Countdown to Camp: Linebacker groups have different makeups

Cheesehead

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Mar 19, 2019
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The other outside linebacker with regular-season experience is Reggie Gilbert (6-3, 261), a 2016 undrafted find from Arizona who had 44 tackles and 2½ sacks, playing in all 16 games as a reserve after making the 53-man roster out of camp for the first time.


Developmental prospects on the edge include last year’s seventh-round pick Kendall Donnerson (6-3, 249), who began his rookie season on the practice squad and was signed to the 53 in December but was a game-day inactive the rest of the way.


Undrafted rookies Greg Roberts (6-5, 258) from Baylor and Randy Ramsey (6-3, 238) from Arkansas round out the outside group. Roberts earned honorable mention All-Big 12 last season. Ramsey played some defensive line for the Razorbacks as well and had 8½ college sacks.


On the inside, fourth-year pro Blake Martinez (6-2, 237) is the unquestioned leader and key communicator for Pettine. His tackle totals from the last two years (158 in 2017, 147 in 2018) jump off the page, and the former fourth-round pick from Stanford boosted his sack total to a career-best five last season.


Entering a contract year, Martinez bulked up and leaned up for 2019 and will be looking to add more turnover plays (two interceptions, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries over three years) to take the next step in his career.


The rest of the inside linebacker group is largely young and unproven.
 
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