The Eagles' options at LB
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The Eagles' options at LB
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Les Bowen and Jeff McLane caught up with Howie Roseman down at the Senior Bowl yesterday to get his thoughts on a variety of topics.
One of them was the organization's issues with adequately addressing the linebacker position. In the interview, Roseman indicated that the Eagles wanted to make a move at linebacker last offseason (whether that was in free agency, through trade or in the draft), but it didn't work out.
Which brings us to this offseason.
The Eagles' defensive line is in good shape going into 2012. They may swap a couple of rotational guys, but my guess is the core (Jason Babin, Trent Cole, Mike Patterson and Cullen Jenkins) will stay in place.
In the secondary, they have to make a decision on Asante Samuel and possibly add some depth, depending on how they view guys like Curtis Marsh and Brandon Hughes. And at safety, they have to decide whether Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman and Jaiquawn Jarrett can be above-average starters.
But linebacker is the one area where the Eagles have to get better.
One option would be the draft. Mike Mayock of NFL Network recently released his list of the top five prospects at each position. Here's who he has at linebacker:
1. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
2. Luke Kuechly, Boston College
3. Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
4. Zach Brown, North Carolina
5. Vontaze Burflct, Arizona State
Kuechly is the most common name I've seen linked to the Eagles at No. 15 in mock drafts. Both Brown and Burfict have been mentioned too.
Upshaw is considered a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end. And Wes Bunting of the National Football Post praises Hightower's ability against the run, but thinks he's probably better suited for a 3-4.
The Eagles have not drafted a linebacker in the first round since 1979 (Jerry Robinson).
Below is a look at the nine linebackers who were named AP All Pros this past season (first and second teams), along with where they were drafted.
| Linebacker | Round Drafted |
| Patrick Willis | 1st |
| Navorro Bowman | 3rd |
| Derrick Johnson | 1st |
| Brian Cushing | 1st |
| London Fletcher | Undrafted |
| Terrell Suggs | 1st |
| DeMarcus Ware | 1st |
| Tamba Hali | 1st |
| Von Miller | 1st |
Of course, several of the names on the list (Hali, Ware, Suggs, Miller) are more hybrid DE/LB types.
But as you can see, seven of the nine linebackers on the list were first-round picks. The only two that were not were Bowman and Fletcher.
The Eagles have taken nine linebackers in the past five drafts: Casey Matthews (4th/2011); Brian Rolle (6th/2011); Greg Lloyd (7th/2011); Keenan Clayton (4th/2010); Jamar Chaney (7th/2010); Moise Fokou (7th/2009); Joe Mays (6th/2008); Andy Studebaker (6th, 2008); Stewart Bradley (3rd, 2007).
However, none of have been taken in the first two rounds and only one, Bradley, has been taken in the first three rounds.
The Eagles could instead (or additionally) opt to add a linebacker or two via free agency.
Rotoworld.com has a master list of players who will be available. There are some intriguing names like Atlanta's Curtis Lofton, who is only 25 years old and was fifth in the league with 147 tackles last season, according to NFL.com. He's also a team captain and seems like the kind of player Atlanta would want to hold on to.
Fletcher was the league's top tackler and earned an All-Pro nod for the first time in his career, but he turns 37 in May. Stephen Tulloch was a free agent last offseason, but only signed a one-year deal with the Lions. He played behind the wide-nine in both Detroit and Tennessee.
Unlike last year, the Eagles will be working with a "normal" offseason. And regardless of who's running the defense, Roseman and Andy Reid need to upgrade the talent at linebacker.
