2017 Camp Battles – Linebackers

LBVikings |

Jun 13, 2017

Most players on defense have a job they perform more often than others. Cornerbacks predominantly cover passes. Nose tackles predominantly defend the run. Linebackers are responsible for everything. Run defense, pass defense man schemes, zone schemes and more all rely heavily on linebacking. The Vikings’ most iconic linebacker, Chad Greenway, retired after last season. Those shoes need to be filled, both practically and symbolically. While the Vikings have their two every-down guys locked in, the rotational third spot is up for grabs. A plethora of young players all face the biggest opportunity of their careers, and possibly the only chance they’ll get at a starting job.

This series isn’t meant to be evaluative- don’t take any of the content here as a projection or opinion on a player’s talent. This is a rundown of everyone’s story, and where they are in their career trajectories. Everyone has something to gain and something to lose from training camp. While we won’t talk about who will win, we can talk about what they stand to win. For a more traditional experience, check out Joe Oberle’s roster analysis or Sam Ekstrom’s series on ZoneCoverage.com.

Anthony Barr – Whether injury held him back, the Vikings misused him or he simply regressed, Barr will have to show an ability to overcome whatever it was holding him back last year. His starting slot won’t be challenged, but he has plenty of work to do. He’s a lock to be a three-down “Sam” (or strong side, the side with a TE) linebacker.
Eric Kendricks – In 2016, Kendricks really came into his own as a linebacker, reaching some incredible heights. While there’s no question that Kendricks will be the other three-down linebacker, where on the field he lines up could be malleable. Kendricks has played “Mike” or middle linebacker for the first two years of his NFL career, but depending on who else is on the field, it may be prudent to put him at “Will” or on the weak side (the side without a TE).
Emmanuel Lamur – Entering the 6th year of Lamur’s career, the Mike Zimmer pet project has the best opportunity he’s had thus far. While he’s had flashes of brilliance in Cincinnati, he was never able to overcome the other talent on the roster. Lamur has already accomplished more than most UDFAs by simply staying in the league this long, despite a few setbacks. Lamur projects best as a Will linebacker, since he has experience at safety. That flexibility, athleticism and lack of experience in the room all but guarantees The Haitian Sensation a roster spot. That said, he has a number of young, hungry new additions to fend off if he wants to earn any amount of significant playing time. Even if Lamur makes it to week 1 a starter, the young talent behind him will put him on notice day in and day out. Lamur will have to flash with more consistency than he ever has to prove himself a permanent starter.
Kentrell Brothers – a common theme among linebackers is leadership. Because of their central location, they’re always interacting at every level of the defense. Kentrell Brothers was no exception at Mizzou. In fact, Brothers always stood out as the stereotypical, clean-cut linebacker type, even dating back to high school. As a limited athlete and dedicated Mike linebacker, Brothers had to settle into a special teams role his rookie year, and settle he did. He’s earned enough praise to eye a starting spot on the defense. As a special teamer, Brothers’ roster spot is locked in more tightly than 5th round sophomores usually get. The catch is, to start, he has to convince the Vikings staff that he’s worth moving Kendricks outside- something they’ve been hesitant to do. He could prove himself to be the 3rd best linebacker on the team, yet stay buried behind Eric Kendricks. Barring an unlikely position move, Kendricks will have to get out of Brothers’ way before he earns an NFL starting opportunity.
Edmond Robinson – Some players have compelling stories about their humble beginnings. Some players grow up in rough neighborhoods, using football as an out and creating incredible rags-to-riches stories. Edmond Robinson’s story is neither of those. After becoming the poster child for the Career Technology Education program at St. John’s high school in South Carolina, Robinson stayed under the radar by attending Newberry college. Despite an impressive combine, his DII pedigree caused him to fall almost out of the draft in 2015. Robinson has done everything he can to prove his pedigree wrong. For the first time in Robinson’s career, he has a chance to grab a starting role in the national spotlight- he’s never proven that he’s able to do this, but he’s also never proven that he can’t. Robinson’s roster spot isn’t under much pressure, which is an accomplishment in itself for the freakishly athletic young linebacker. At worst, Robinson will continue to back up Anthony Barr, with his uncanny ability to cover ground satisfying Mike Zimmer’s requirements. Should Robinson take the next step and develop, he could take a contested position at the Will linebacker spot. Edmond Robinson, for the first time in his career, has everything to gain and not much to lose. And he’s earned that.
