Chargers Camp Battles: Inside Linebacker

by John (obviousman) on May 5, 2009 6:32 AM PDT in Training Camp/Preseason Comment 14 comments

I know, I know.....we've been over this a thousand times. Everyone has their theory as to how the Chargers coaches will handle the Inside linebacker spot opposite Stephen Cooper. Considering that Kevin Burnett was praised as a coverage linebacker and great special teamer, most of us fans didn't think he'd really compete for the starting job. It was Tim Dobbins' to lose.

One thing that is usually true with NFL teams, although the Chargers can sometimes be different in this regard, is that if you look at the money you can predict the starter. Although the backup guy may be just as good as the guy starting, if not a little bit better, it's going to make everyone look foolish if the player making the league minimum is starting ahead of the guy with the big contract. Also, since most of us haven't seen much of Burnett and he doesn't have a lot of stats to stand on (as a backup in Dallas), this may be the best way to gauge how the Chargers feel about him.

Player	Cap Value
Kevin Burnett	$3,750,000 (est.)
Stephen Cooper	$1,833,012
Tim Dobbins	$493,120
Brandon Siler	$386,681
Matt Wilhelm	$3,653,960

I estimated Burnett's 2009 cap value by taking his salary (5.5M over 2 years), subtracting the signing bonus (2M) and then dividing by two. Once I got that number (1.75M) I added the signing bonus back in. Each of the other numbers is what that player's 2008 cap value was, but I do not believe any of these players signed new deals in 2008 or 2009 so it should be very nearly the same.

If my math is correct, Kevin Burnett will be the highest paid Inside Linebacker on the Chargers roster in 2009. And while I assume AJ Smith likes a good value, such as having his two starters (Cooper and Dobbins) making less than 2.5M combined, I doubt he'd use the leftover money to overpay for a player that will spend more time off the field than on it. Especially considering he's already doing that with Wilhelm. I think Burnett may be "competing" with Dobbins, but I also think Burnett has the inside track on that starting ILB job.

More than that, I think Kevin Burnett was the reason the Chargers did not draft another Inside Linebacker. Burnett could be the answer to some of our coverage problems. From what I've read and heard from Cowboys fans, Burnett should have no problem handling man-to-man coverage on Tight Ends and Running Backs and should be as dangerous as a shark with a taste for blood in zone coverage. Having a player like that lined up 3 yards in front of whoever wins the SS spot would certainly help to sure-up the pass defense.

There was a lot of talk after this signing that Burnett was great at special teams also and could help us in that part of the game as well. The Chargers certainly need the help, as they struggled in 2008 with long kick returns that gave the opposition a short field. However, if Burnett winds up taking the starting job he could help the special teams without ever taking part by simply freeing up Dobbins to become a special teams beast again.

This does not mean I think Dobbins is out of the picture altogether. I simply think Dobbins needs to have an outstanding training camp to win the Inside Linebacker job. He needs to prove that not only is he the ferocious hitter we saw last year, but that he's improved in coverage and at reading the play. Too often in 2008 Dobbins was caught biting on playaction or rushing the passer on a screen (a big no-no for Inside Linebackers). It's not unheard of for a player of Dobbins age (both him and Burnett are 26) and experience to have a dramatic improvement over the course of an offseason, and I hope that happens because then the Chargers would have more talent at the position, but I also believe that a dramatic improvment is the only way Dobbins gets the job over Burnett.

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When I was putting together the summaries of AJ's and Rivera's interviews

It sounded like both of them thought Burnett was going to be at least the starter on passing downs and could push for the full time starter. AJ did go out of his way to praise how Dobbins has prepared and progressed over the last two offseasons.

One thing I tend to forget is that AJ is very happy with three guys who could start competing for two positions. In this league where injuries and Free Agency happens, I think he is very comfortable with three players for two spots.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on May 5, 2009 8:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, but....

My main point here, and obviously it’s my own opinion, is that if Cooper and Dobbins wind up being full-time starters (with Burnett coming in on 3rd and long) the team and the GM may end up looking foolish. Their top-2 ILBs in terms of salary would be sitting on the sideline for at least 2/3 of the game. I think for that reason alone Burnett has the inside track for the job.

I think AJ may have even been hinting at that, basically telling Dobbins that he needs to progress further this year if he plans on beating out Burnett. Don’t forget that Donnie Edwards was considered by some to be a passing-down LB, and his coverage and sound tackling have been missed since his departure.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John (obviousman) on May 5, 2009 8:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It will be interesting to see how the $$ affects it

Especially since Burnett was brought in as a FA and given the money (as opposed to Wilhelm who was drafted and given a big contract before becoming a starter)

by Stephen (shaynes41) on May 5, 2009 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cooper should get Wilhem’s money, Dobbins should get Cooper’s, Siler should get Dobbins’ and Wilhelm should get cut.

