Blackburn given chance to take MLB spot as two down LB

by Ryan Ebert

The New York Giants will be giving linebacker Chase Blackburn the middle linebacker spot in training camp next month, but as a two-down middle linebacker. 

Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said that Blackburn, a seven-year veteran who was the starting middle linebacker at the end of the 2011 season, will "go back to that role" to begin camp. Though there will be competition for the spot.


"(Mark) Herzlich will have an opportunity to compete for that role. Greg Jones will have an opportunity to compete for that role," Fewell said. “And we're not opposed to putting Keith Rivers, giving him an opportunity to compete for that role. So there's going to be competition.”

After being unhappy that Rivers chose to undergo surgery at the end of the lockout instead of sooner the Bengals traded a fifth-round draft pick to the Giants for Rivers. 

"I sense that we're going to put it up for grabs," Fewell said. "Whoever can take the bull by the horns and lead us will have the opportunity to step up and play."

Because of the way most offenses have been used lately in a spread set the Giants have used the nickel defense very often to counter those spread sets. In that nickel package linebacker Michael Boley acted as the "middle" linebacker directing the defense. The Giants are expected to play the same nickel type defense this coming year, which means the middle linebacker will be in a one or two down role.

"I don't think college football allows you to have a big, anchor middle linebacker anymore because of the way college football plays," Fewell said. "And I don't think the NFL requires that as much anymore because a lot of things change with one-back spread teams that throw the ball all over the place."

Fewell went on to say, "We don't have a third-down middle linebacker. What is a two-down Mike? We may have to redefine that a little bit as we continue to evaluate what offenses are doing in the National Football League."

He also said that middle linebacker spot position will be "an area of interest" in the summer for many teams, and much has to do with the many potential personnel combinations there are.