DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Gerard Avery

No, I don't think that will happen. One reason is if you're going to cut somebody to make room for Avery for me it would be Burgess, and I like Burgess but I think the other LBs you mention are more important than him.

Secondly, I saw some video commentary that made the point that Schober, Kirksey, Collins, and Kendricks all have more off-ball experience at this point than Avery. He brings a different mix of skills than those other players.

I think I agree you, but I'm trying to decide what's more valuable, Collins this year or some sort of compensation for Collins and being able to keep a cheap player like Burgess.

I would be very surprised if Jamie Collins is on the roster in 2019, his dead money drops precipitously next year (from $14.4M to $2.5M, if cut) and he turns 30. I think I'd rather move him now, if someone is willing to trade for him, get his money back into our cap space (and be able to roll it over) and some sort of pick.

(An aside: Cutting Collins isn't really an option with the money he is owed. Trading him is the only way out of his contract, but I doubt anyone would be willing to take on his contract.)

By the way, Kendricks made some provocative statements about the Browns having more talent than the Eagles. The article did not sensationalize these remarks. But they are interesting from a timing standpoint. I don't think bulletin board material is of any consequence for a pre-season game.

It seems like he was talking to the linebackers only. With our depth at linebacker, I might not call him a liar.

i thought so in April and continue to believe so now

j/c:

Every year, fans on this message board pimp players like Avery and they pretty much are wrong each year.

However, Avery really flashed on the screen the other night. I mentioned him in one of my posts after the game. I think it was in tab's What I Saw thread. It's early, but he did stand out from the other players on the field.

I also think Kendricks is standing out. Both of these guys have a good burst. They just sort of flash across the screen. I'm impressed.

Skipped here and there, not a major fan of the two commentators and it was 40+ mins, but nice in depth breakdown of his role, scheme and things.

I've been holding it back but I cannot freaking wait to see him more. He looked completely over his groin injury and flashed last game.

Again, I think he's our sleeper pick and again, I love our linebacker group. All the way into the 2s with Burgess and etc even.

I'm not sure why I'm seeing so many post insisting we need to cut Collins.

Greg Williams likes to mix things up, and move people around. Collins has the benefit of being able to play all LB spots, but you can also put him at DE and he holds his ground very well.

To me, if anyone is on the block, Burgess would probably be that guy. And this may not be a popular opinion, but Schobert isn't that good to me. I'm still not sure how he made the pro bowl last year. I'd definitely prefer to see Kendricks starting over Schobert.

I haven't seen anyone say that Collins needs to be cut. Just that it may be an option.

Schobert is an emerging player on a cheap contract.

I think Avery has a bright future in the NFL with us. I like what he brings to the table, he will have ups and downs, but he will get better and be an important piece for us I hope.

however, I think the talk of cutting or trading Collins is kinda crazy...Collins was a Pro Bowl LB for the Patriots. He was hurt last year, it happens, however I think a healthy Collins is probably our best overall LB on the roster.

Here is what Collins can do when he is healthy (This year will be the first time he has been since he got here. He had 2 games 2016 where he was healthy here and you see signs of it then)

Collins will come out strong this year in the reg season barring any injuries. We would be crazy to get rid of him at this point.

Collins cannot be the person most needing to be cut. Just for experience alone, Collins brings a bunch to the room. keep him. Nice to see him healthy.

Collins is the exact type of guy to get paid and stop caring. Belicheck knew it and we didn’t.

If it was only about the player most needing to be cut, this would be true.

And not cut but rather traded. Pluto wrote an article about trading and mentioned LB : https://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ss...ncart_big-photo

Does he bring something valuable to the room? That is the big question for me with Collins...

The way he was traded by New England and BB talks about him...

The way he plays in the field...

I honestly don't think he brings anything valuable to the room nor to a struggling team. Its not the type of player I think helps in a re-build situation,not if you want a disciplined hard working low attrition environment.

I would trade him and Josh Gordon in a second... and will praise Dorsey if he ever does that.

I think our Lb's are probably one of the least talented group in the team, but I know I'm one of the few thinking that.

I still think our dbs are more unproven ... at least we have decent experience at LB.

Looking at DB, Randall is going back to FS, Ward is a rookie, Mitchell/Gaines/Currie are run-of-the-mill guys, BBC is looking to make a jump, Peppers stinks, etc

I think that we will wind up cutting (or hopefully trading) a couple of really good LB.

I can't see us keeping more than 6, and probably only 5 LB.

Collins, Schobert, Kirksey, Kendricks, and Avery are almost locks to make the team. Burgess has been very good this preseason, and the team seems to really like Curry, who made the move from S to LB. Maybe we keep 6 if we count Collins as a LB/DE. I see us having to cut loose a couple of guys who can contribute to an NFL team, especially if we can only keep 5.

I have seen him flash on like 2 plays against backups. There has been nothing to show me this guy is anything more than a special teams player at this point.

He flashed with the 1's, against the Buffalo 1's.

Guys who don't see what's happening on the field have opinions too, ya know.

So, I got curious about his powerlifting (which is where those tree trunks come from) and found this from when he was in High School:

https://www.grenadastar.com/2014/04/10/avery-wins-state-powerlifting-title/



That is just INSANE!!
Also, I find it crazy that his back squat is heavier than his deadlift.

The only thing football players love more than football is lifting weights.

To be THAT strong itself is unreal. Being in the 600-Club for squats is just SICK.
To be that strong AND still be as fast and flexible as he is... is almost inhuman. Or eminently Human?

Absolutely beastly.

These guys are all freaks. J.J. Watt's workout videos don't even make sense in my head.

As much as anything else, that play where he had dropped in coverage, and ran the play down, all the way across the field, short of the 1st down, impressed the heck out of me.

Impressive... most impressive.

j/c:

I liked what I saw of Avery. Does anyone know why he was drafted so late?

Huge question mark on his ability to drop/cover/in space.

I was the one who mentioned Collins and I don't want him to be cut. I love the team as it is, our inability to stay healthy is what is killing us. I believe we only had Ogbah, Garrett and Collins play together for a few plays and we got an interception rather quickly. I think Collins is a smart player who can help other people get in coverage. I also believe he has a penchant for freelancing which got him in trouble in New England. Bill does not like people who deviate from the game plan. That said I really want to keep him and a nascar lineup of Collins-Ogunjobi-Ogbah-Garrett could really tear it up.

Thanks bonefish and LBer.

That's my understanding, too. He's a tweener. Too small to play DE, but questions on athleticism and coverage ability to play LB.

He's listed at 248, 6'1" with 31" arms. For comparison, Nate Orchard is 250, 6'3" with 33 3/4" arms - and he's smaller than Garrett, Ogbah and Smith.

Everything else about Avery is impressive, however. Talented beyond his natural talents, apparently an excellent leader and a fiercely intelligent kid, and plays with a red hot motor.

I always feel bad for guys like Avery. If the genetic lottery was slightly kinder to this kid, he'd probably be an All-Pro.

I will say one thing, someone posted on page one I believe of a Twitter video of him dropping last game.

He dropped rather deep, didn't look awful, his hips were horrific towards the end of his coverage imo though, but the highlight was his speed and hustle to cover as much ground he did to get across field because AJ actually had daylight on the scramble though. You can work with athleticism like that.

IDK Memphis D scheme, but some articles I read awhile back, I recall some saying he wasn't asked to cover much. Noone said that the kid won't learn, according to Kendricks, he's full throttle 100% of the time and the want is there.

All I know is that he was everywhere last night and seemed to play almost the whole game.