We now move to the defensive side of the ball to rank our next group and the group is off-ball LBs (basically LBs who are rush specialists). After you vote don't forget to list your Top 3. So, where you got Germaine, Logan, and LDJ? As always, the competition:

ATL: TROY ANDERSON-KADEN ELLISS-MYKAL WALKER
ARZ: BJ OJULARI-KYZIR WHITE-OWEN PAPPOE
BAL: ROQUAN SMITH-PATRICK QUEEN-TRENTON SIMPSON
BUF: AJ KLIEN-MATT MILANO-TYREL DODSON
CAR: SHAQ THOMPSON-FRANKIE LUVU-BRANDON SMITH
CHI: TJ EDWARDS-TREMAINE EDMUNDS-JACK SANBORN
CLV: JEREMIAH OWUSU-ANTHONY WALKER-SIONE TAKITAKI
DAL: LEIGHTON VANDER ESCH-DAMONE CLARK-JABRIL COX
DEN: ALEX SINGLETON-NIK BONITTO-JOSEY JEWELL
DET: JACK CAMPBELL-ALEX ANZALONE-MALCOLM RODRIGUEZ
GBP: DEVONDRE CAMPBELL-QUAY WALKER-ISAIAH MCDUFFIE
HOU: DENZEL PERRYMAN-CHRISTIAN KIRKSEY-CHRISTIAN HARRIS
IND: SHAQ LEONARD-EJ SPEED-ZAIRE FRANKLIN
JAX: DEVON LLOYD-FOYESADE OLUOKUN-CHAD MUMA
KCC: DRUE TRANQUILL-WILLIE GAY-NICK BOLTON
LVR: DIVINE DEABLO-ROBERT SPILLANE-LUKE MASTERSON
LAC: ERIC KENDRICKS-KENNETH MURRAY-DAIYAN HENLEY
LAR: ERNEST JONES-CHRISTIAN ROZEBOOM-JAKE HUMMEL
MIA: DAVID LONG-JEROME BAKER-CHANNING TINDALL
MIN: BRIAN ASSAMOAH-JORDAN HICKS-TROY REEDER
NEP: JAWHAUN BENTLEY-JAHLANI TAVAI-MACK WILSON
NOS: PETE WERNER-DEMARIO DAVIS-ZACK BAUN
NYG: BOBBY OKEREKE-DARRIAN BEAVERS-JARRAD DAVIS
NYJ: JAMIEN SHERWOOD-CJ MOSELY-QUINCY WILLIAMS
PHI: NAKOBE DEAN-NICHOLAS MORROW-NOLAN SMITH
PIT: COLE HOLCOMB-ELANDON ROBERTS-MARK ROBINSON
SFF: DRE GREENLAW-FRED WARNER-OREN BURKS
SEA: JORDYN BROOKS-BOBBY WAGNER-DEVIN BUSH
TBB: DEVIN WHITE-LAVONTE DAVID-ULYSEES GILBERT
TEN: AZEEZ ALSHAAIR-MONTY RICE-BEN NEIMAN
WAS: DAVID MAYO-CODY BARTON-JAMIN DAVIS

NOTABLE FAs: ZACH CUNNINGHAM-DEION JONES-MYLES JACK-KYLE VAN NOY

I think we are around 10th best for what they are asked to do. Love Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt and ADG and what Bettcher
has done since coming here. These aren't pass rushing Linebackers like a lot of teams have, but in our system they all play pretty
damn well against the run and in coverage. Pratt is coming off of his best year by far and Logan and ADG still have high upsides.

Ravens, Buccaneers and the Jaguars seem stacked with the players listed. I don't know their PFF grades lately though so I am just
going off of the names listed as my top 3.

Think they're amongst the Elite group personally.

Hate to go chalk on my first two picks but it is how I see it

49ers
Bears
Bengals

(07-14-2023, 02:20 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I think we are around 10th best for what they are asked to do. Love Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt and ADG and what Bettcher
has done since coming here. These aren't pass rushing Linebackers like a lot of teams have, but in our system they all play pretty
damn well against the run and in coverage. Pratt is coming off of his best year by far and Logan and ADG still have high upsides.

Ravens, Buccaneers and the Jaguars seem stacked with the players listed. I don't know their PFF grades lately though so I am just
going off of the names listed as my top 3.

