re: Post Combine Talk on 3-4 OLBs

quote:

---

Its hard to think of many Outside pass rushing specialist linebackers in a 3-4 in the NFL SHORTER than 6'3.

---

But there's a ton of 6'3" 34OLBers. Is that inch a deal breaker for a dynamic player?

cursory list-
James Harrison 6'0"
Lamarr Woodley 6'2"
Robert Mathis 6'2"
Tamba Hali 6'2"
Sam Acho 6'2"
Erik Walden 6'2"
Donta Hightower 6'2"
Sean Lee 6'2"
At 6'3" you have
Clay Matthews
Anthony Spencer
Terrell Suggs
Justin Houston
Shaun Phillips, who we've discussed as a FA target
Connor Barwin
Brooks Reed
Jarrett Johnson
Victor Butler, who we've discussed as a FA target

That's a fair amount, in fact perhaps a majority of 3-4OLBs are 6-3 or under.

that's just the full fledged 3-4OLBs not the shorter DEs

cursory list-
James Harrison 6'0" - Decent ex although he's a tough guy
Lamarr Woodley 6'2"-265
Robert Mathis 6'2" Good example
Tamba Hali 6'3"-275
Sam Acho 6'3 -257
Erik Walden 6'2" Who the frick?
Donta Hightower 6'2"-270
Sean Lee 6'2"- Not a pass rusher

quote:

---

in fact perhaps a majority of 3-4OLBs are 6-3 or under.

---

You have 2 comparisons in the entire NFL.

I also think its important to note, the two guys that are your best example, one went undrafted and the other went in the 5th round.

didn't get a lot of feedback on % chance of being available. try another angle...

discuss the potential 3-4OLB landing spots before #15

1 KC Houston and Hall are quite a good combo for a terrible team, big needs elsewhere NO WAY
2 JAX 4-3 so only if one who will project well to DE like Ansah, Werner fits, DT like Floyd maybe, very small chance
3 OAK 4-3 and with Seymour departing, DT ned is huge, neglible chance
4 PHI switching to hybrid that will be a lot of 3-4, if LT didn't make so much sense I'd say strong chance. DT just as likely too. 50%
5 DET 4-3, pencil in a DE to replace Avril or CB, NO CHANCE
6 CLEV Here is where one goes almost fo sho unless a DT overwhelms in potential, one sure goner here
7 ARZ 3-4 D but it's pretty stout. Huge OL & QB holes. Needs otherwise so great, minor chance at best
8 BUFF 4-3 D with giant offensive needs, could see Jarvis Jones tho, try 20%
9 NYJ Need and value meet, ABSOLUTELY
10 TENN 4-3 and other needs much greater, add as a NO WAY
11 SD If not for such great OT need I'd say 100%, prolly will come down to who is available and their value, 50%
12 MIA 4-3D with much bigger holes, NOPE
13 TB 4-3D bigger needs, NO CHANCE
14 CARO 4-3D and this looks like the perfect DT landing spot, NO WAY

Looking at those odds I say three 3-4OLBs will likely go before #15. However you rank them that would be Jones, Jordan, & Mingo. We can hope for a Jones fall. But if he made it to #15 then it would also mean it would be no sure thing for the Saints either. #4 is a step down to I don't know who. Damontre Moore? Not sure he make sthe list as a 3-4 guy at all anymore.

Thinking CB, NT, or S look like much better value prospects at #15 at this point. Free agency results will give a little more guidance. Any of those teams signing Spencer or Kruger would help. If the Saints sign two LBs like Shaun Phillips, Antwan Barnes, or Victor Butler then I think they are going with what we have.

What say ye?

I'm taking the best pass rusher available at 15. We need to get the heat on. Jones if available would be a plum. Mingo would be my second choice if Jones is gone

Mingo scored well in interviews as well...

Barkevious Mingo, LSU DE—He is beginning to look like the total package. He was praised for his smarts, his communication skills and his genuineness. Said one front office man. “He’s a squared away guy. There is no B.S. to him.” - See more at: LINK

these were kinda mind blowing to me...

The most impressive body of the combine probably belonged to Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan. At 6-6, 248 pounds, he checked into the Bod Pod with a body fat measurement of 3.8 percent—third lowest of any player at any position. What’s more, Jordan’s arms measured 33 7/8ths inches, and his hands were 10 inches.

Many people were impressed with Ziggy Ansah’s 4.56 40 yard dash at 271 pounds, and rightfully so. But they would have been more impressed if they knew Ansah didn’t even train for the event. Unlike probably every other player in attendance, Ansah kept going to class and never worked with an outside trainer to prepare for the combine. In fact, the 40 yard dash he ran at the combine was the first of his life, according to his agent Frank Bauer. It should be noted, however, that Ansah did run 100 meter dash and the 200 meters on the Brigham Young track team before he became a football player.
LINK

I had been thinking Ansah might not be as viable as a 3-4OLB. The more I look the more I see his athleticism making it workable.

For Jordan I about have him on the no way available list. Stranger things have happened but don't see it unless sumpin changes.

quote:

---

I had been thinking Ansah might not be as viable as a 3-4OLB. The more I look the more I see his athleticism making it workable.

---

He could play the Willie McGinnest elephant role.

quote:

---

The little I saw ziggy in drills he just didn't look that natural and fluid in open space,

---

If he didn't train for the combine - He may not have been "coached" on some of the finer points. Adds to the "raw" tag IMO.