Unorthodox 3-4 OLB prospects.

by ChiefsfanJon on Apr 25, 2011 4:10 AM EDT

So i do a lot of mock drafts on SBnation and many other sites and i seem to get people making odd remarks at who i really like to play SOLB in the Chiefs 3-4 Defense. Most people think Kerrigan, Houston, and Ayers are our best choices and i disagree strongly about Kerrigan and Houston. I think both seem stiff and lack change of direction skills necessary to cover in the NFL. That being said i'd like your opinions on how well the following prospects would fair outside in a 3-4 defense:

1. K.J. Wright LB Miss ST. 6'3 246 lbs 4.7 40

Wright is a very strong leader on the field and he contains very good measurables for a 3-4 OLB. He could maybe bulk up 10 lbs but that would be easy in an NFL strength program. He is very good in coverage and he can contain the run and has shown flashes of getting after the QB.

via www.giantsgab.com

2. Martez Wilson LB Illinois 6'4 250 lbs 4.49 40

Often mocked as the first ILB taken in the draft i think with his speed and size he would be a great fit at SOLB where he would be covering TE's and RB's, containing the run to his side, and getting pressure on the QB. Wilson is an athletic freak and i think that would be wasted in the inside of a defense.

via www.giantsgab.com

3. Bruce Carter, North Carolina 6-1½ 241 projected 4.57

Carter is a great LB prospect for the NFL and i do question whether he is big enough to play in a 3-4 taking on blocks. But with a solid S&C program he could bulk up without losing speed and he has shown great playmaking ability in college in coverage and in QB pressure.

via media.scout.com

4. Nate Irving LB NC State 6' 1 1/4" 240 lbs 4.76 40 time

I watch tape of him and i see him flying all over the field making plays in pass coverage and getting after the QB and RB in the backfield. The guy seems to have good instincts and is able to react well to what he sees in front of him. I think he has potential as a pass rusher and is already very good at pass coverage and stopping the run.

5. Greg Jones LB Michigan St. 6'1 242 lbs 4.7 40 time

Jones is athletic and smart reacting quickly on the field. He is very good against the run and the pass but i don't believe was ever asked to rush the passer much. with his size, speed, and strength he should be able to effectively use pass rush moves to their fullest potential.

These are some of the main players but there are several others that i see as OLB prospects that are 6' 1" to 6' 4" and 240-250 lbs that people just dismiss because they didn't play DE in college and aren't 260 lbs. These guys would all be excellent in coverage and have great athleticism and strength meaning they should be able to easily get after the QB. I also think there is the added advantage of having a fall back position. If a 4-3 DE fails to convert to OLB then the team gets absolutely nothing from him. If one of these guys tries to convert to SOLB and can't do it then it isn't much effort to put them inside and still get some value from them. Just any insight and thoughts as to why these guys and others in this mold are dismissed as 3-4 OLB's would be appreciated. Thanks for the time guys

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I'd keep Jones inside

Allow him to track the ball and make stops in the run game, worry about him rushing in different blitz packages.

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by BAMFSpecialOps on Apr 25, 2011 7:36 AM EDT reply actions

Pretty much all these guys could work in a 3-4

but best served to be inside.

Only one I’d say that could be a pass rusher is Martez Wilson.

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by Rorschach44 on Apr 25, 2011 8:05 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah i'm not sure any of them are WOLB but what about the SOLB position

I think all of them would excel playing on that side where they have to cover TE’s and RB’s and hold the fort against the run.

Chiefs Areas of Need: SOLB, NT, RT, WR, C, SILB,
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by ChiefsfanJon on Apr 25, 2011 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Most would work great in a 3-4

but mainly as SOLB not WOLB

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by theSpaceCityKid on Apr 25, 2011 10:05 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah that was the position i was really questioning just didn't specify.

Chiefs Areas of Need: SOLB, NT, RT, WR, C, SILB,
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by ChiefsfanJon on Apr 25, 2011 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I love Nate Irving

He is one of my favorite prospects in the entire draft but I think he would be better served to play in the middle in either a 4-3 or 3-4

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by James_C on Apr 25, 2011 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

Irving is one of my favorite prospects as well

And i would agree he is best suited inside. Just trying to start a discussion about possible prospects for SOLB a hard position to fill.

Chiefs Areas of Need: SOLB, NT, RT, WR, C, SILB,
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by ChiefsfanJon on Apr 26, 2011 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Playmakers are what you need at 34 OLB

Wright could play 34 OLB. But he won’t be a playmaker.
Wilson is too stiff and has to stay inside… Any team that drafts him as a 34 OLB, will get a good 34 ILB!
Carter is already bulked up at 240+, I don’t think he’ll be able to gain more wt. So I don’t think he should be a 34 OLB.
Jones is striclty a 34 ILB or 43 MLB.
Irving? Dont’ know much about him…

None has the skills, athletic ability or explosiveness to be a 34 OLB!