I think age is the best attribute our linebackers have right now and not ONE has hit their prime yet. You could say Pratt is in his prime but he will continue to mentally grow in this system. All we are missing is a dominant pass rush guy. We had that and we’ve got the best line backing core in the league imo

(07-14-2023, 08:27 PM)Housh Wrote: I think age is the best attribute our linebackers have right now and not ONE has hit their prime yet. You could say Pratt is in his prime but he will continue to mentally grow in this system. All we are missing is a dominant pass rush guy. We had that and we’ve got the best line backing core in the league imo

I don't think we ask our LBers to blitz much. 

I voted for 6-10. I think we can be much better than that. There were quite a few starting LBs that switched teams this year. I don't recognize the Steelers LBs

(07-14-2023, 08:27 PM)Housh Wrote: I think age is the best attribute our linebackers have right now and not ONE has hit their prime yet. You could say Pratt is in his prime but he will continue to mentally grow in this system. All we are missing is a dominant pass rush guy. We had that and we’ve got the best line backing core in the league imo

(07-15-2023, 01:31 AM)sandwedge Wrote: I don't think we ask our LBers to blitz much. 

I voted for 6-10. I think we can be much better than that. There were quite a few starting LBs that switched teams this year. I don't recognize the Steelers LBs

We run a 4-2 defense, our LBs are not pass rushers.  3-4 teams like the Steelers rush their LBs. Yes the Steelers list Watt as an OLB....

Bengals definitely have a top 5 unit but a top 3?

San Francisco is the undisputed #1
Baltimore #2
Kansas City edges out Cincy at #3.

Top 3:
SFF
SEA
KCC (BAL is probably more talented but they have the question of a rookie)

(07-14-2023, 08:27 PM)Housh Wrote: I think age is the best attribute our linebackers have right now and not ONE has hit their prime yet. You could say Pratt is in his prime but he will continue to mentally grow in this system. All we are missing is a dominant pass rush guy. We had that and we’ve got the best line backing core in the league imo

You definitely could argue that our guys are the best at what they do. ADG can rush the passer, but is rarely asked to.

Just the way it is in Lou's system.

(07-15-2023, 02:14 AM)casear2727 Wrote: We run a 4-2 defense, our LBs are not pass rushers.  3-4 teams like the Steelers rush their LBs. Yes the Steelers list Watt as an OLB....

And most consider Watt and End, same as Parsons on the Cowboys. You put Parsons or Watt on this list and they shoot up to the top.

(07-15-2023, 07:08 AM)Synric Wrote: Bengals definitely have a top 5 unit but a top 3?

San Francisco is the undisputed #1
Baltimore #2
Kansas City edges out Cincy at #3.

Warner and Greenlaw are damn good, I know nothing about the other LB listed for San Fran though.

(07-15-2023, 10:05 AM)bfine32 Wrote: Top 3:
SFF
SEA
KCC (BAL is probably more talented but they have the question of a rookie)

Wagner is up there in age and Tranquill has a hard time staying healthy. Even the question of a rookie, I take the Ravens over the 
Squawks and Chefs. Roquan Smith makes up for any rookie questions. Dude is the best LB in the league IMO.

(07-15-2023, 12:52 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Wagner is up there in age and Tranquill has a hard time staying healthy. Even the question of a rookie, I take the Ravens over the 
Squawks and Chefs. Roquan Smith makes up for any rookie questions. Dude is the best LB in the league IMO.

Wagner may be getting up there in age, but if you put any stock in PFF dude scored 90.7. That's about 20 points higher than any BAL LB

(07-15-2023, 01:00 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Wagner may be getting up there in age, but if you put any stock in PFF dude scored 90.7. That's about 20 points higher than any BAL LB

Wow, that is a high rating alright.

(07-15-2023, 01:00 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Wagner may be getting up there in age, but if you put any stock in PFF dude scored 90.7. That's about 20 points higher than any BAL LB

Bobby Wagner just wont go away lol but Brooks and Bush are not on par to make the group as well rounded as Baltimore, Kansas City or even the Bengals.

Roquan Smith was awesome for the Ravens last year and when they took the thinking away from Patrick Queen his skillset really shined along with a promising rookie in Trenton Simpson that's why I have them at #2. 

The Chiefs have Bolton, Gay, and now Tranquill while I think Wilson and Pratt as a pair are higher Tranquill has that full season for the Chargers which puts them slightly above because ADG just doesnt have the experience.


