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I have seen people on here saying that we dont have a good linebacking core, or that our linebackers are a very thin group.
I guess I am in the minority, but I like all of the linebackers we have on our roster. All of them.
I think that Crowell is a very good linebacker. Based on his season as a starter, I would have said a possible probowl level talent. Since then, he has battled some injuries, but he is still a very talented linebacker that has not reached his full potential. Unfortunately, like in most defensive systems run in the NFL, the strong side linebacker position is the least glorious out of all of them, but he is good in coverage, and I feel comfortable with Crowell having to line up against most TEs.
I know Posluszny is a rook, but obviously his talent, dedictation, and natural feel for his position have already helped him grab the starting spot. He has played well above what should be expected from most rookie linebackers, and I am 100% positive that he will only get better. I love the guy already, and he hasnt played a down for us yet. He has already made several statements endorsing Buffalo as a team and the city. He will be a fan favorite by years end, and I am glad he took Spikes number, so I can have my 2 Spikes jerseys altered.
Coy Wire was our best linebacker in the preseason imho, followed closely by Pos, but he made at least 2 big plays in each of the preseason games, be it a huge hit for a loss, a forced fumble, or pressure on the qb. He is very fast for a LB and hits like a truck. He also contributes a great deal to special teams. In his rookie year, he had close to 100 tackles as a strong saftey playing in the 46 defense, which essentially had him playing like a linebacker. He does not have elite coverage skills by any means, but he is not as awful as many here will have you believe. Your only going to notice him in coverage if he gets beat. He got beat once in the preseason (assuming that it was not a blown coverage that he was trying to make up for, which none of you could possibly know). Most linebackers dont have the experience he has a DB, so i have to believe that it will help him at some point. I think there is a very good possibility that he may not relinquish the starting role at weak side even when ellison gets back.
Ellison took a bunch of heat for some ugly break downs in the titans preseason game, but aside from that game, i did not think he played poorly. Was he stellar? no.. but he is still a young player and I think based on last years performance, which was incredible considering he was just a 6th rounder trying to make the team who was thrust into the starting spot in the first month of the season. He showed me enough last year to believe that he has a career in the nfl ahead of him. I think he is perfectly suited for the weakside spot. He just needs to learn to control his agression some so he doesnt overcommit/overpersue and he will be fine. His tackling was a bit suspect this preaseason, but I saw him tackle very well all last year, so i am going to give the kid the benefit of the doubt and base his tackling ability on what i saw in real games.
Stamer is a excellent special teamer and in the very limited times he has stepped into a real game, he has not hurt us. He is an average linebacker at best, but to me, his roster spot for a special teams ace is fine.
Digi was a pleasant surprise to see him progress so much from an undrafted free agent to guy challenging for the starting spot. People **** on his play alot in the preseason as well, but I watched his play very closely, and other than a few missed tackles that he should have had, and one coverage mistake, I thought he was very solid. as a back up who will continue to learn the position and grow, i think he is excellent and i would not be overly concerned if he had to fill in for a short time.
Haggan is the only guy that i am not crazy about, but he has shown some solid play for the most part. he is your prototypical back up linebacker in todays nfl. he contributes on special teams, he is a solid locker room guy with a good attitude, and he plays a large role on special teams and does it well.
that is my 2 cents if anyone cares.
I guess I am in the minority, but I like all of the linebackers we have on our roster. All of them.
I think that Crowell is a very good linebacker. Based on his season as a starter, I would have said a possible probowl level talent. Since then, he has battled some injuries, but he is still a very talented linebacker that has not reached his full potential. Unfortunately, like in most defensive systems run in the NFL, the strong side linebacker position is the least glorious out of all of them, but he is good in coverage, and I feel comfortable with Crowell having to line up against most TEs.
I know Posluszny is a rook, but obviously his talent, dedictation, and natural feel for his position have already helped him grab the starting spot. He has played well above what should be expected from most rookie linebackers, and I am 100% positive that he will only get better. I love the guy already, and he hasnt played a down for us yet. He has already made several statements endorsing Buffalo as a team and the city. He will be a fan favorite by years end, and I am glad he took Spikes number, so I can have my 2 Spikes jerseys altered.
Coy Wire was our best linebacker in the preseason imho, followed closely by Pos, but he made at least 2 big plays in each of the preseason games, be it a huge hit for a loss, a forced fumble, or pressure on the qb. He is very fast for a LB and hits like a truck. He also contributes a great deal to special teams. In his rookie year, he had close to 100 tackles as a strong saftey playing in the 46 defense, which essentially had him playing like a linebacker. He does not have elite coverage skills by any means, but he is not as awful as many here will have you believe. Your only going to notice him in coverage if he gets beat. He got beat once in the preseason (assuming that it was not a blown coverage that he was trying to make up for, which none of you could possibly know). Most linebackers dont have the experience he has a DB, so i have to believe that it will help him at some point. I think there is a very good possibility that he may not relinquish the starting role at weak side even when ellison gets back.
Ellison took a bunch of heat for some ugly break downs in the titans preseason game, but aside from that game, i did not think he played poorly. Was he stellar? no.. but he is still a young player and I think based on last years performance, which was incredible considering he was just a 6th rounder trying to make the team who was thrust into the starting spot in the first month of the season. He showed me enough last year to believe that he has a career in the nfl ahead of him. I think he is perfectly suited for the weakside spot. He just needs to learn to control his agression some so he doesnt overcommit/overpersue and he will be fine. His tackling was a bit suspect this preaseason, but I saw him tackle very well all last year, so i am going to give the kid the benefit of the doubt and base his tackling ability on what i saw in real games.
Stamer is a excellent special teamer and in the very limited times he has stepped into a real game, he has not hurt us. He is an average linebacker at best, but to me, his roster spot for a special teams ace is fine.
Digi was a pleasant surprise to see him progress so much from an undrafted free agent to guy challenging for the starting spot. People **** on his play alot in the preseason as well, but I watched his play very closely, and other than a few missed tackles that he should have had, and one coverage mistake, I thought he was very solid. as a back up who will continue to learn the position and grow, i think he is excellent and i would not be overly concerned if he had to fill in for a short time.
Haggan is the only guy that i am not crazy about, but he has shown some solid play for the most part. he is your prototypical back up linebacker in todays nfl. he contributes on special teams, he is a solid locker room guy with a good attitude, and he plays a large role on special teams and does it well.
that is my 2 cents if anyone cares.
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