(Kerouac9)
EDIT: And for what it's worth, Hardy, while I like Dansby moving forward, I don't want him playing the Wendy LB spot. Why? Because Dansby is very effective playing both forward and backward, and a playmaker at the Strongside is better than one on the weakside (for the DE comparison, look at how much more valueable two-way players are for the Giants [Strahan] and Panthers [Peppers]). Clancy needs his LBs to cover man-to-man, and this article makes it patently obvious that Calvin Pace can't cover (which is why he's a DE and not an LB). Dansby is great in coverage and blitzing the QB. While blitzing LBs are a dime a dozen, two-way players at the position are much, much harder to come by.
Kerouac,
You like Dansby moving forward/backward? What does this mean?
Everything that follows must be built on the following: this five-down defense is designed to be a
change-up to the Cardinals under defense.
The weakside is where play-making backers are placed. The reason for this is rather simplistic: the Will-backer can move around (not having to play over the TE) and, in a 4-3 or 5-down scheme, will most likely HAVE to be blocked by a back (unless you're Shawne Merriman). Look at the six-OLB's from last year's Pro Bowl team:
Cato June (wlb), IND
Joey Porter (wlb), PIT
Lance Briggs (wlb), CHI
Derrick Brooks (wlb), TB
Keith Brooking (wlb), ATL (moved from wlb to mlb in week 6 due to injury and still got voted as an OLB)
Shawne Merriman (wlb in a 3-4 defense, like Lawrence Taylor), SD
Scheme is what places these players in position to make plays and most schemes allow the Will-backer to make plays.
In addition, the will-backer, since he doesn't have to jam the TE, can quickly drop into coverage (picks) or rush the passer from depth (sacks) - hitting the LOS from anywhere. Your Will-backer is typically more athletic than your Sam-backer. Your Sam needs to be able to play over the TE and control the LOS (bigger and stronger). Calvin Pace is much better suited for this - even now - than Dansby. Dansby struggles against blocking TE's. It's one of the reasons WHY Clancy is trying to get somebody bigger over the TE, freeing up Dansby to run, use his athletic ability and make plays.
Pace doesn't need to "cover" TE's or RB's man-to-man. The scheme will control that. As the article says, Pace will do one of three things: rush the passer, maul the TE on the LOS and drop into zone-coverage (not man). Clancy calls the defense and then calls the play. He won't put pace in a poor position.
I apologize for the length of this post.
