I agree for RILB. I’m probably not understanding very well. But it seems the prototypical Ray Lewis type is an MLB and LILB. We’ve got Andra Davis and Spencer Larsen that both seem great for LILB but maybe not so much for MLB? DL never stood out as a MLB.

PDO is right on with the inside spots. We’ll see DJ in the Ray Lewis type role in the 3-4, with Davis or Larsen in what is called the bulldog role. But, if I recall Ray started coming out in certain passing situations the last couple years. Depending on what the 4-3 is used to counter, I’d say DJ is still the right guy in the middle, but I think Larsen could end up being the primary MLB for the 4-3 IMHO.

I think that DJ is going to what will be his natural position. It takes some getting used to to understand the responsibilities in the 3-4 – and there are so many different 3-4 looks, too. Sometimes folks talk as if there is one 3-4 but there are 3 major variants and many different sub-variants for each, each one with it’s own wrinkles. The main thing is the areas of responsibilities – the gaps – are a little different. DJ is incredibly athletic – he’ll be able to shoot a gap, drop into coverage, play the run. Davis’ power makes him a natural at RILB – Larsen will get to learn the position for a year and then we’ll see. He could always be a backup or move up to starter. It’s not a bad thing to have a career ST/backup RILB/backup FB. In fact, it’s great. Talk about versatile

And you can look at Woodyard as very versatile – he plays with more power than his build should permit, hammers the run, can also play ILB or either OLB position. After notching 10 tackles a game for part of last year, I bet McD finds a plac for him.

First I’d like to dispense with the myth of the dominant middle linebacker. In the last 50 years, how many truly dominant MLBs can you name: Nitscke, Butkis, Lambert, Singletery, Seau, Lewis, others??? Remember Gradishar was never a MLB. That’s about 1 every nine years.

Even so, MLB is fading as a marque position. That is because the game has changed. Those MILBs are remembered because they were dominant run stuffers. They made big plays in the middle of the field. But offenses have changed over the years. The WCO, zone-blocking, spread offenses have reduced the opportunities for MLBs to make the highlight-real plays we expect of a dominant MLB. In addition defensive changes have also limited their exposure. The prevalence of Tampa-2 defenses changes the role of MLB from a dominant run stuffer to a sideline to sideline player and a coverage guy. More teams are shifting to 3-4 defenses where the middle defense is shared by two LBs instead of a single MLB.

Finally Fantasy Football and video games have reduced the cache of the MLB position. MLBs don’t generate the kind of individual stats that so many fans obsess on these days. MLBs have never been big sack generators; they may get very timely sacks, but they don’t generate the big numbers that a rush specialist does. Likewise they aren’t big interception generators; its not not their responsibility.

Maybe everthing the article says is true but so what? It’s like lammenting the demise of the “true fullback.” The game is changing; the game always has. Nobody regrets the demise of the true quarterback – a blocking back who called the signals.

We won’t have a MLB because we won’t be playing a 4-3 defense. And it won’t matter.

Going into training camp, I can’t believe how many options Nolan has to go to. We’ve all talked about amoeba offense, but how about amoeba defense? DJ is so adept to change, I can see him lining up in myriad positions in all defensive variations, & being effective. Also, the Ted Block defensive scheme, so eloquently broken down, recd, & reviewed on this site, will create so many more opporotunities for all of the LBs, no matter where they line up. This entire defense will be able to morph instantaneously simply by a suitable threat stepping back & standing up, or moving forward & putting his hand on the ground. Look at all of the players we have on our roster capable of pulling that mirage off. The entire defensive roster is primed for extreme training camp competition. Iron shartpens iron. The defensive looks will be so situational, so many players will have opporotunities to contribute, I can’t help but getting stoked for what we all are about to witness. Remember the “No Name Defense”?. We are about to see the inception of the “No Face Defense”. My forecast for this coming season, for all opposing offenses, is pain, & plenty of it!

The original Lopez article highlighted the fact that Line Backers relative wages, were lower than other defensive position, particularly when compared to DE and DL. I think the reason for this are that there are a lot of good LB’s in the dratf but a great DL or DE is a rare commodity and therefore market forces casue their wages to be higher. Examples of this are Haynesworth ($100 million for 7 years) and Peppers ($16million for 1 year).

The best free agent LB IMHO was Bart Scott and his package was only worth $48 million over 6 years.

I do accept that these figures are not the true values apart from Peppers because they include various bonus’s that may or may not be paid, but the wage differential is still massive.