:
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/all/outside-linebacker/
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/all/inside-linebacker/
1) I’m thinking we don’t need to chase a superstar at LB. The defense has a stalwart front four already showing capacity to generate pressure. It will, and should, command a sizeable chunk of the defensive budget over the next few years. It is NOT just one LB from having the position covered, though. To me what is indicated is a back seven quick and athletic enough to challenge receivers/TE’s/RBs and look to turn the offense over. That means a stable of fast, aggressive young guys in rotation.
So to me we don’t and shouldn't go after the “Premium” options like Buffalo’s Matt Milano, Tampa Bay’s Lavonte David, or Tennessee’s Jayon Brown. Obviously it would be a good thing to have one, but I think we’re better served and more likely to spread the LB dollars around to try to get more quality depth. Though full disclosure, I believe I would get a brief endorphin rush if we suddenly landed Milano or David for less than the national budget of a semi-developed nation.
So here they are. just because:
Matt Milano, OLB [RE-SIGNED w/ BUFFALO] – 6’0 223, 26 years … solid, great instincts. Not ideal size, given WFT is undersized at LB already. But will command a fair chunk of FA change.
Lavonte David, OLB [RE-SIGNED w/ TAMPA BAY] - 6’1 233, 31 years … serious touch of nasty. He'll be a great add for someone, but almost certainly too expenses/old for WFT's immediate purposes.
Jayon Brown, ILB – 6’0 226, 26 years … great angles, instincts, strong tackler. Small for an LB these days, but the man can play. He'll get paid.
Kyle Van Noy, OLB [SIGNED w/ NEW ENGLAND] – 30, 6'3 250 ... all about leadership; maybe not as athletic already at 30, so … Noy was scheduled to make $12.5 mil this year. He will be 30 when the season starts. Given the Phins still owe him money on the contract there he’ll be “double dipping” so maybe there’s a Way to make him affordable here. There will be bidding for him though.
2) Looks to me like minimum of three LB’s will be added between FA and the draft, so here's a quick look at some of the kinds of guys I WOULD like to see WASH pursue, in no particular order:
Alex Anzalone, OLB - 26, 6’3 241; 2020 Salary: $1.025 million; 2020 Stats: 16 G, 41 tackles, 3 tackles for loss. Has size, moves well, high motor. Old youtubes only for some reason.
Samson Ebukam, OLB [SIGNED w/ SAN FRAN] - 25, 6’3 245; 2020 Salary: $2.28 million; 2020 Stats: 16 G, 31 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7 QB hits, 3 tackles for loss, 1 pass defensed. Just the 11th player since the AFL-NFL merger to return both a fumble and an interception for a touchdown in a game (playmaker?), and has never missed a game since entering the league in 2017.
Christian Kirksey ILB - [SIGNED w/ HOUSTON] 28, 6’2 235; 2020 Salary: $6.68 million; 2020 Stats: *11 G, 77 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 QB hits, 2 tackles for loss, 2 INTs, 4 passes defensed. Cap casualty in GB. Young veteran to add size, experience, leadership. Given some health issues and missed games in last two years in CLE, then five missed games in GB last year, might slip past the FA rush and be an affordable add and push/challenge Bostic for MLB1.
K.J. Wright, Jr., ILB – 6’4 246, 32 years, started every game last 2 years, 60 tackles, 1 sacks, 1 FF in 2020. Depending on how he grades out in workouts in terms of wear and tear ... the man shows up and plays. Could get a couple good years of production here at reasonable price.
Anthony Walker Jr., ILB – 26, 6’1 230, 4 year pro, started all but 1 game last 3 years, 65 tackles, 1 pick, 1 FF in 2020.
***
Wrapping up … hard for me to imagine us NOT having at least two new possible starters in 2021. A challenge to the front office to land both quality and quantity, through FA, the draft, and cut-downs later in the summer. Will keep track of any and all moves at the LB position going forward in the OP.
Please let me know if you see inaccuracies, and weigh in!
Hail to the Team.
My general takes were these:
- WFT is THIN at LB, but makes up for it by also being small.
- Would like to see meaningful FA investment in the position, targeting "value" signings versus premium.
- For the first time in a generation we have a front four capable of applying consistent pass pressure, so would like to see a focus on brining in fast, rangy LB's capable of covering RB's and TE's and being part of an aggressive, pressing, ball-hawking back seven. Think Richie Petitbone circa 1991.
Who we have:
OLB Cole Holcomb – 6’1 240, 24 years, 2 yr. experience, 45 tckls, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT. 15 starts in 2019 … 10 in 2020.
ILB Jon Bostic – 6’1 245, 29 years, 8 yr. exp., 61 tckl, 3 sacks, 1 INT. Started all but 1 game in 2 seasons here. Not a blue-chip player, but solid and dependable. One year left on contract.
ILB Mychal Kendricks – 5’11 240, 30, 9 yrs., played in 1 game 2020, no stats
LB Khaleke Hudson – 6’0 220, 23, 1 yr., played in 16, started 2, 8 tckls, no sack or INT
LB Jared Norris – 6’1 238, 27, 4 yrs., played in 11, 3 tacks, no sack or INT
LB Jordan Kunaszyk – 6’3 235, 24, 2 yrs., played in 6, 2 tacks, no sack or INT
Did I mention we were thin?
