3-4 players

[BigDFan5]

List of Rush LBs and NT coming in this draft


Players for the 34 DefenseJanuary 3, 2006
- By Allen Trieu

The 3-4 defense has made a return as many teams have switched to it as their base defense over the past few years. The Steelers, Texans, Cowboys, Ravens, Browns, Chargers, Patriots and 49ers are among the teams who employ the defense whereas 10 years ago, it was mostly the Steelers and Carolina Panthers who ran it. As a result, these teams look for a different type of front 7 player in the draft. Here are some players who fit the bill. [/FONT]OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS What You're Looking For: These are usually undersized defensive ends or pass rushing OLBs in college. What you're looking for is an athletic, fast player to come off the edge. Shawne Merriman, Jason Babin, and Demarcus Ware are among recent players drafted who were ends in college, but 3-4 OLBs in the pros. The key is switching from coming off the ball from a 3-point stance to a 2-point stance. The other key element is dropping into coverage. The 3-4 requires that these rush backers be able to drop into flats and matchup with tight ends and running backs in coverage. Ware does this well as does the Steelers' Joey Porter.



1. Bobby Carpenter - Ohio State
Size: 6'3, 255 | College Positions: OLB, DE
Carpenter played OLB for the bucks, but put his hand down and rushed as a DE on passing downs. He has shown the pass rush ability to thrive as a rush backer in the 3-4 and has experience dropping into coverage from his linebacker spot even though that isn't necessarily his strength.
2. Manny Lawson - NC State
Size: 6'5, 245 | College Position: DE
Undersized as a true DE, Lawson has relied on his edge speed to get to the QB for the Wolfpack. He has great athleticism and quickness and has a great motor in pursuit, another key aspect of playing OLB in a 34. Lawson projects as a later day 1 pick, but could go in the 1st or 2nd to teams playing the 34 because he projects much better there.
3. Elvis Dumervil - Louisville
Size: 6'0, 256 | College Position: DE
Dumervil's sack total of 20 this year speaks for itself. This is a player who knows how to get to the QB. He has great speed off the edge and does a good job of getting the jump on the snap count. He doesnt have a lot of experience dropping into coverage, but he has the raw skills to be able to improve there.
4. Quentin Moses - Georgia
Size: 6'5, 248 | College Position: DE
Moses, a junior, is considering the draft and if he did, he's a player teams running the 34 need to pay attention to. He's athletic and can change directions well which is important if he is to drop into coverage. He also has a great motor and has proven he can be a great pass rusher as he had 12 sacks this season.
5. Mark Anderson - Alabama
Size: 6'5, 253 | College Positions: DE
Anderson is a super pass rusher, too undersized for a 4-3, but projects very well as an OLB


6. Quentin Groves - Auburn
Size: 6'3, 248 | College Positions: DE
At 248 lbs, Groves is very undersized for a DE. However, he does hold his ground pretty well for a smaller end. He also has the pass rush ability teams look for, I'd expect Groves to be high on the boards of teams running 34s.
7. Copeland Bryan - Arizona
Size: 6'4, 240 | College Positions: DE, OLB
This former walk-on really put together a nice senior season, finishing with 7.5 sacks, including weaking havoc against USC and their top OT prospect Winston Justice. He has a good deal of experience at OLB and in coverage, so he projects very well to the 3-4.

8. Gaines Adams - Clemson
Size: 6'5, 260 | College Position: DE
This junior is a relentless pass rusher. He had 8.5 sacks this past season.

9. Mkristo Bruce - Washington State
Size: 6'6, 255 | College Position: DE
A great pass rusher, Bruce is only a junior, but if he were to declare, he'd have a lot of 3-4 teams interested in him. He finished the year with 10 sacks and can definitely get to the passer, but is raw in coverage.

10. Stanley McClover - Auburn
Size: 6'5, 260 | College Position: DE
Another junior, McClover is very explosive off the edge, but is quite raw which affects his draft position.

11. Brandon Guillory - LA-Monroe
Size: 6'4, 240 | College Position: DE
Reportedly running as fast as 4.42 in the forty, Guillory is a poor man's DeMarcus Ware. His 10.5 sacks this season prove he can get to the QB.

12. Mike Kudla - Ohio State
Size: 6'3, 265 | College Position: DE
Kudla is a weight room freak who is going to test well at the combine. He has played well for the Buckeyes as a situational rusher and will remind scouts of former Buckeye and current Patriot Mike Vrabel.

13. Daryl Tapp - Virginia Tech
Size: 6'0, 270 | College Positions: DE
I think Tapp projects better as a 4-3 RDE, because he has struggled the few times he's been asked to play in space. However, as a pure rush LB, he has possibilities. The Chargers haven't asked Merriman to drop much, he has pretty much been a rush man and Tapp could fit a similar role.

14. Parys Haralson - Tennessee
Size: 6'2, 248 | College Position: DE
Undersized, Haralson's pass rush ability makes him a good candidate for the 34..

15. Pierre Woods - Michigan
Size: 6'5, 249 | College Positions: OLB, DE
Woods has played OLB in Michigan's 3-4 and when the Wolverines have featured four down linemen, Woods has rushed with his hand down too. He has shown good pass rush ability and would be a great later round pickup for a team that runs the 34.