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- Give me a great LB over a Great TE any day of the week
— handsondesign.net - I really wish our FO would just get it together and let us know who is doing what? Washburn has not been told he is coming back last I checked. Juan doesn't know what his title is. Grigson is gone. How can we prepare for a draft w/o personnel in place? What scheme are we running? How can we fill needs for a draft when they don't even know what they are doing yet. Come on get professional— cdjones34
- Sheil, let me jog your memory. They Eagles tried to sign Stephen Tullock but he choose to sign a one year deal with Detroit probably because the head coach of the Lions was his DC in Tennessee. Tullock is a proven, exceptional MLB behind a wide-9 scheme. The Eagles' mistake was not blowing him away with an offer. The Lions are having cap problems so I bet you the Eagles are planning to outbid them for Tulloch. They're not gonna let him slip away again. The sound principle is to try to fill immediate needs through FA and not the draft.— soulman386
- This organization on the past decade never appreciated or could evaluate LBs. I thought they learned their lesson when they lost Trotter, but this team never learns. Just look at the playoff teams. They all have solid LBs. Name me one LB group out of the 12 teams that is worse than the Eagles?— SlinkTMP
- AR does not feel that the LB position is important. He thinks that he can fill in anyone off the street, and they will do a good job in "his" system. Bottom line--you can forget the Eagles taking a LB in the first three rounds. Next year at this time, we will be talking about the same old thing!— PortCity
- Talking about the draft! People! Here we go again Laurie and Reid have you fooled again!
2012 will be repeat of 2011 with Reid as Coach, JC as DC and Marty as OC and i wouldn't be suprise they let Jackson go and try to fill holes with rookies! You get what you pay for!
Philly has become the biggest joke of all time! Keep drinking the Kool-aid!— losteagle - We're fine there.— TVGuy22
- You can insert "But linebacker is the one area where the Eagles have to get better" in just about every offseason for this team
- I am with soulman, sign a guy like Tulloch! Any draft pick is a risk, so draft a couple linebacker early. They need youth and experience. All they have now is depth. IMO Chaney & Rolle are the only ones who has showed much of anything.— willbert31
- I think the Eagles should take advantage of this draft by either signing Curtis Lofton before the draft, which gives you a solid player in the middle, therefore allowing themselves to draft Zach Brown, who is a baller. That would make us formidable at 'backer, and allows us to draft Kendall Wright or Alshon Jeffery at the end of the first or beginning of the 2nd round. But it shouldn't be done if Lofton wants too much money, which we all know he will. In that event, we should then draft Zach Brown in the 1st, a WR at the back-end of the 1st, early 2nd and draft Donta' Hightower in the 2nd to 3rd round. Donta would have to come off, most likely, on third downs but we could just plug Zach in on nickel since he has great coverage aptitude. We should give, old man, Weeden a look for our back up QB spot in the 4th and later rounds as well.— aalston21
- Since Rotund Reid has not ever gotten a player from the mock drafts, you can forget all about Kuechly! The blogs keep pumping up Burflict but again, it probably won't happen. If any body from your list comes here, Sheil, it would be Tulloch. He sounds right up the Eagles FO's alley! Lord, give me strength.........— Panthro2011
- Did you say DE/LB hybrid? The Eagles love to think they're the Patriots and have hybrid guys on their roster, only difference is the Patriots are good at it and the Eagles aren't. Look for the Eagles to draft a smallish, high motor DE/LB hybrid in the 2nd round who probably should have been drafted in the fourth and is probably best suited for a defense other than the one the Eagles are running. You heard it from the Tonner first. Whether you like it or whether you don't like it, learn to love it because it's the truth according to the Tonner and it's the best thing going today.
- Have to agree with the Tonner...just look at history. Graham, Gocong, probably others that my PTSD that this team has inflicted on me is making me forget would have been better suited for a 3-4, but the Eagles are smarter than everyone else and can make square pegs fit in round holes.— Only in Philly...
- C'mon people! Look at the list of 9 stiffs they've drafted at the LB position recently, and answer this question - Do you REALLY trust them to make the right choice in the draft???— uncle meat
- Any of the Alabama LBs (for the size needed to use the wide 9 properly), Kuechly, or Burfinct are fine by me. As long as it's not another reach (Jarrett, Marsh, etc) or o-lineman (we're fine there) or a WR to replace DeSean (just sign the kid... the offense needs the speed).— Armin Tamzarian
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