NFC South Linebackers

saintsfan912 · 05-07-2008, 05:21 PM

Who has the best LBs in the South?

saintsfan912 · 05-07-2008, 05:39 PM

Tampa, unless Vilma and Morgan come back strong as they were.

ShadowPanther · 05-07-2008, 05:44 PM

I have to say Carolina, and not as a homer. We could start Jon Beason, (Who is already the best linebacker in the division)Thomas Davis, and Dan Connor. The depth is also ridiculous.

thefalconer · 05-07-2008, 06:02 PM

potential-wise, panthers but the bucs are known for their defense and tough LB corps. when i think of TB, i think hard-nosed LBs. panthers are definitely close behind with a great corps of youngsters and i think the falcons are in a distant 3rd.

Caddy · 05-07-2008, 07:42 PM

1. Buccaneers: Derrick Brooks is a future HoFer, Cato June is a great SLB with Superbowl experience and Barrett Ruud is an up and comer at his position.

2. Falcons: Purely ahead of the Panthers because of Michael Boley and the versatility of Keith Brooking.

3. Still a little unproven for my tastes. Nobody denies their talent, but I'd like to see more from every linebacker on the team not named Beason.

4. Least proven of all. Vilma has the ability to really improve the unit.

Tampa 2 4 life · 05-07-2008, 07:45 PM

1. Bucs- Brooks/June/Ruud
2. Falcons - Michael Boley and Keith Brooking < STEPHEN NICHOLAS OH MY GOD
3. Panthers - Will be good in 2-3 years
4. Saints = ???

d34ng3l021 · 05-07-2008, 08:01 PM

Bucs: Brooks has his best years behind him, but is still a very solid player. Cato June is more fit to play WLB, and I dont like him at SLB right now. Hopefully he can do a good job taking over Brooks when he retires. Ruud is a beast.

Falcons: Boley is one of the top 4-3 SLBs in the league and is only getting better. Brooking sucks, but hopefully he can do a solid job at his original position of WLB. I dont know if he has it in him though. Lofton looks to be a DeMeco and Tatupu type stud who has great instincts.

Panthers: Jon Beaston. His name is self explanatory. He is a beast, and almost outplayed Willis last year. Davis does a great job at SLB and is very good. I dont know who their WLB is.

Saints: They have done a nice job trying to fix their LB corp. I loved the trade for Vilma, and he should be great in a 4-3. I doubt Morgan plays for more than 2 weeks. He should really call it quits before he gets seriously hurt. Fujita is a very underrated player and I like him alot, but not Davis or Boley esque yet.

diabsoule · 05-08-2008, 04:31 AM

Right now it's TB, Carolina, Atlanta, and then N.O.

With Brooks, Ruud, and June the Bucs have the perfect LB's for their system.

Carolina has Thomas Davies, Jon Beason, Landon Johnson, and Dan Conner for depth.

Atlanta has Michael Boley, Curtis Lofton, Keith Brooking, and Stephen Nicholas. I look for them in 2009-2010 to have probably the best LB in the division with Boley, Lofton, and Nicholas.

Saints have too many questions marks. Fujita is above average, Vilma is coming off surgery, and Dan Morgan is a concussion case and we have no depth.

Thunder&Lightning · 05-08-2008, 10:42 AM

Bucs no question... Saints have potential

toonsterwu · 05-09-2008, 10:04 AM

It's Atlanta or Carolina for me, with Tampa close behind. People will underrate that Carolina unit, but Landon Johnson (and he should start ahead of Connor) is a solid player on the weakside, Beason is superb, and Davis is solid. Connor gives them great depth, allowing Beason to kick to weakside if need be.

The Atlanta unit could be real good, though. Boley and Brookings should still be a good tandem, with Lofton cleaning up. Curtis plays faster than he times.

Oh, I voted Atlanta.

Crazy_Chris · 05-09-2008, 02:24 PM

I like Tampa but Atlanta or Carolina has the potential to be better.

xooberon · 05-09-2008, 06:07 PM

this divisions got some good LB's! very hard to choose, the homer in me says that with beason and TD plus the great depth we have (a lot of people say dan connor, landon johnson but forget that diggs was playing great last season) we probably have the best unit. but it's very close between all four imo

no love · 05-09-2008, 06:13 PM

I voted Atlanta, even though Brooking might be a shell of his former self at this point in his career. I was really high on Lofton as a prospect and Boley is self explanatory.

Next would be Carolina. Beason is going to be a beast for a long time.

BamaFalcon59 · 05-09-2008, 11:00 PM

Okay, seriously it is Atlanta. Michael Boley, Curtis Lofton, and Keith Brooking all in the same unit? Wow! And Stephen Nicholas is not too bad, either.

SaintsMan · 05-11-2008, 04:39 PM

Brooks, Ruud, June