Why Giants’ interchangeable LBs are blessing and curse

This exact thing the other day. In addition to the experience, there is a lot of versatility. Thumpers in Goods on and Brinkley. Decent athleticism in Robinson and Cadillac. Pass rush in Kennard. I like the direction. Not necessary for us to spend big dollars in FA or draft LB high. Build a stable of quality players with different skill sets.

Is the MLB is like the QB of the defense and to a slightly lesser extent the same can be said about the S position. When you have guys at these positions moving in and out of the lineup for multiple reasons it becomes like Dallas' O last year when Romo went down.

like there isn't a linebacker problem...

Of good back up to low end starter at best.

The two youngest guys seem to have the most upside. It's a big streatch to say all the experience somehow might make up for Reese's shitty job of stocking that postion.

In comment 12969997 LauderdaleMatty said:

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Of good back up to low end starter at best. The two youngest guys seem to have the most upside. It's a big streatch to say all the experience somehow might make up for Reese's shitty job of stocking that postion.

Casillas is running with the first unit. As long as that situation continues, I am skeptical about the unit.

Was very very good last year when he stepped in, he actually plays LB between the tackles the way it's taught. If you can count on that in the A and B, the OLBs have more freedom to attack. Kennard NEEDS TO STAY healthy but he has plenty of talent and desire, we just need a WILL to step forward and I think it will be Robinson honestly. He's a move strike type of LB, he's not a MLB except for in sub packages, where I expect him to supplant Casillas or Thomas.

Thomas will be a swing guy as will Casillas and I think Goodson is a Brinkley clone as a two down two gap run stuffer.

did you expect Brinkley to say to a reporter who asked him his opinion about his teammates? "Uh, I think four of those guys suck balls, and the other three are probably third stringers for every other team in the league"?

We have a linebacking corps made up primarily of journeymen - or those soon to be - plain and simple. I'm hoping Kennard stays healthy and Goodson is better than advertised. But I'm a Giants' fan, and I've learned the hard way not to get my hopes up over mid round LBs.

...no top shelf talent at the Linebacker position.

If they can stay healthy (which seems daunting). Part of LB problem last year was the weak DL. These same LBs might look a bit better with Snacks and Hankins in the middle.

In comment 12970187 M.S. said:

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...no top shelf talent at the Linebacker position.

Kennard When healthy has definitely looked top shelf. Prob is when and if healthy with him. Robinson has flashed - also when healthy - and Goodson looks the part and was a favorite of Sy's...

There is potential at least among them.

In comment 12969983 Doomster said:

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like there isn't a linebacker problem...

Maybe there isn't?

No.

Do we have serviceable LBs who can thrive with an improved D-Line and Secondary?

Probably.

The key, as always, is for the corps to stay relatively healthy.

linebackers if they stay healthy. Brinkley and Cassilas are fine as backups. This position could be much improved.

As opposed to crappy.

you got none.

We infused a bunch of talent this off-season which will impact other positions as well.

this offseason. The new additions should be enough to send guys like Thomas and Casillas to the bench, and Herzlich and Unga (gone already) to new careers in life. All these are good things for both the defense and overall roster quality.

Bad news is that we still lack someone with sufficient speed/atheticism to handle the primary coverage responsibilities in the seams and flats. And preferably a guy who can be relied upon to stay on the field for all 3 downs. Next year's issue to address I hope.

Overall - a few more rungs up the ladder to success...

and, if its not all that much, could h be a situational extra rush linesman as a 'LB' such as kiwi did, at times.

He still looks a bit small for a DL'er.

250, who knows, maybe he is lights out quick at DE this year.

and 31 teams passed him over 3 or 4 times. He was not good enough to start his first three years in college. But hope springs eternal, so now he is the MLB of the future and a guy with "potential."

In reality, he probably lacks the speed and quickness to be an every down LB in today's pass happy NFL. Giants were weak in the middle, so he is not a bad gamble in the 4th round. Helps sure up a weakness. However, it is a lot more likely that he is out of the NFL in five years than that he becomes a stalwart at MLB.

in 2014. And then he moved to MLB in 2015.

Maybe not...

In comment 12970744 Vanzetti said:

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and 31 teams passed him over 3 or 4 times. He was not good enough to start his first three years in college. But hope springs eternal, so now he is the MLB of the future and a guy with "potential." In reality, he probably lacks the speed and quickness to be an every down LB in today's pass happy NFL. Giants were weak in the middle, so he is not a bad gamble in the 4th round. Helps sure up a weakness. However, it is a lot more likely that he is out of the NFL in five years than that he becomes a stalwart at MLB.

You could have said the same thing about Jasper Brinkley, a former 5th round pick (#150 overall) who's heading into his 8th season. Chase Blackburn, hardly the most athletic of linebackers, played ten years in the league. The reality is that you just don't know. No one knows. It's easy to say that he'll be out of the NFL in five years because most 4th round picks probably are, but if he can stay healthy (something that Jon Goff couldn't do), he could find a home with the Giants for a long time, just like Blackburn.

As Klaatu said, they aren't superstars, but they are serviceable.

I lay odds most of you running your yaps know nothing about most of the new guys. *cough* *doomster*

Just because you haven't heard their names on ESPN doesn't mean they are bad players.