Who could replace Channing Crowder?

[DolFan619]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2009/02/who-might-replace-channing-crowder.html

Who could replace Channing Crowder?

Wondering which linebacker might replace impending free agent Channing Crowder as the Dolphins' every down inside linebacker if the former Gator is lured away by another team, creating one of the many holes the Dolphins plan to fill?

Akin Ayodele sure seemed like the front-runner if you listen to Dolphins coach Tony Sparano talk about his growth and contributions.

When asked what Ayodele, who has been on Sparano's Jaguars, Cowboys and Dolphins teams brings to his teams "leadership" was the first word out of Sparano's mouth.

That sounds exactly like what a defense likely to get stripped of their signal caller needs.

"He's a physical presence out there for us," Sparano said of Ayodele, who contributed 81 tackles and two interceptions last season. "This guy has gotten better and better as a pro. He really is a pro. He's very good with the young [players] that are out there. He's a physical guy who studies it well. He's a good teacher that way. A leader on our football team.

"His preparation is what's gotten better. Early on, like every other young guy Akin has had to learn. He's learned from some pretty good people. His preparation has gotten better. This is a guy who when you give him the day off he's in the weight room. He figures out a way to get better. He's mentally prepared and physically prepared."

But is Ayodele instinctive enough to man the middle of the Dolphins 3-4 defense 100 percent of the snaps for an entire season?

Does this 29 year old part-time model have more upside than the performance he gave in the Kansas City win when Crowder was sidelined with knee soreness?

Can the Dolphins gamble on him getting the job done, or will they need to pursue a Bart Scott in free agency, or move up in the draft to get one of the three elite inside linebackers?

Deuces.

> Posted by Omar Kelly at 1:16:48 AM

[dolfan13]

bart scott will be the next fa addition to the dolphins 

crowder, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Bart Scott is a major upgrade over Channing Crowder

[DolFan619]

  I find Bart Scott to be a tad bit overrated.  There is a lot of ILB talent in this Draft, I would rather find one that way.

[Tenshot13]

Did someone say DRAFT an ILB?

http://walterfootball.com/draft2009ILB.php

Here are a few of my favorites....

Jason Phillips, TCU
Height: 6-1. Weight: 234.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2009): 4.
1/10/09: Finished with a whopping 13 TFL, as well as 84 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh
Height: 6-1. Weight: 243.
Projected 40 Time: 4.69.
Projected Round (2009): 4-5.
1/10/09: Amazingly, an AP All-America Second Team member. Scott McKillop registered 137 total tackles, 17.5 TFL, four sacks and four passes broken up.

 Worrell Williams, California
Height: 6-2. Weight: 249.
Projected 40 Time: 4.68.
Projected Round (2009): 4-5.
12/7/08: Worrell Williams is having an outstanding season and will be targeted by 3-4 defenses in April. Williams has 55 tackles, five TFL and six passes broken up.

 Daniel Holtzclaw, Eastern Michigan
Height: 6-1. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2009): 4-5.
12/7/08: Don't blame Daniel Holtzclaw for Eastern Michigan's poor season. Holtzclaw, one of the more underrated players in the nation, notched 107 tackles and 4.5 TFL. He has started every game in his collegiate career.

 Jasper Brinkley, South Carolina
Height: 6-2. Weight: 267.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2009): 5-6.
1/10/09: Coming off a terrible knee injury, Jasper Brinkley regrouped and qualified for the All-SEC Second Team.

Anthony Felder, California
Height: 6-4. Weight: 241.
Projected 40 Time: 4.71.
Projected Round (2009): 5-6.
12/6/08: Anthony Felder has continued to play well as a senior, recording 80 tackles and five TFL through 11 games.


There certainly is a lot of talent in the later rounds for ILBs.  I really like Holtzclaw and would like to take a chance on Brinkley.

[run_to_win]

Tenshot,

I appreciate you posting the measurables like this. 

Would it be possible to post Crowder's numbers from 4 years ago for comparison purposes?  From another Crowder thread, "Crowder has some selling points. He has good size (6-2, 250) and speed". 

What is "good speed"?  More specifically, what is Crowder's speed.

Isn't Phillips' 4.55 really fast for inside LB?  On the flip side, isn't 234 a bit light for an inside backer?  Instincts and toughness are more important (Zach Thomas is 5-11 and 230), but speed can compensate a bit for a lack of instincts.  I remember Charles Bowser (6-3, 230) being considered really fast at OLB with that same 40 time ... but that was over 20 years ago.

Measurable comparisons...
Zach Thomas, 5-11, 230, 40 time?
Ray Lewis, 6-1, 250, 40 time?
Crowder, 6-2, 250, 40 time?

[Tenshot13]

So I did some digging...

Crowder on his pro-day...

6'2"....245 lbs......4.71 in the 40 yrd dash

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=10490&draftyear=2005&genpos=ILB


I had to go to Wiki Answers for Ray Lewis's 40 time at the combine....anywhere from 4.52 to 4.6.  Couldn't find any hard evidence though.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_Ray_Lewis%27s_40_yard_dash_time


I couldn't find hard evidence on Thomas's 40 time, but saw some threads in forums that he ran a 4.78, which I find hard to believe.