As for Tampa Bay I just cannot bring myself to grade Devin White on par with any of these guys. He is just not good. All talent with a slow processor now if they could move him from the MIKE and give him more of a role like Queen it might be different but they cant as long as Lavonte David is still the best stack OLB in the NFL.

(07-15-2023, 07:08 AM)Synric Wrote: Bengals definitely have a top 5 unit but a top 3?

San Francisco is the undisputed #1
Baltimore #2
Kansas City edges out Cincy at #3.

I think with the Bengals, the argument is depth.  The LB unit rarely misses a beat when there are injuries or subs.

Smith is a beast, but it's hard for me to put the Ravens up there when Queen has had PFF grades of 29.7, 43.5, and 70.0 through his first three years.  

(07-15-2023, 03:20 PM)Synric Wrote: Bobby Wagner just wont go away lol but Brooks and Bush are not on par to make the group as well rounded as Baltimore, Kansas City or even the Bengals.

Roquan Smith was awesome for the Ravens last year and when they took the thinking away from Patrick Queen his skillset really shined along with a promising rookie in Trenton Simpson that's why I have them at #2. 

The Chiefs have Bolton, Gay, and now Tranquill while I think Wilson and Pratt as a pair are higher Tranquill has that full season for the Chargers which puts them slightly above because ADG just doesnt have the experience.


As for Tampa Bay I just cannot bring myself to grade Devin White on par with any of these guys. He is just not good. All talent with a slow processor now if they could move him from the MIKE and give him more of a role like Queen it might be different but they cant as long as Lavonte David is still the best stack OLB in the NFL.

Nice post Synric. Surprised you say this about Devin White, always thought he and Lavonte David were about the best duo in the NFL.

David is extremely underrated. Tranquill is a great addition for the Chiefs, we will see if he can stay healthy.

Simpson on the Ravens behind Roquan Smith could be the best down the road with Queen finally having a good year.

But I still love our guys, need to extend Logan this year IMO.

I think after a few more years alot of teams lie backing cores will resemble ours. Probably gonna start with the AFCN.

Lou has basically said “screw sacks, let’s cover every inch of grass on the field at all costs.”

And it’s led to 2 AFCCG appearances and a superbowl appearance and really you could say both years the offense didn’t do enough to help Lou.

(07-15-2023, 10:05 AM)bfine32 Wrote: Top 3:
SFF
SEA
KCC (BAL is probably more talented but they have the question of a rookie)

I was a big fan of Trenton Simpson in the draft, so I actually really love the BAL LB group.

(07-15-2023, 08:24 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I was a big fan of Trenton Simpson in the draft, so I actually really love the BAL LB group.

As was I, but you can't assume a 3rd rd rookie will perform.

For instance when we move to Edge, who'd you list as our 3rd; Ossai or Murphy? 

(07-15-2023, 10:12 PM)bfine32 Wrote: As was I, but you can't assume a 3rd rd rookie will perform.

For instance when we move to Edge, who'd you list as our 3rd; Ossai or Murphy? 

I'd think Murphy, but Ossai did put up 3.5 sacks in just 334 defensive snaps, which was about half of what Hendrickson and Hubbard played.
Maybe Ossai could be a 6-8 sack guy if he got more opportunity, which is good for a rotational pass rusher.

Hell, you could get crazy and put Hendrickson and Ossai outside with Hubbard and Murphy inside on third and long.
That'd be fun to see.

(07-16-2023, 12:23 AM)ochocincos Wrote: I'd think Murphy, but Ossai did put up 3.5 sacks in just 334 defensive snaps, which was about half of what Hendrickson and Hubbard played.
Maybe Ossai could be a 6-8 sack guy if he got more opportunity, which is good for a rotational pass rusher.

Hell, you could get crazy and put Hendrickson and Ossai outside with Hubbard and Murphy inside on third and long.
That'd be fun to see.

I think ALOT of fans want to see that formation.

(07-15-2023, 03:51 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Nice post Synric. Surprised you say this about Devin White, always thought he and Lavonte David were about the best duo in the NFL.

The media hypes up Devin White because he is an excellent pass rusher... to bad rushing the passer is less than 10% of his snaps. He struggles to read his keys in run support and gets lost in coverage. It's funny because Lavonte David is so good you see him beat White to spots even though its White's read.