Thread: The LB's looked really solid Saturday. Roach especially.

Evaluating Roach playing out of position in a preseason game with little prep to prepare isn't the best way to go about it sox. He's not gonna make the plays Urlacher does but "he played like garbage"? NO. That would have been Costanzo in the Bronco game with only a marginal improvement in this last one.

The defense didn't fall apart with Roach playing but with Costanzo????? Even Lovie has been fairly complimentary of Roach's play so he must at least be meeting expectation if not exceeding them. If he wasn't Lovie would tend to say nothing just to avoid undermining the only option he has right now. But can he play MLB like Urlacher? NO, and we don't have anyone else who can either.

I don't disagree with your analysis all the often but in this case I think your downgrading him beyond what needs to be. I hope like hell we don't see him playing MLB at all but the reality of it is that we may. The only real real requirement from my standpoint would be is he good enough to win with?

Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

He'd have to get huge play from his safeties and fellow LB'ers long-term against the run. I can't recall a starter so-often neutralized and completely out of the play on rush D.

Size has a lot do do with it. He's what, 6'1 or 6'2" and only 230lbs? Pretty small for the middle in a defense that's been accustomed to a 258lb MLB. I'm concerned with these.

1) Can he drop in coverage and protect that middle the way Urlacher does?

2) Can he control his gap well enough so that if he can't make the play he can at least channel it to another tackler?

3) Does he understand the scheme well enough the be the defensive QB?

It's all gonna be a sacrifice. At best he's barely adequate at MLB but I still don't think he's a garbage player. He just filling some of the biggest shoes in the entire NFL is all.

Originally Posted by soulman

It's all gonna be a sacrifice. At best he's barely adequate at MLB but I still don't think he's a garbage player. He just filling some of the biggest shoes in the entire NFL is all.

That's it in a nutshell.

And here's a "reality check" for those critical of Roach. You don't just shake any tree and have a future Hall of Famer like Urlacher fall into your lap. The world won't come to an end if Brian misses a game or two while he heals up. Yes, he's nearing the end of his career, but there will be "life after Urlacher" just like there was life after our other 4 Hall of Fame LB's.

And I go back to the fact Brian was playing at a pro-bowl level last season. You don't go from playing at THAT level (8 time pro-bowler) to a bum in one season, or after a scoped knee. He'll be around this year and next at least.

I don't understand why Sox is such a Nick Roach hater. I completely agree with you, Soul. He's not Big Url or Briggs, but he's definitely more than just an average linebacker. He's a good ballplayer and would be a starter on other teams. I also remember the game against Detroit last season where he did an excellent job against Tony Scheffler. Blake Costanzo has been a huge disappointment so far, though.
Btw, does anyone know how long DeCicco's gonna be out with that injury?

Well, fortunately we have a more potent offense, so perhaps we won't need to shut out the other team in order to win. If we can get up on the other team relatively early, they will be passing more.


Oh, and if Urlacher can get back on the field.....

Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

That's exactly what he is -- average (if even). He may start on another 4-3 D with a deficiency at LB, but he's very much a mediocre system fit at OLB. I could put up with average if he were consistently good at one thing or steady like Hx2, but he's just not very good at anything and poor at quite a few.

He's trying to fill the biggest shoes in the league at that position so I think your expectations are too high. No player in the entire league can do that. I also note that as he improves he is getting more comfortable calling the correct alignments. He's a smart player. Give him a chance to settle in before rushing to judgement.