#52, Terrible Middle Linebacker

[mraynrand]

I don't have a good feel for Ryan yet, except that he finds the ball in the run game better than Palmer. He seems lost in coverages of bunched WR.

I don't understand this. If Ryan has responsibilities on bunched WRs that seems like a defensive scheme fail, right off the bat.

[pbmax]

I don't understand this. If Ryan has responsibilities on bunched WRs that seems like a defensive scheme fail, right off the bat.

Should have said bunched receivers. Might have been 1 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB. He, Matthews and a DB were the coverage options. The inside guy snaked straight through to the end zone for a TD. Bears game I want to say.

[Cheesehead Craig]

ILB has been a weakness for a while now so TT better address that position along with TE in the next draft. Clay's talents are being squandered in the middle.

I don't know if there's a whole lot at ILB that would be available this next draft. There only seems to be one, maybe 2 ILB of note from what I can see so far. It's almost where you have to get lucky and find a player that blossoms in the pro level.

[mraynrand]

Should have said bunched receivers. Might have been 1 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB. He, Matthews and a DB were the coverage options. The inside guy snaked straight through to the end zone for a TD. Bears game I want to say.

got it. I know the play you're talking about - and the whole defensive backfield was confused before that snap. Fair to say that if you have a rook out there, the vets should be helping him line up and not be running around like chickens sans heads, no? Yes, I am making excuses.

[pbmax]

got it. I know the play you're talking about - and the whole defensive backfield was confused before that snap. Fair to say that if you have a rook out there, the vets should be helping him line up and not be running around like chickens sans heads, no? Yes, I am making excuses.

I thought the same thing but there was another instance versus the Cowboys that lead to a completion near the end zone (no TD) where he was asking around for help then seemed to retreat too deep.

[Maxie the Taxi]

I agree with Nutz. TT was caught short by an injury to a key player at a weak position to start: Barrington. It's like when Jordy got hurt. You've got weak backups to start with. Whent he good guy gets hurt you're really screwed. I wonder if Jeff Luc is still available. They need a guy like that.

[mraynrand]

I thought the same thing but there was another instance versus the Cowboys that lead to a completion near the end zone (no TD) where he was asking around for help then seemed to retreat too deep.

interesting. I'll look for it. But safe to say Ryan is out of his depth (pun intended).

[Maxie the Taxi]

Jeff Luc is a free agent. Invite him in for a tryout. He's was born an ILB and he's a damn, made-to-order Fuckdoggle.

[mraynrand]

nm

[RashanGary]

Clay has been an impact player all year long. I don't doubt that there are more instinctive players, but he's as tough as they come. I think any team in the league, if they had the choice to start clay at ilb and that's the only spot they could play him, they'd take him and start him. This seems like exaggeration to me.

[RashanGary]

Probably the more accurate, but less attention grabbing thread starter would be, "I see clay making more mistakes from the ilb position."

[Patler]

That brings up another question, for the first time in a number of weeks, I don't recall hearing Datone Jones name mentioned. I listened to more than watched the game. How did he play?

Saw very little of him. He was close a couple of times but that was it. Maybe two flushes that I saw?

They ran several of an actual delayed LB blitz with Matthews up the gut through the Guard gap, where the D lineman tried to pull the O line toward the outside. Jones did get snaps at OLB and its possible he or Neal were partially responsible for the big runs wide.

Didn't he have a batted ball or something? I remember him mentioned once.

Apparently Jones did OK, per McGinn's grading article anyway. He has him for:

- 31 plays, including 17 at DE
- 2 pressures
- 1 batted ball.

[Fritz]

Are they grooming him to take over for Peppers next year?

[Deputy Nutz]

2nd week in a row Mathews did not record a single tackle. It is obvious that Ryan is over his head against a team like Arizona but at least he was in position to miss tackles.

[pbmax]

Are they grooming him to take over for Peppers next year?

They are just trying to get pass rush pressure this year.