The group of young outside linebackers and Takeo Spikes were a major question mark at the beginning of the season, but they came on as the season concluded to be one of the team’s defensive strengths. Yet and still this group didn’t come up with enough big plays.
Takeo Spikes was supposed to bring experience and big plays to this group. He did help them mature but he didn't get close to making any big plays. Takeo wasn't involved in one forced turnover. That's horrible. The Birds need more big plays out of their Will linebacker. Spikes was active as a tackler as he got in on a total of 85 tackles for the year. Unfortunately, he dropped a couple of interceptions which might have helped the Birds make the playoffs. He didn’t show much as a blitzer but did register a sack. Teams had trouble running screens and draws against Takeo.
Chris Gocong passed the test this year. This was a learning year for him and he was playing instinctively because he's still not totally comfortable in the position. Gocong did a good job jamming and covering tight ends and running backs. He’s a physical backer whether defending the run and he got in on 66 tackles during the season. Chris is at his best when he’s on the attack, like in the New England game when he got his only sack of the year. I want Jim Johnson to let him blitz more often or let him rush the passer at defensive end. Gocong has major potential and should get better the more he plays.
It took him a while to get on the field, but Stewart Bradley has the ability to be a very good outside linebacker. He’s a good tackler, strong attacking run defender, and pass coverage linebacker. On top of that he blitzes with the type of aggressiveness that you want to see in your backers. This kid registered a his only sack and interception of the season in the New Orleans game. On top of that he was the major contributor in a goalline stand in that game. Stewart contributed 18 tackles for the year and most of those were on special teams. This kid is going to be hard to keep off the field.
Free agent Akeem Jordan showed quite a bit of potential when he got the chance to play at the end of the season. He’s very aggressive and packs a load when he hits people. Jordan did a good job on the special teams where he contributed 20 tackles. He'll be the special teams until he gets the opportunity on defense. .
Pago Tokafau – This kid was signed as a free agent and never got the chance to show what he can do. Pago is more of a middle linebacker than anything else. Right now he’s a completely unknown quantity.
07’ Grade – C+