If that doesn’t happen, one would think that the mic’d up LB who typically has the most responsibility and is on the field the most would get the most money. But this is the Chargers we are talking about and when have we known them to spend a lot of money on anything – especially anything that makes sense?

by Diesel85 on May 5, 2009 10:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

some of the $$ inequity

is just due to time in the league. Dobbins and Siler are on their first contract, and I think Cooper is still on a contract he signed as a restricted free agent. Wilhelm is the only one on his legit second contract. But you’re right, Wilhelm is getting overpaid and I think is one of the guys AJ means when he says “Guys are on notice”

by Stephen (shaynes41) on May 5, 2009 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Nailed it.

Wilhelm was also given money because we needed someone to step up and take over the hole when Edwards left. Wilhelm made the most sense at the time, but has regressed since.

Rec’d.

"I did not invent the wheel, I was the crooked spoke adjacent." - Aesop Rock

by John (obviousman) on May 5, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wilhelm

He got paid before Edwards left, but it was obvious that it was in anticipation of Edwards’ departure. Just trying to clarify since you made it sound like when Edwards left, they scrambled and gave Wilhelm the dough. It was a much more calculated move than that. If Wilhelm’s agent had known that he would be the starter, he’d have gotten much more money than he did.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on May 6, 2009 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I agree

that Burnett has the inside track on the starting job. I think he’ll definitely find himself on the field more than Dobbins, either from teams passing more on us, or from the fact that it’s often difficult to tell whether it’s going to be a “passing down”, so Burnett will probably be out there for a lot of the time.

Also, I think that Kevin may show himself to be an every-down linebacker. He never got the chance with the Cowboys, and here with the opportunity may prove himself worthy. Obviously, we’ll see what happens in training camp.

The fact that he signed a guaranteed contract worth $5 million certainly lends credence to the idea that the Chargers’ staff expects this to be the case.

by maestro876 on May 5, 2009 10:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Dobbins highlights

I remember Dobbins being in on 2 key plays last year. He recovered the fumble in the Hochuli play and he got the key sack on Manning in the playoff game. All the talk of Burnett is his coverage ability. The choice between Dobbins and Burnett might be a rush vs. coverage decision.

by Ed in LJ on May 5, 2009 8:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I see a ton of rotation

I think you will see Burnett in passing situations, you will see Dobbins in obvious running downs and you will see a lot of Merriman and English from the edge with Phillips as a rover and Cooper on the inside. I’m guessing we will see very little of Wilhelm.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on May 5, 2009 9:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

These guys will have to practice their sprints

If they are rotating in and out and in again on every play, they will have to get on and off the field quick. We will inevitably give up an offsides penalty or not have everyone on the field. Or we will have someone snap it quick before we are set and get an easy TD (e.g. Peyton in the playoffs). And, any good QB (again, Peyton) will know which LB is better for what and simply audible to the different type of play.

I guess its good that we aren’t playing the Colts this season

by Diesel85 on May 6, 2009 10:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah

and that’s the obvious benefit of having one guy who can do everything. On the other hand, if it’s third and 10, and we put Burnett in, and they decide to run, I’m OK with that. Offensive packages will drive this alot as well, running out of a 4 wide package is not going to be real effective in the NFL and throwing out of a two TE package is not real effective either. A QB can change the play at the line, but if he doesn’t have the players for the play, it won’t be real effective.

Another thing about the Colts last year was that they didn’t have a running game you had to worry about. So we ran nickel most of the time. Peyton can get cute and try and run the ball all he wants, If they are going to attack our weakness with their weakness, that is also fine with me.

by Stephen (shaynes41) on May 6, 2009 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

There was a rule implemented a couple year back

That if the offense substitutes, then the defense gets to substitute without penalty. The only reason Manning catches people is because he chooses certain times to not substitute when the situation would normally call for it. He risks calling a play that isn’t as likely to work for a certain down and distance while hoping that he can get the penalty called. I think he tried once recently to catch us, but forgot that his team was substituting and the refs stopped him from getting a snap off.

To summarize, these positional rotations aren’t as bad as you may think.

Memo to baseball managers: You manufacture runs by NOT making outs, not by making them on purpose.

by Wonko on May 6, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Well it cant get much worse

Coop did an OK job, could have been better if he wasnt suspended for 4 games, but overall he was definitely the leader of the ILB. Matt has to go, Tim has to learn how to cover, and Siler just needs more time to develop (he all ready has the nasty attitude). Now that we have a true coverage ILB we have hope at stopping TE’s / RB’s who do simple moves to get to the outside… maybe we wont have a soft middle this year.

Lets go Fo-Shizzle our Nizzles!

by CMB-Lucid on May 7, 2009 11:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs