Taylor at LB...........

[The Skinsinator]

Why not for the Dallas game??? He is big enough at 6-2, 230. Lott has played well in the backfield. I know Williams knows his guys. But, how much faith can we place in Marshall? This is another reason I like drafting Taylor.... versatility. Hell, he could play cb too. Barrow is probably not ready to go. If he doesn't go to lb, we need him up to stop Dallas' Witten. I believe 100% that the Cowboys strength is the passing game. Meshawn, Glenn, Bryant, and Whitten are all good. Honestly, I think they are one of the better collections, unfortunately, in the league. Good thing, they can't run worth a damn. Now, let's get some good ideas of how to best replace LA and keep up this great d.

HAIL TO THE SKINS!!!!

[CarMike]

I don't think there'd be enough time for Taylor to learn the schemes. I may be wrong though. I'd rather have someone in there who knows how the LBer works. Even if it is LM....

[redwolf1218]

well Lemar Marshall was a safety in college, and he's 6'-2, 230, same size as Taylor, so he should be good in coverage, theoretically, having had that experience as a safety. hopefully he can cover backs and tightends, and blow up some screens, outlet passes, checkdowns, etc. and leave the deeper stuff to taylor. Terry Glenn scares me.

[hail2skins]

I knew this topic was coming. I'm surprised it took so long.

[dj_stouty]

If Sean Taylor is having a difficult time learning the schemes for his natural position, I believe he will have an even more difficult time learning the schemes for a position foreign to him, like Linebacker.

[smoak]

NO WAY! LM made the team for a reason and hopefully it was stricly for special teams duty. barrow need to start working back into the line up soon, and maybe williams has some funky 3 safety schemes hooked up... but i wouldn't play taylow at WSLB.

[PGiddy18]

If Sean Taylor is having a difficult time learning the schemes for his natural position, I believe he will have an even more difficult time learning the schemes for a position foreign to him, like Linebacker.

I was just about to post the same thing DJ. One of the reasons Sean was sitting was so that he can observe and figure out what needs to be done with his position. I believe that Greg Williams made the right decision. Losing LaVar is a blow, but there is no doubt in my mind that we will just over come it and move on. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. And I believe that we will be stronger because of it. Taylor needs to step it up and earn is first position without trying to get another one. Once he has the syster under his belt, then we can consider moving him to LB. Until then, we just need to make sure he can do the job we drafted him for.

It wasn't a bad idea though... I did toss it around a little, but eventually dismissed it.

[Keino]

No way Can Taylor play LB. Didn't you guyys here he had that Sneezing problem?

[whitskins]

Lemar will start at LB but I think Gregg Williams will blitz the heck out of ST this week, so we will definitely see some Linebacker esque hits out of him.

[redwolf1218]

he could play up closer to the line once in a while in run support and rip the ball out and cause a fumble, or in blitz packages, thats kind of like playing in the position of a linebacker.

[JoeJacksonTaylor28]

No way, simply no way.... This is not high school football where you can switch talented players from positions. Lemar >>> Taylor at LB. And I'm a big Taylor fan.

[PA Skins Girl]

Give Marshall a try. Who would have thought Pierce would do as well as he has. This is how new stars are born. How much do you want to bet there is a thread Tuesday morning that says,

"ARE WE BETTER OFF WITH MARSHALL THAT WE ARE WITH ARRINGTON?"

[techskinsfan]

Personally, any of their young backers could step in and be serviceable i think. Marshall is a young player with obvious talent, hes played well in preseason and also in any time he has gotten in past years giving lavar or armstead a blow. Also another option, Khary Cambell at mlb and moving Pierce to weak. He looked pretty good in preseason, although its just that, but he seemed a hard worker. Just another option to throw out for discussion.

[SkinsKY]

I knew this topic was coming. I'm surprised it took so long.

You're not the only one. Maybe we could put him at QB and install the option too.

[GoDannyBoy]

At 230 Taylor would be hard to take down on the option.

[redwolf1218]

he used to play running back too. he has good hands too, with all those interceptions. he cant possibly drop any more passes than 50/50 (a gnerous nickname for Rod, considering his 7 catches and 4 drops). he can return kicks too. i say try him at strong and free safety, linebacker, tightend, hback, receiver, running back, and returns. also on coverage, and as a punt blocker. john hall's hamstring is sore...can he kick?

but seriously, i do want to see him blitz.

[openallnight]

but seriously, i do want to see him blitz.
Yea, I'm sure we'll see him blitzing alot Monday. I just hope he doesn't whiff like he did last week against Warner. As soon I saw that play I started cussing Lavar because, it looked like the typical Lavar QB whiff. It wasn't until the replay I realized it was Taylor.

[BurgundyNGold]

I might be off base here, but are people seriously responding to the notion that ST could play LB? This is ridiculous. Aside from coming up into the box to support the run or rush the passer, when has a S ever played LB as an actual position? Folks, we already have LBs, and there is not a slouch in the bunch.

IMO, ST needs to start playing SAFETY. We'll worry about putting him at LB, RB or whatever after he's made a pro bowl or two. Until then, I'm sure Marshall can step up in LaVar's absence and give up the speed we need on the weak side.