My first priority:
Re-sign FA Kevin Pierre-Louis [SIGNED w/ HOUSTON] – 6’0 231, 29 years, 7 yr. exp., 11 GS 2020, 36 tckl, 1 sack, 1 INT. Played in 13, started 11 in 2020. Showed potential to be reliable, even impact player on occasion last year. Not ideal size, but shows signs of the things I’m looking for—athletic, hard hitter, tackles with attitude. Added benefit of knowing JDR’s system already and JDR knows his game already. Win-win.
Other "in house" considerations:
Ryan Anderson – 6’2, 253, 27 years … has started 4 out of 52 games, 86 tackles, 6 sacks, 0 INT. I admit had high expectations … just haven't really materialized.
Reuben Foster – 6’1 228, no games played. No way to know what might be left in the tank. Still intriguing, yes, and worth consideration, but this ship may well have sailed. Be great to bring him to camp again with a no-risk kind of contract, just to (gently) kick the tires, but tough to invest any real money or potential roster spot on a guy who can’t stay on the field. We’ve seen that movie here.
Scanning the horizon for help:
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/all/outside-linebacker/
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/all/inside-linebacker/
1) I’m thinking we don’t need to chase a superstar at LB. The defense has a stalwart front four already showing capacity to generate pressure. It will, and should, command a sizeable chunk of the defensive budget over the next few years. It is NOT just one LB from having the position covered, though. To me what is indicated is a back seven quick and athletic enough to challenge receivers/TE’s/RBs and look to turn the offense over. That means a stable of fast, aggressive young guys in rotation.
So to me we don’t and shouldn't go after the “Premium” options like Buffalo’s Matt Milano, Tampa Bay’s Lavonte David, or Tennessee’s Jayon Brown. Obviously it would be a good thing to have one, but I think we’re better served and more likely to spread the LB dollars around to try to get more quality depth. Though full disclosure, I believe I would get a brief endorphin rush if we suddenly landed Milano or David for less than the national budget of a semi-developed nation.
So here they are. just because:
Matt Milano, OLB [RE-SIGNED w/ BUFFALO] – 6’0 223, 26 years … solid, great instincts. Not ideal size, given WFT is undersized at LB already. But will command a fair chunk of FA change.
Lavonte David, OLB [RE-SIGNED w/ TAMPA BAY] - 6’1 233, 31 years … serious touch of nasty. He'll be a great add for someone, but almost certainly too expenses/old for WFT's immediate purposes.
Jayon Brown, ILB – 6’0 226, 26 years … great angles, instincts, strong tackler. Small for an LB these days, but the man can play. He'll get paid.
Kyle Van Noy, OLB [SIGNED w/ NEW ENGLAND] – 30, 6'3 250 ... all about leadership; maybe not as athletic already at 30, so … Noy was scheduled to make $12.5 mil this year. He will be 30 when the season starts. Given the Phins still owe him money on the contract there he’ll be “double dipping” so maybe there’s a Way to make him affordable here. There will be bidding for him though.
2) Looks to me like minimum of three LB’s will be added between FA and the draft, so here's a quick look at some of the kinds of guys I WOULD like to see WASH pursue, in no particular order:
Alex Anzalone, OLB - 26, 6’3 241; 2020 Salary: $1.025 million; 2020 Stats: 16 G, 41 tackles, 3 tackles for loss. Has size, moves well, high motor. Old youtubes only for some reason.
Samson Ebukam, OLB [SIGNED w/ SAN FRAN] - 25, 6’3 245; 2020 Salary: $2.28 million; 2020 Stats: 16 G, 31 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7 QB hits, 3 tackles for loss, 1 pass defensed. Just the 11th player since the AFL-NFL merger to return both a fumble and an interception for a touchdown in a game (playmaker?), and has never missed a game since entering the league in 2017.
Christian Kirksey ILB - [SIGNED w/ HOUSTON] 28, 6’2 235; 2020 Salary: $6.68 million; 2020 Stats: *11 G, 77 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 QB hits, 2 tackles for loss, 2 INTs, 4 passes defensed. Cap casualty in GB. Young veteran to add size, experience, leadership. Given some health issues and missed games in last two years in CLE, then five missed games in GB last year, might slip past the FA rush and be an affordable add and push/challenge Bostic for MLB1.
K.J. Wright, Jr., ILB – 6’4 246, 32 years, started every game last 2 years, 60 tackles, 1 sacks, 1 FF in 2020. Depending on how he grades out in workouts in terms of wear and tear ... the man shows up and plays. Could get a couple good years of production here at reasonable price.
Anthony Walker Jr., ILB – 26, 6’1 230, 4 year pro, started all but 1 game last 3 years, 65 tackles, 1 pick, 1 FF in 2020.
***
Wrapping up … hard for me to imagine us NOT having at least two new possible starters in 2021. A challenge to the front office to land both quality and quantity, through FA, the draft, and cut-downs later in the summer. Will keep track of any and all moves at the LB position going forward in the OP.
Please let me know if you see inaccuracies, and weigh in!
Hail to the Team.
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Wasted a lot of time on Twitter today for nothing - that I know ...