3-4 OLB pass coverage specialist

[xwalker]

Many 3-4 OLBs are converted 4-man DEs and often not great in coverage.

Most true 4-3 SLBs are not as good as the MLB and WLB in coverage but usually good enough vs TEs and in the short area.

Marist Liufau with Zimmer as DC
Damien Wilson with Marinelli as DC.

Charles Snowden played this role for the Raiders in 2025.
- He often "looked" liked he was a DE but in reality he was almost always on the field with 4 actual "down" DLinemen.
- When Maxx Crosby was standing, then it looked like a 3-4 but it was NOT.

Snowden rarely had chances at "pure pass rushes".
- His #1, #2 and #3 responsibility was containing the edge.
- Don't let a RB or QB get outside.
- Cover the RB if he ran a route to that side.
- If coverage, just drop into a shallow zone like a 3-4 OLB.
- Cover TEs.

TEs struggle to block him because he is very tall with long arms.

He looked OK on the minimal pure pass rushes that he had but they just didn't feature him as a pass rusher.

 

[Rockport]

Many 3-4 OLBs are converted 4-man DEs and often not great in coverage.

Most true 4-3 SLBs are not as good as the MLB and WLB in coverage but usually good enough vs TEs and in the short area.

Marist Liufau with Zimmer as DC
Damien Wilson with Marinelli as DC.

Charles Snowden played this role for the Raiders in 2025.
- He often "looked" liked he was a DE but in reality he was almost always on the field with 4 actual "down" DLinemen.
- When Maxx Crosby was standing, then it looked like a 3-4 but it was NOT.

Snowden rarely had chances at "pure pass rushes".
- His #1, #2 and #3 responsibility was containing the edge.
- Don't let a RB or QB get outside.
- Cover the RB if he ran a route to that side.
- If coverage, just drop into a shallow zone like a 3-4 OLB.
- Cover TEs.

TEs struggle to block him because he is very tall with long arms.

He looked OK on the minimal pure pass rushes that he had but they just didn't feature him as a pass rusher.

I’ll re-read this in the morning after some coffee.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Now Snowden. Takes himself off the team with his recent issue, he really didn't have a chance to make the roster. So are we going to struggle in coverage because these guys are natural DEs??? Why put them out there like that then

 

[gimmesix]

Now Snowden. Takes himself off the team with his recent issue, he really didn't have a chance to make the roster. So are we going to struggle in coverage because these guys are natural DEs??? Why put them out there like that then

So the offense doesn't know who is rushing the passer.

Teams rarely rush five players because it leaves a coverage hole, so generally in a 3-4, you have one of the front five (three DL and two OLBs) drop into coverage.

You want DEs out there as 3-4 OLBs because of the pass rush they can create, but you also need them to at least be able to cover a small zone in coverage. Usually you'll have one who is better at rushing the passer and one better at coverage, so most of the time, you know which one is dropping in coverage, but you also want to at least keep offenses guessing on when you'll send the other one instead and drop the better pass rusher in coverage or send both and drop one of the DL in coverage.

Frankly, I think Eze is going to turn out to be decent in coverage and probably will end up getting dropped into it while Gary crashes the line on most snaps in the 3-4. I think they will be the two main OLBs when we are in the 3-4. I think Houston and Lawrence will mainly play end when we are in the nickel (4-2-5).

 

[ScotsCowboy]

I’ll re-read this in the morning after some coffee.

It’s a double tequila you’ll need to make any sense of that.

 

[Kwyn]

Now Snowden. Takes himself off the team with his recent issue, he really didn't have a chance to make the roster. So are we going to struggle in coverage because these guys are natural DEs??? Why put them out there like that then

He got bursted end of 2024, so everyone saw it coming

They knew a suspension was automatic when they signed him.

As soon as he took his plea deal the three game vacation was a done deal.