DE/OLB's

Quite a lot of postions are strong this year; OT has some very good players for example. Consider that of the seniors alone you're looking at potentially four first rounders in Mike Oher, Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe and Jamon Meredith. Throw in the junior class headed up by Ciron Black, Eben Britton (who I think will stay), Russell Okung and Andre Smith and that's a pretty hellacious group of talented tackles.

But where Ireland and Parcells love to go early and often - and it's born out in the statistics from as far back as when Bill took over at the Giants, through his time in New England and with the Jets and at Dallas, is end and 3-4 OLB, be it collegiate ends converting down or pure OLB's, such as Virginia's Clint Sintim who Con has talked up for months and months and who was born to play the system that we run and has played it consistently well for 4 years.

The toll of DE/OLB's is huge when you look at it this year. Of course not everyone can make the conversion and not everyone will; really there will be players who have never dropped back in coverage the way DeMarcus Ware or James Harrison do, probably the two pre-eminent 3-4 OLB's in the NFL today. There will be guys who take to it naturally in Indianapolis and display the requisite footwork and instincts to do so. Others will simply be one way guys, much as our own Joey Porter is, in that down after down they're job will be to get after the QB; they rarely drop in coverage and they can be run on because their first instinct on the snap is to get upfield. Sparano has incorporated Porter into the line up brilliantly because in an ideal world, they'd prefer more of an all rounder, a Harrison or of course a Ware who they drafted in Dallas. That said, Parcells very much wanted Maryland's Shawne Merriman when he came out who is more from the Porter school of upfield rush rather than the Harrison school of 15 yard drops with a back or a tight end, which in a way is what makes this group so fascinating.

Anyway, I digress. The list of possible conversions is remarkable especially given that we have 3 picks on day 1 alone and that some mid first round talent in many other years is going to drop. I'm not a fan of Texas' Brian Orakpo who I believe carries something of an overrated grade at this stage; he's a tremendous bullrusher, a feature in Harrison's game where he displays arguably the leagues best bullrush technique. Orakpo has a 515 bench press and people flash some very athletic numbers; a reported 42 inch vertical and a 4.62 forty. But he doesn't for me have a secondary move; he has speed off the edge, but when that's nullified, he can't mix up his pass rush. Against Loadholt, he had 2 sacks, but one was a coverage sack and for 99% of that game, Big Phil ate him up. Against Missouri he was all over Chase Daniel, but go back and put that tape on and what you'll see is some of the worst left tackle play I've seen in a long time. He can be lazy in pursuit and at times lost on coverage. But at 6'4 and 261, he fits the bill.

Connor Barwin of Cincinnati is a converted tight end with minimal experience and who hasn't flashed once at me on tape in two games this season. But he's got good numbers in terms of sacks, QB pressures and batted balls, although he's very much a downhill player. Not seen him dropping in coverage, but as a former tight end, he comes with a rudimentary understanding of coverage.

Michael Johnson is another who fits the bill coming at 6'7 and 257. For me a two down player who does nothing against the run and can disappear for series after series. Has a world of talent and I suspect if he truly wanted it more, he could be anything he wants to be. He has the speed, athleticism and wingspan to be a top 5 pick and I bet he works out well in LB drills. Would make me incredibly nervous as a convert.

Matt Shaughnessy is another in that 2nd level of senior talent who is a college end, but at 6'5 and 252 his future is likely to lie at OLB. I've certainly seen him standing up more as a 3-4 backer than the previous guys and he can drop back in coverage. He is however an injury worry; broken leg last year, ACL tear in '06 and a meniscal tear as a freshman would be red flags. But he's stout against the run and can play in space.

Tim Jamison of Michigan has tremendous potential but has never really met it. He's at the upper end of the weight range at 268 and I can't think that I've seen him dropping in coverage, but I'll bet he gets a look there. As will Stanford's Pannel Egboh who CK and I have talked about at length earlier in the year as a pure end convert. He's maxed at the 6'6, 272 end of the scale, which is the Merriman end of things; question is, whilst he can rush the passer and play the run very stoutly, can he turn and run in coverage? Another whose Indy numbers are well worth keeping an eye on.

The pure outside backers who wouldn't need conversion work would be the uber talented Aaron Curry who should go in the top 5, although if he came to Miami he might actually play ILB. Brian Cushing who really is a fine player but who will just carry too many injuries for this administration IMO, despite his abilities inside and out. He's great in coverage, is a load off the edge, uses his hands well and gets sideline to sideline, plus he's played MLB as well this year and played it well. His teammate Clay Matthews bears watching as well; a fast riser who I know Mel Kiper thinks is another Mike Vrabel.

Larry English is a guy who I've certainly talked up for a while; team captain, intense leader who the coaches love, passion for the game, tremendous first three steps off the corner, dominant force at the small school level much as DeMarcus Ware was at Troy. Can play the run and has ability in coverage as well. I think he's going to come off the board in the first 40 picks when all's said and done and could, at 6'3 and 251 be the answer.

And we all know what Clint Sintim brings to the table and he has to be another front and centre candidate who can stand up or play with his hand on the ground.

And that's just the senior class!

Of the junior ends, Greg Hardy has outstanding talent and has to be considered a real possibility. When he's on, he's unplayable. But he's not always on and there are some personality red flags that may put Ireland off. He can play the run, he's a force in pursuit and I've seen him dropping back on occasion into a zone scheme. He bears close scrutiny in Indianapolis if he declares.

