A Little Close to Home?
October 17, 2008NBA Blogger Previews – Central Division
October 17, 2008
When looking at the sack totals for the season so far, Atlanta’s John Abraham tops the list with seven quarterback takedowns through six games. Of course, facing the Detroit Lions on opening day and racking up three sacks in one game will give one a solid foundation for the year. Now the Browns as a team have seven sacks – good for 29th in the league. It is no secret that we have had a rough go at it. At least at first.
Since Alex Hall was inserted into the starting line-up for the then injured Willie McGinest, he has managed to record one sack in each of the three games. In fact, he also recorded seven tackles against the Ravens; quite a start if you ask me. Hall’s three sacks place him right along side big money players like Jared Allen of Minnesota and Julius Peppers of Carolina. Would I expect the two players named to eventually pass up Hall on the list? Sure. But did I expect a seventh-round draft pick to lead the team in quarterback takedowns? Not a chance.
That was supposed to be Kamerion Wimbley.
Wimbley has been on the field for considerably more snaps thus far than Hall, yet has only managed three more tackles while recording two fewer sacks. Wimbley is the player that is now three years into the league, while Hall has a mere five games under his belt. But while Hall has to continue splitting time with veteran McGinest, it makes one wonder: should McGinest actually be splitting time with Wimbley, allowing Hall to record more snaps?
After Wimbley recorded 11 sacks as a rookie, many expected him to be the next great pass-rusher for the Browns. Michael Dean Perry recorded 11.5 sacks in his third season as a pro, and while he never touched double figures again, he still had two more seasons over eight. Clay Matthews had 12 sacks in 1984. He too would never record a double-digit sack total, but five seasons with at least six sacks following the big year was enough to keep Clay near and dear to our hearts. Now, Matthews also recorded a handful of 100-plus tackle seasons from the outside linebacker spot; this I get. But the point of this is, I don’t think that any of us are asking for Wimbley to rack up 15 sacks per season.
Would it be nice? Of course, but only recording five sacks in 16 games last season and having only one through five games this season is nothing close to what we want to see. But in a “what have you done for me lately” fashion, Alex Hall has given Browns fans a huge lift from the outside. Fewer plays on defense can shift momentum the way a quarterback sack does. And when your team does not tally them in droves, we tend to remember a player that has approximately half of his entire team’s sacks.
Only eight active quarterbacks have been sacked more times this season than Washington’s Jason Campbell. Believe it or not, Derek Anderson has only been sacked only two-thirds as many times as Campbell. Given this, would it not make the most sense to play your guys that have shown the ability to get to the QB? Even if the plays would not result in a sack, at worst it forces the opposition to throw the ball sooner than he would have liked. And that leads to even bigger plays, like interceptions.
So, with all of this said, we obviously know where I stand on this matter. Do I think we should cut bait on Wimbley and consider him a bust? Not just yet. But until he proves that he is in fact one of our best pass-rushers, I think that Alex Hall deserves a shot to maximize his impact. And this all starts with less of a time share, and a few more snaps.
12 Comments
I am hoping Wimbley gets moved to the inside in the offseason. Peek and Hall on the outside. Wimbley and ? on the inside.
I honestly don’t think we’ll see Peek again…
My vote’s for making him (Wimbley) the WLB in a 4-3.
why no Peek?
I would be surprised if he can ever be 100 percent after this injury
Hopefully teams paying attention to Hall will have the Stallworth effect for Wimbley like it did for BE. My take on Hall’s production is more like how young pitchers often have great starts, only to be scouted, figured out, and shut down, similar to Wimbley’s stupid duck low swoop to the outside move that he uses every single play. It worked in college, but not anymore, stop going to it so much. Do we have a LB coach?? can we get Kamerion a new move of 5?
Peek is on IR and should be released. It has been a walking band-aid since putting on the orange and brown.
Kamerion needs a complete series of different moves that he just doesn’t have (yet).
When i do see footage of him he simply seems to stick with the run you over attack which doesnt really work and probably allows for him to play the run or take a block for another linebacker. Or he does his severe lean to make his way to the honey jar.
I dont think that we can write him off just yet. However i do seem to be getting that feeling that we wasted another high pick. At least he stays out of trouble.
Admittedly, Wimbley has not done much this year. Having said that, there is far more to a pass rusher than just sacks. Football Outsiders have always had Wimbley as one of the tops in the league for their metric of QB “hurries”, which includes a lot more than actually getting the sack. His sack numbers were down last year, but his actual impact was in line with his rookie season. This year, he hasn’t looked as explosive, but in no way, shape, or form is he a bust.
Wimbley would/should project as a DE in a 4-3…that was his college position and he played it well at Florida State. I can’t see him turning into Lance Briggs as a WLB.
I still can’t help but recall Mel Tucker’s “the bigger the better” comment about his ideal 3-4 LB’s. Sounds like we’ll be looking for big upgrades inside to me.
That being said, I still think this team will look to add another LB or two this offseason. One inside and one outside…where the better player will be of the two added will depend on what’s available in FA and the draft IMO.
I’m not ready to give up on Wimbley, no, though he hasn’t lived up to his draft status/rookie production, of course. I think a lot of it has already been touched on here (defenses key on him, no additional moves, etc.).
My friend with whom I go to every home game pointed something out on Monday night: he lines up so far wide, and as noted always tried the speed rush. Because he’s so far outside, the tackle has time to get back and get set in pass blocking, which negates Wimbley’s outside speed move.
Now, if Wimbley could learn Dwight Freeney’s spin-inside move, he’d be deadly.
@ Mike: More Julian Peterson than Lance Briggs.
@ DP: Hopefully, the emergence of Hall and the continued focus on Rogers will allow for more single blockers
Hall looks great at times, but obviously he is young and has a ton to still learn. I had a brain storm the other day after seeing the E:60 piece on Simeon Rice. Why not bring him in for situational pass rushing, and then have him put Wimbley and Hall under his wing. He can’t have a high price tag and he is proven pass rusher that could help us get to the quarterback, but more importantly teach our young guys the tricks of the trade. At this point we don’t have a pass rushing threat and our blitzing has been off most of the time. I think it would at least warrant a call from Savage
I say don’t even worry about getting McGinest any snaps. Let him be the veteran presence in the locker room. He doesn’t do anything, let’s try to get some kind of pressure. Then draft a top LB in hte draft