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by Strohman on Apr 25, 2011 6:55 PM EDT reply actions

I could see Wright at 3-4 OLB as a playmaker

But not as a sack specialist. He would make plays in the passing game and maybe get 5 sacks or so a year. Just an overall good player that does his job and helps the team by holding his edge against the rush or guarding an opposing TE or RB.

Chiefs Areas of Need: SOLB, NT, RT, WR, C, SILB,
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by ChiefsfanJon on Apr 26, 2011 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Looks like a list of ILBs

Why would you want all these undersized guys playing out of position? I dont get your point

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by Foilhat on Apr 25, 2011 10:03 PM EDT reply actions

Wright and Wilson do not seem undersized at all.

The other three i would agree i was reaching for other examples so that i basically didn’t ask about just the first two. But to be more helpful why don’t you see Martez Wilson or KJ Wright succeeding at OLB?

Chiefs Areas of Need: SOLB, NT, RT, WR, C, SILB,
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by ChiefsfanJon on Apr 26, 2011 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Its not just about size...

They simply don’t possess the traits athletically that 34 OLB need! Wilson is very stiff and has limited pass rush ability. He’s very much a straght line guy. Can’t bend around the corner. Wright just plain isn’t athletic enough!

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by Strohman on Apr 26, 2011 2:54 AM EDT up reply actions

As far as I know Cronell

comes from a 34 background that uses big OLBs. If you look at the system NE still has in place after he left, and what the Browns put in place while he was their; those edge guys are big. Edge rushers are freaks basically, they move like LBs but can rush the passer. A couple people have noted this. The guys you mentioned are mostly tacklers. I think you are overrating the need for a edge rusher to cover anyone. Rarely are OLBs in a 34 assigned to cover much more than a simple area, they are very rarely asked to man up. And even when they are in man coverage against a back or TE, they can usually break off the responsibility because of where the play is going. So in short passrusher freaks sometimes get moved inside permanently, and play well; examples would be the Steelers Timmons and Chargers Burnett. Undersized passrushers than can play pretty much any LB position; like Akeen Ayers. Its not often that true college LBs end up as pro passrushers though; because if they had the knack to chase QBs they would have played some DE. In college if a guy looks the part he will get a shot to put his hand in the dirt even around 230 pounds

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by Foilhat on Apr 26, 2011 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks that explanation makes the most sense

And it does make sense. Crennel and Pioli do typically like big OLB’ers just after watching Todd Heap catch ball after ball against our linebackers was depressing in the playoff game. Our run defense was solid until Flacco and Heap just demoralized the defense.

Chiefs Areas of Need: SOLB, NT, RT, WR, C, SILB,
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by ChiefsfanJon on Apr 27, 2011 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Some of these guys do not fit the strong side

I can’t say I have seen much of Irving. But Carter and Jones are high on boards because of their athleticism. They are 4-3 weakside guys. Jones is built like he’s 225. They could probably play MLB.

Wright, Wilson, and Ayers are your best bets. This draft is weak in big linebackers. You might be able to throw Mason Foster in there.

I think Houston, Quinn, and Aldon Smith could play OLB. But they have more value as the primary pass rusher.

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by ct17 on Apr 25, 2011 11:51 PM EDT reply actions

I would agree with that analysis

Houston, Quinn, Smith are most likely Jack Backers specializing in pass rushing. Just trying to figure out the best SOLB on most peoples boards. I think that Von Miller, Ryan Kerrigan, and Sheard are most likely WOLB or Jack Backers also, so the list of SOLB is what Ayers and Wright?

Chiefs Areas of Need: SOLB, NT, RT, WR, C, SILB,
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by ChiefsfanJon on Apr 26, 2011 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Depends on your system

Matthews plays SOLB for GB. While he does drop into coverage, he rushes more than the WOLB. Sheard and Kerrigan have the size to be rush SOLBs.

"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun."

by ct17 on Apr 26, 2011 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Here is another guy with same measurables..

Derrick Johnson/ ILB
Ht Wt 40-yd 10-yd 20-yd 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad
6 ft 3 1⁄2 in 242 lb 4.52 s 1.61 s 2.66 s 3.93 s 7.21 s 37 1⁄2 in 10 ft 0 in
So doesn’t sound like any of these guys are considered for OLB, but every guy has different skill sets that may pan out for OLB. That is why they are all listed as ILB.

2011 Chiefs realistic wishful draft.
1. Reed/OLB or Taylor/NT
2.Powe/NT, or Acho/OLB
3.OT’s Barksdale or Brewer
4th C’s Barnes or Fusco
5a WR’s Rob Johnson or Dwayne Harris
5b WR’s Stephen Burton or Ricardo Lockette
6.QB/ Greg McElroy or NT/Anthony Gray or Henry Hynoski/FB
7.CB James Dockery or RB/Allen Bradford or Ryan Taylor TE/FB
1 or 2 of these Free Agents to get ..Aubrayo Franklin/NT,Steve Breaston/WR or James Jones/WR and Ryan Harris/OT

by Mayocks Tutor on Apr 26, 2011 12:46 AM EDT reply actions