[redwolf1218]

I might be off base here, but are people seriously responding to the notion that ST could play LB? This is ridiculous. Aside from coming up into the box to support the run or rush the passer, when has a S ever played LB as an actual position? Folks, we already have LBs, and there is not a slouch in the bunch.

IMO, ST needs to start playing SAFETY. We'll worry about putting him at LB, RB or whatever after he's made a pro bowl or two. Until then, I'm sure Marshall can step up in LaVar's absence and give up the speed we need on the weak side.
i said before, the only one i remember is Monte Coleman, converted from college safety to pro linebacker. he was really fast. i just said in another thread, Marshall is listed as the fastest linebacker on the team, according to some draft scout site someone posted, with a 40 time of 4.48 (lavar's is listed at 4.49). Lott is listed at 4.48, Bowen at 4.47 and taylor at 4.51. that's a whole lot of speed back there.

however i agree Taylor needs to stay at safety and learn it completely.

[BIGSEF3]

not to oversimplify the issue, but not much "pressure" is put on a weakside LB. our D is the best in the NFL and you'd have to be a fool to think losing one player (even though it is Arrington) gives us reason to worry about our defense.

Our D won't have any problem with testaverde. marshall will do fine on the weak side. remember how many of us thought pierce was a concern? Now look at him. We have threads looking to get rid of Barrow b/c of how excellent Pierce is doing. Dont worry, Marshall is gonna play extremely well Monday.

[LATrueRedskin]

Taylor doesn't play linebacker. He didn't in college, and he's not going to do it in the NFL. We can't mess around with this, ESPECIALLY for the Dallas game. Doing moves like this is for the preseason.

[redwolf1218]

Taylor doesn't play linebacker. He didn't in college, and he's not going to do it in the NFL. We can't mess around with this, ESPECIALLY for the Dallas game. Doing moves like this is for the preseason.
you bring up a good point. lots of safeties are great athletes that started out at other positions, like QB for example, and then got converted to safeties at the "next level". Taylor has been playing safety since he was 14 years old.

[LATrueRedskin]

you bring up a good point. lots of safeties are great athletes that started out at other positions, like QB for example, and then got converted to safeties at the "next level". Taylor has been playing safety since he was 14 years old.

Exactly. We didn't draft him to play linebacker, we drafted him at safety because he's got it down pat and has been doing it for so long, it comes as second nature to him. Let's not screw that up.

[redwolf1218]

Exactly. We didn't draft him to play linebacker, we drafted him at safety because he's got it down pat and has been doing it for so long, it comes as second nature to him. Let's not screw that up.
i just hope that whatever it is that Williams wants him to do, that he has not grasped yet, and that is causing him to be kept out of the starting line-up, will soon be rectified, and his playing time will slowly increase until we will be able to see the kind of game-changing, play-making ability he displayed in the preseason. i mean in limited action he had all those pics and forced fumbles...i cant wait to see that in the regular season.

[LATrueRedskin]

i just hope that whatever it is that Williams wants him to do, that he has not grasped yet, and that is causing him to be kept out of the starting line-up, will soon be rectified, and his playing time will slowly increase until we will be able to see the kind of game-changing, play-making ability he displayed in the preseason. i mean in limited action he had all those pics and forced fumbles...i cant wait to see that in the regular season.

Definately. I just think that they're not rushing Taylor along too quickly, and they're giving him a taste of rookie life so he won't get full of himself. I'm OK with that........to a point. LOL. This guy makes too many damn plays on the field, it pains me to see him not utilized as much as his talent demands.

[redwolf1218]

Definately. I just think that they're not rushing Taylor along too quickly, and they're giving him a taste of rookie life so he won't get full of himself. I'm OK with that........to a point. LOL. This guy makes too many damn plays on the field, it pains me to see him not utilized as much as his talent demands.
same here. the stats that guy compiled in the preseason while playing the total minutes of about 1 game, maybe 5 quarters, is unreal. if he plays a whole game, or several games, he might make some mistakes, blow some assignments, but at the same time he might strip the ball, or make an interception, or somehow score a few TD's, just by instinct and athletic ability.

[bgforever]

Taylor should remain at Safety, where he's most knowledgeable in a short period. True it isn't enough time to digest critical schemes.

I overlooked Lemar Marshall earlier, because I kept thinking Kevin Mitchell (gone), which he can play all three positions. This is a HUGE plus, because he's had some playing time and fits Williams mode of the "type" of LB he needs. These guys all have one thing in common - strength, stamina, speed and smart.

This is excellent, since Taylor can focus on doing damage from the safety spot, and MORE playing time against the cowgirls!

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

in addition to all the good points being made that sean shouldnt play LB, i think it would be a slap in the face to lemar marshall if this was even a consideration. he made this team for a reason and should be confidently called upon to step up. lets hope he plays well. i have a feeling sean will be doing alot of different stuff in this game anyway.......

[redwolf1218]

in addition to all the good points being made that sean shouldnt play LB, i think it would be a slap in the face to lemar marshall if this was even a consideration. he made this team for a reason and should be confidently called upon to step up. lets hope he plays well. i have a feeling sean will be doing alot of different stuff in this game anyway.......
i think you are right. these guys who are being looked at as liabilties might actually turn out to be very pleasant surprises. i'm talking about Marshall, Taylor, and Warner... Marshall being our fastest linebacker, and Warner being our fastest defensinve lineman.