Ben Gedeon – As a Michigan Wolverine, Ben Gedeon was surrounded by NFL talent. Two of his teammates, Jabrill Peppers and Taco Charlton, went in the first round. Eight total were drafted. Gedeon was by no means the best player on the record-setting unit, but he was the leader. It’s a common theme to see players go from king to pawn in their transitions to the NFL. After all, everyone in the NFL dominated in college and high school. But Gedeon has a unique opportunity. While many have labeled him as a reach, Gedeon has the chance to pick up right where he left off in college. With Kendricks’ flexibility, a good preseason could land Gedeon as an instant contributor, and ascending to leadership among a locker room as jovial as he is. That said, his limited skillset makes this unlikely. Conversely, he could fall apart in camp, and with a crowded linebacker room, Gedeon’s roster spot isn’t guaranteed. With Willie Beavers as precedent for this, he’s a possible roster cut, though similarly, it’s unlikely. Ben Gedeon’s most likely role is as a special teamer, following in the footsteps of Kentrell Brothers. Gedeon can’t waltz his way to the top, he’ll have to rise above sea level in an ocean of competition. But Ben Gedeon is no stranger to being surrounded by superstars.
Elijah Lee – Imagine being a single mother with two jobs and three kids. Years later, your son is an established leader on the Kansas State Wildcats, leading the team in tackles, and looking toward the draft. A few weeks later, he signs the biggest payday of his life and has his chance to reach permanent sports relevance. ShaRon Lee must be a proud mother. The NFL provides a greater challenge than any Elijah Lee has faced, yet, Lee was eager to face it. Declaring early for the draft is a difficult decision. With another successful year, Lee could have been a bona dude stud, and risen up draft boards. He also could have suffered a career tanking injury, or regressed. Lee declined this risk, instead choosing the risk of declaring as a junior. As a 7th round pick, Lee is a long shot to start, but considering his higher projection, he has a great shot to make the roster. Hindsight aside, 2017 will be a better learning experience for Lee than he’d ever get at Kansas State. He’ll contend with Ben Gedeon, Emmanuel Lamur and a couple of UDFAs for his roster spot, but the practice squad is always an option if the roster gets too crowded.
Eric Wilson – Often times, players who spend 5 years in college have an inherent advantage of experience. Eric Wilson doesn’t have such a luxury, spending two of his on the bench. This wasn’t because of his caliber of play, but because after a redshirt year at Northwestern, he transferred to Cincinnati. NCAA transfer rules require any transferring student to be inactive for their first season at that school. By the time Wilson took the field, he was a third year player. By 2016, he was a leader and tackle machine for the Bearcats. Unfortunately for Wilson, he won’t be able to stay at inside LB in the NFL due to his small size. With a position switch ahead of him, Wilson falls even further behind the curve, which led him to fall out of the draft entirely. Wilson will not only have to learn a new position (or bulk up), but will have to fight against three other rookies to claim a spot on this roster. The practice squad is a likely destination for Wilson as he bides his time for a later roster push.
Shaan Washington – When you think of Texas A&M defenders, rightfully, you think of Myles Garrett, but you may miss what else that defense had to offer. While the future 1st overall pick was terrorizing quarterbacks, the unit behind him was playing plenty well. Despite being a mainstay throughout his career, some of the only press Washington got was being pancaked by future teammate Laquon Treadwell in 2015. His performance in the run game has been lauded, but Washington didn’t have the kind of physical ability that gets a player drafted. Much like Wilson and Lee, Washington will have to stand out on special teams in addition to showing an ability to produce on defense. Now that he’s out of Garrett’s shadow, Washington finally has the opportunity to prove what he’s capable of, whatever that may be.

Battle to Watch: Obviously, the 3rd linebacker spot is the enigma worth paying attention to. For the last two years, Kendricks, Barr and Greenway have been the solidified starters with many others waiting in the wings. With Greenway stepping aside, we get to see what the understudies have been working on. While Edmond Robinson took the first snaps at OTAs, Lamur and Brothers can contend with him as the other front runners. But Gedeon, Lee and even the UDFAs could feasibly work their way onto the 1st team if they play well enough. Further complicating things is a fuzzy definition of the third spot- it could be filled by an old school Mike like Brothers or a two-down Will like Robinson or Lamur. You can beat out everyone else at your position, but still end up as a special teamer as Eric Kendricks looms above you. Keep an eye on linebacker play throughout the preseason- it may color the look of the middle of the defense for all of 2017.

Thanks for reading!