NFL Inside Linebackers - What is happening in the NFL?
One thing about life and sports is - NOTHING STAYS THE SAME!!
Baseball - specialization - closers(9th inning) - Holds(8th inning) - starters(only pitching 6-7 innings)
Basketball - 3 pointers & dunking (not many passes!)
Golf - driving the ball 300-400 yards
NFL - more passing, one back in the back field, Fullbacks disappearing, and now inside linebackers disappearing, so...............................
The Packer players for inside linebackers on the 90 man rosters.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
Jordan Tripp - 6'3" - 235 lbs. - Montana - Year 4
Jake Ryan - 6'2" - 240 lbs. - Michigan - Year 3
Blake Martinez - 6'2' - 247 lbs. - Stanford - Year 2
Joe Thomas - 6'1" - 227 lbs. - S, Carolina St. - Year 3
Derrick Matthews - 6'0" - 232 lbs. - Houston - Year 1
Cody Helman - 6'2" - 229 lbs. - Wasburn - Rookie
Josh Letullgasenoa - 6'1" - 252 lbs. - Cal Poly - Rookie
David Talley - 6'1" - 236 lbs. - Grand Valley St. - Rookie
The issue - more teams, against 4-5 wide receiver sets, are playing safeties at inside linebacker, so, out of this group maybe only 3 make the team!
Top 3?
Jake Ryan - 6'2" - 240 lbs. - Michigan - Year 3
Still a very young player that we hope has a big up-side. Does not stand out as a superior athlete, but does seem to be adequate against the run. Would expect him to start at the inside spot, but will need to show he can become more of a playmaker!
Recent info:
- Played in 14 games with five starts, opening at BLB for the final five contests. Registered 47 tackles (32 solo) and a fumble recovery on defense and six tackles on special teams.
- Started both postseason games and recorded 10 tackles (seven solo).
- Made the first start of his career at Detroit in Week 13, leading the team with nine tackles (eight solo) and registering his first career fumble recovery.
- Including the postseason, tallied six or more tackles in six of the seven games he started.
- Selected by Green Bay in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft with the No. 129 overall selection. Was the 27th player the Packers have drafted from the University of Michigan and the first since LB John Anderson in 1978 (first round, 26th overall). Joins Anderson as the only Michigan LBs ever drafted by Green Bay.
Blake Martinez - 6'2' - 247 lbs. - Stanford - Year 2
Another young linebacker that needs to make a step. A little more athletic than Jake Ryan, and that would seem to allow him to be on the field more on passing downs. But again, is he a game changer? This year may tell us that!
Joe Thomas - 6'1" - 227 lbs. - S, Carolina St. - Year 3
Early in summer camp, Thomas seems to be the go to LB for the Pack. An interesting background, Thomas matriculating out of South Carolina State. Sometimes you find a diamond in the rough! We hope this is the case. Year 3 for Thomas may be the year he takes control, and it would be nice to have an inside linebacker that would be there for 5-6 years!!! This is when you miss the steady play of an AJ Hawk type of player!!!
As you can see by the stats, last year was a big jump from 2015 to 2016! Guess what, we NEED another jump! I am "dreaming" of an impact linebacker FLYING around the field!!!!
Players to Make a Push!
Jordan Tripp - 6'3" - 235 lbs. - Montana - Year 4
Here we may have a sleeper. Jordan has been around:
From Miami, to Jacksonville, to Seattle, and now Green Bay. The Montana grad has an opportunity. And, we need a surprise!
Derrick Matthews - 6'0" - 232 lbs. - Houston - Year 1
Has been on the Packer Practice squad since November of 2016. Another chance, and that is what the NFL is all about, opportunity!
Cody Helman - 6'2" - 229 lbs. - Wasburn - Rookie
You want a long shot, how about a young man out of Washburn! Washburn, located in Topeka, Kansas. School Motto, "Not For Ourselves Alone". 6,600 students. An my favorite, the school nickname, "The Ichabods"! You need to watch the ICHABOD!
Josh Letullgasenoa - 6'1" - 252 lbs. - Cal Poly - Rookie
And, my favorite last name? Just click here and watch the video!!!
I like this kid!!!
Letullgasenoa (La-tool-gas-a-no-a)
David Talley - 6'1" - 236 lbs. - Grand Valley St. - Rookie
And yes, another long shot, this kid from Grand Valley State! Such alumni as: Brandon Barnes, OL of the Colts, Cameron Bradfield, OL for the Jaguars, Brandon Carr, CB for the Cowboys, and many more alums! Well, not a lot od Hall of Famers, but maybe??????
Boy, wouldn't it be nice to have an All Pro Inside Linebacker!
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