Same for Jerry Hughes at TCU who must carry the buyer beware tag; something of a one season wonder who has tremendous speed off the edge and is a 1st Team All American off the back of campaign that saw him register 14 sacks, 18.5 TFL, 6 forced fumbles and 2 picks in coverage. He's absolutely relentless and if he comes out, has to be considered a prime possibility, although at just 6'2, that may be something of an issue, although weight wise he's in that 252 range. Flying under the radar is Antonio Coleman of Auburn who looks to me like a pure 3-4 OLB at the next level. Very quick, powerful player who bears watching and has petitioned the NFL already. I like his run playing ability and the way he changes direction quickly and without losing any speed in doing so. Brandon Lang of Troy suffered a torn ACL in a game I saw a year ago whilst watching Brandon Pettigrew, but he's bounced back brilliantly, breaking DeMarcus Ware's school record for TFL in a season. And what of George Selvie? The ultimate hustle player, how much will he be able to rely in that relentless nature that he brings, in the pros? I have some serious questions about his potential conversion; can he play the run because I haven't seen it. Can he drop into coverage? And that speed that is so effective going downhill, how does he transition when he has to turn and run down the field? Everette Brown is a name du jour and as an FSU fan I love to see the kid getting the hype. But again he's a downhill player who can get after the passer and whilst his ability to play run has improved, I'm not so sure it's the most effective part of his game and I certainly don't recall seeing him dropping back on a tight end or a back. I also have some historical concerns about Seminole converts; guys who were pure upfield edge rushers in college who did very little against the run in Tallahassee and then struggled with the multi faceted part of the pro game; Reinard Wilson, Jamal Reynolds, Kam Wimbley, etc.

Another under the radar junior is Jammie Kirlew of Indiana who is a very strong run defender who can also get to the QB and looks at 6'4 and 264 to be a perfect convert, whilst Corey Wootton who I mentioned in his own thread a couple of days ago is another who I think merits consideration. And if Willie Young ever played with consistency, he could be whatever he wanted to be.

Of the junior linebackers, CK has mentioned for a while that he believes Brandon Spikes could transition to the outside and anyone who saw him destroying the somewhat overrated Andre Smith will know why Chris is so often on the mark. Eric Norwood of South Carolina gets exactly no press, but he's already made the end conversion and just makes play after play after play going up and down the field.

I haven't mentioned Mark Herzlich simply because I believe he's going back. He's a little high cut, thin hipped and would probably need 10/12lbs, but I absolutely love what he brings to the table for BC and he epitomises the phrase "always around the ball".

But as you can see, there's a multitude of early round names that will merit strong consideration from this franchise. At times this season we've lacked the pass rush consistency to take pressure off the secondary. Look at what Pitt and the Giants and Tennessee do with their front 7's. I've mentioned it again and again, but NY won the Superbowl because of the remarkable pressure Steve Spagnuolo's men brought. Jerry Porter has 16.5 sacks, Vonnie Holliday has 3.5. Charlie Anderson has more penalties than positive plays and one good game against Buffalo does not a career make. Consistent and forceful rush is what will allow this defense to take the next step and it needs to come off the edge just as much as it needs to come from the guys on the first level such as Vonnie, Merling and Langford.

For guys that adore the front 7 and the conversion ends, this is a draft where the front office must really be licking their chops.

 

I agree with everything other than the Dorsey thing. It goes back to desire and will to be the best on every play and I don't see that.

 

Fair enough. Agree with you on Johnson. Would scare me stupid drafting him. Watch him now go and be a 10 year All Pro!

 

I just don't envisage him on the first day if the majority of the above names come out mate.

 

You didn't miss it. It was an assumption I made and simply didn't pass along!

Just been listening to Liverpool's nonsensical drw at home and watching BC. Mark Herzlich is one hell of a linebacker. I know people talk up Raji and Brace, but I don't think I've seen a more complete linebacker this year. Even Aaron Curry isn't as good all round and Herzlich is much, much better in coverage.

 

Interesting note on Aaron Curry in the Club.

 

Probably doesn't spell the end for either. Would more likely spell the end for a Quentin Moses type. There are some interesting numbers on Roth in the Herald this morning which say that teams run at him between 2 and 4 times a game because he's so strong at the point and at setting the edge. No coach is going to pass that sort of player up. He is what he is, a two down player, but a bit of a monster against the run. If you have a good ball hawking safety in behind, then his inability against a tight end is lessened.

 

I'm a big Dorsey fan; the bit about lack of desire was about Michael Johnson.

 

6'4, 230, only goes one way. Redshirt sophomore as well, so I was leery of including him despite the likelihood of him coming out.

 

Based on what Keith said about his apparent fondness for soft drugs as well as his very individual personality, I can't quite see him as a fit. Apart from the size and speed abilities that Coach and Jeff are looking for, the leadership and personality things shouldn't be counted out. Based on that alone, coupled with the size/speed thing, you'd have to say that in terms of simply OLB/DE conversions, you would certainly rule one or two out from my original list.

 

Antonio Coleman who I would say would be a very strong possibility at around pick 24 for us, says he's having a press conference on January 3rd about his future. Everyone thinks he's leaving. He goes about 6'3 and 253, is very quick, possesses tremendous hands and power and I know Mel Kiper for one thinks he's going to be a tremendous 3-4 OLB.

 

And that press conference was to announce that he was staying! Which is a shame in away but good for him.

 

Yeah Follet is a player.

 

Herzlich is officially staying. If Suh and Hughes stay, that's three really, really good players not in the draft.

 

LOL. Charles Haley was always referred to as an "elephant" end.