Cowboyzadam
08-16-2007, 01:38 AM
Middle linebackers will be counted on in new scheme of things.
IRVING – DeMarcus Ware. Greg Ellis. Anthony Spencer.
The Cowboys' outside linebackers have drawn plenty of attention this summer.
On the cover of a weekly sports publication stands Ware, arms folded, looking mean.
Coach Wade Phillips has been asked to compare San Diego's Shawne Merriman to Ware.
Then, there's the daily "As Greg Ellis' World Turns."
He remains day-to-day.
Spencer, the team's No. 1 pick, is being moved from defensive end to outside linebacker.
But speak with linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni about the two starting inside linebackers, and his voice rises and the intensity of the conversation picks up.
"Leadership, communication, hard-hitting, movement, athletic," he said. "That's what we need there."
As important as Ware and Ellis are to the 3-4 scheme, the inside linebackers are vital to the success of the Cowboys' defense.
If you don't believe it, just follow the money.
Jerry Jones gave Bradie James an $8 million signing bonus to go along with his $1.5 million base salary this season. Jones also handed out a $5 million signing bonus to Akin Ayodele, who will make $2.4 million in base salary in 2007.
Backups Bobby Carpenter, last year's No. 1 pick, and Kevin Burnett, a second-round pick from 2005, are also important.
"The middle linebackers are the core of the defense," Burnett said. "You basically tell everybody what to do. You pretty much are the head of it all, and you are the closest to the action. You have to tell people where to line up, tell them what to expect, and you make the calls to the secondary. It's kind of like a Chinese fire drill."
Since the Cowboys moved to the 3-4 scheme in 2005, James leads the team in total tackles with 241. In 2006, Ayodele was second on the team in tackles with 106.
The tackles should increase this season as Phillips moves to a more aggressive defensive scheme.
The outside linebackers will blitz more often to try to put pressure on the quarterback. If that happens, James and Ayodele will have more opportunities to make plays in coverage. If the inside linebackers also blitz, which wasn't often the case in last season's scheme, somebody will get through the line of scrimmage.
That could mean more tackles for loss and sacks.
James had no sacks last season and three tackles for loss.
Ayodele tied a career low with one sack and set a career low with only one quarterback pressure last season.
If the new scheme is successful, that should change.
So far in training camp, the inside linebackers are blitzing more and attacking ball carries with aggression.
"It gives us a lot of opportunities with this defense," Ayodele said. "Bradie is blitzing more and when I watch him now, he's become a better pass rusher. He has something I've been able to do, and it makes us better as a unit."
IRVING – DeMarcus Ware. Greg Ellis. Anthony Spencer.
The Cowboys' outside linebackers have drawn plenty of attention this summer.
On the cover of a weekly sports publication stands Ware, arms folded, looking mean.
Coach Wade Phillips has been asked to compare San Diego's Shawne Merriman to Ware.
Then, there's the daily "As Greg Ellis' World Turns."
He remains day-to-day.
Spencer, the team's No. 1 pick, is being moved from defensive end to outside linebacker.
But speak with linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni about the two starting inside linebackers, and his voice rises and the intensity of the conversation picks up.
"Leadership, communication, hard-hitting, movement, athletic," he said. "That's what we need there."
As important as Ware and Ellis are to the 3-4 scheme, the inside linebackers are vital to the success of the Cowboys' defense.
If you don't believe it, just follow the money.
Jerry Jones gave Bradie James an $8 million signing bonus to go along with his $1.5 million base salary this season. Jones also handed out a $5 million signing bonus to Akin Ayodele, who will make $2.4 million in base salary in 2007.
Backups Bobby Carpenter, last year's No. 1 pick, and Kevin Burnett, a second-round pick from 2005, are also important.
"The middle linebackers are the core of the defense," Burnett said. "You basically tell everybody what to do. You pretty much are the head of it all, and you are the closest to the action. You have to tell people where to line up, tell them what to expect, and you make the calls to the secondary. It's kind of like a Chinese fire drill."
Since the Cowboys moved to the 3-4 scheme in 2005, James leads the team in total tackles with 241. In 2006, Ayodele was second on the team in tackles with 106.
The tackles should increase this season as Phillips moves to a more aggressive defensive scheme.
The outside linebackers will blitz more often to try to put pressure on the quarterback. If that happens, James and Ayodele will have more opportunities to make plays in coverage. If the inside linebackers also blitz, which wasn't often the case in last season's scheme, somebody will get through the line of scrimmage.
That could mean more tackles for loss and sacks.
James had no sacks last season and three tackles for loss.
Ayodele tied a career low with one sack and set a career low with only one quarterback pressure last season.
If the new scheme is successful, that should change.
So far in training camp, the inside linebackers are blitzing more and attacking ball carries with aggression.
"It gives us a lot of opportunities with this defense," Ayodele said. "Bradie is blitzing more and when I watch him now, he's become a better pass rusher. He has something I've been able to do, and it makes us better as a unit."