Not Sold on Ellis at OLB - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Teague31 · 08-05-2006

Are we giving too much to Greg to placate him? I agree with the concept of having your two best pass rushers on the field at the same time but I doubt he can succeed at OLB over the course of a season. No way he can keep up with backs and TE's in coverage. I think he will be targeted early and often. And if he is starting at OLB and Al is backing him up, why spend a first rounder on Carp if all he does is play 2nd string ILB? Ponderous

cowboy4eva · 08-05-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teague31

Not Sold on Ellis at OLB

I'd be shocked if anyone is... I would also be shocked if he is a starter at OLB. I do hope he continues to progress.

zrinkill · 08-05-2006

situational pass rusher ...... nothing more nothing less.

But he has to learn the posistion or the enemy will know whats up every time.

M'Kevon · 08-05-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teague31

Are we giving too much to Greg to placate him? I agree with the concept of having your two best pass rushers on the field at the same time but I doubt he can succeed at OLB over the course of a season. No way he can keep up with backs and TE's in coverage. I think he will be targeted early and often. And if he is starting at OLB and Al is backing him up, why spend a first rounder on Carp if all he does is play 2nd string ILB? Ponderous

Uhm, moving Ellis to OLB was Tuna's idea. How is this placating Ellis??

ghst187 · 08-05-2006

I think by mid-season Carp will be starting or at least getting extensive playing time, esp since he can play inside or outside.
Obviously he will be targeted for coverage if he's left on the field full-time but as long as we're mixing and matching he can be useful for us.
As long as we have someone that can get to the QB besides Ware, we can really cause problems for an offense. Right now, Ellis is that "other guy."
Boiman, Carpenter, and Burnett could become that "other guy" and make Ellis expendable.
Maybe those other three I named step up into the pass rushing role and another team has an injury and gets desperate mid-season for a 4-3 DE.....Ellis could really net us something, maybe a draft pick or a decent player.

JackMagist · 08-05-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by zrinkill

situational pass rusher ...... nothing more nothing less.

But he has to learn the posistion or the enemy will know whats up every time.

Exactly right. We have to throw some wrinkles in there with him in the game so he has to know the position. But he will be there first and foremost as a pass rusher. He will never make a starter at the position unless he really makes a quantum leap in picking up the position and surprises the hell out of everyone with the ability to play it; not a high probability of that.

Screw The Hall · 08-05-2006

We don't know what his potential is at OLB at the moment.

Best case scenario he is the rebirth of Mcginist and gives us a tag team terror with Ware on the other side. Now that's a big what if and I realize that. At the very least he's a designated passrusher in obvious throwing downs. I don't see a down side to this. Our best shot at having a dominant pass rushing defense is to find a way to get Ware and Ellis on the field together as much as possible.

But I think we are in a uniquely advantageous quandry as far as the LB position is concerned ...We have to figure out how to get a whole lot of talented players on the field there. Not a bad problem to have.

locked&loaded · 08-05-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by zrinkill

situational pass rusher ...... nothing more nothing less.

But he has to learn the posistion or the enemy will know whats up every time.

i agree, situational. i also think bills making him feel like he will be a bigger part of the D.

**big dog cowboy** · 08-05-2006

I'm not sold either. Ellis in coverage? Yikes!

Cbz40 · 08-05-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by big dog cowboy

I'm not sold either. Ellis in coverage? Yikes!

I know......that scares me to death.

Cowboys&Caps · 08-05-2006

I have already heard of two interceptions by him in camp. For the most part they are having him cover flats so thats rbs, full backs, and tight ends, that doesn't bother me.

and this isn't so we can have Ware and Ellis on the field at the same time that would be the case if ellis were playin DE still. this is so we get those two and canty........

AdamJT13 · 08-05-2006

Most likely, Parcells is just getting Ellis to learn the outside linebacker position so the opponent won't know what defense we're going to be as soon as Ellis comes onto the field. If he can play a little OLB, we could be in a four-man or three-man line when he's in the game. And if he's at OLB, he has to know how to cover a little bit, or the opponent will know he's going to blitz.