OTHERS
16. Charlton Keith - Kansas
17. Chris Gocong - Cal-Poly - 6'1, 255
18. Jeremy Mincey - Florida - 6'3, 262
19. Willie Evans - Mississippi State - 6'2, 270
20. Javon Nanton - Miami - 6'3, 240
21. Ryan LaCasse - Syracuse - 6'3, 249
22. Brent Hawkins - Illinois State - 6'3, 244
23. Montez Murphy - Baylor - 6'6, 263
24. John Chick - Utah State - 6'4, 248
25. Terrence Royal - South Florida - 6'3, 255

 

[BigDFan5]

January 3, 2006
- By Allen Trieu

The 3-4 defense has made a return as many teams have switched to it as their base defense over the past few years. The Steelers, Texans, Cowboys, Ravens, Browns, Chargers and 49ers are among the teams who employ the defense whereas 10 years ago, it was mostly the Steelers and Carolina Panthers who ran it. As a result, these teams look for a different type of front 7 player in the draft. Here are some players who fit the bill.
NOSE TACKLES
What You're Looking For: You want a big, wide body who can take up blockers and allow your linebackers to make plays and blitz up the gut. A guy like Casey Hampton is the ultimate. Not only does he occupy blockers, but he blows up the middle with penetration regularly and forces RBs to change directions. Generally, the most important thing with nose tackles is leverage, so they usually aren't too tall, 6'0-6'2 is the average height for a nose tackle, although there are some exceptions.



1. Gabe Watson - Michigan
Size: 6'4, 335 | College Positions: DT, NT
Big Gabe has underachieved but if you're an NFL team, you have to love his potential. Michigan played mostly out of a 3-4 his junior season and still employed it at times his senior season so he has potential there. He has quick penetrating ability and when he's on his game, commands double teams.
2. Babatunde Oshinowo - Stanford
Size: 6'2, 320 | College Position(s): DT
More so than Watson, Oshinowo has the build for the position. He is shorter and more compact and that allows him to control the middle. However, getting low and winning the leverage battle is not something he did consistently at the college level, so he would have some work to do to adjust to playing that NT spot.
3. Haloti Ngata - Oregon
Size: 6'5, 345 | College Positions: DT
His height is a problem, but everything else isn't. Ngata is big enough and strong enough to hold his ground and command double teams. He is a good penetrator, but his athleticism and quickness may be somewhat wasted as a nose tackle. He's better suited for other defenses, but he also projects fairly well to nose guard.
4. Steve Fifita - Utah
Size: 6'0, 322 | College Positions: DT
Here is a stout guy with a very strong lower body who can really be a pain to block at times. If Fifita is going to succeed anywhere in the NFL, it will likely be with a team that runs the 3-4.
5. Domata Peko - Michigan State
Size: 6'2, 310 | College Positions: DT
Peko would probably have to add another 10 pounds or so to get to where he needs to be as an NT, but he is a good penetrator with decent athleticism for a big guy.
OTHERS
6. Manaia Brown - BYU
Size: 6'3, 310 | College Positions: DT

7. Montavious Stanley - Louisville
Size: 6'2, 321 | College Positions: DT

8. Sir Henry Anderson - Oregon State
Size: 6'3, 310 | College Positions: DT

9. Jeff Littlejohn - Middle Tennessee State
Size: 6'2, 322 | College Positions: DT

10. Brandon McKinney - Michigan State
Size: 6'2, 320 | College Positions: DT

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'll take a Lawson please

 

[Rush 2112]

Half those LB's are still in school.

 

[Future]

3. Elvis Dumervil - Louisville
Size: 6'0, 256 | College Position: DE
Dumervil's sack total of 20 this year speaks for itself. This is a player who knows how to get to the QB. He has great speed off the edge and does a good job of getting the jump on the snap count. He doesnt have a lot of experience dropping into coverage, but he has the raw skills to be able to improve there.

being a syracuse fan and in that area, i see a lot of big east games. this guy was a player, dominating games. I think it was his last game of the season where he had like 10 tackles 4 sacks and an INT or something godly like that. If this guy is there at 18 i would be thrilled to get him.

 

[Sarge]

being a syracuse fan and in that area, i see a lot of big east games. this guy was a player, dominating games. I think it was his last game of the season where he had like 10 tackles 4 sacks and an INT or something godly like that. If this guy is there at 18 i would be thrilled to get him.

I agree, he is a very good player. I wouldn't be surprised if he was there at 18 either.

 

[Typhus]

I'll take a Lawson please

I didnt see much NC football, so I dont know anything about Lawson,, but those getaway sticks are pretty thin,,, guy could handle an extra bisquit or two on his plate.
Anyone have any pics of Shante Carver?

 

[VACowboy]

There are a lot of good 3-4 LB prospects out there this year. Carpenter is my favorite, but Dumervil or Lawson would be ok by me too. A player I like on day two is App State's Jason Hunter.

 

[Nors]

Fifita - NT

 

[conner01]

i'm with you on fifita,he is a monster

 

[Clove]

I'll take a Lawson please

I'll take Lawson,Gabe Watson, and a Large Coke please.
For those of you who wanted Merriman, we get to have both now.

This is what made me want Lawson.

Manny Lawson 6'5 (245) *
This is a player at the defensive end position that can be dominate at both levels of play
As a collegiate player I feel he is a dominate presence on the field of play, he posses excellent athleticness, determination and passion for the game that others lack and gives him the extra juice to succeed
This is an athlete while in high school that qualified for (4) different events in track for his state of North Carolina, and reportedly currently runs a 4.43 in the 40 yard dash, that gives you an idea of the type of athlete and skill level we are talking about here
He has the rare combination of size, speed, mobility, quickness and burst to be a dominant player on the field, to me he out performs his teammate Mario Williams on the field where it counts, and rather than the publications and the media
He gets upfield with such a quick burst and instinctive anticipation off the snap, that he brings such pressure to his opposing blocker, and once he does get by the opposing blocker, he has the speed to run down any quarterback I can think of.
He plays the game with such passion and will to win on every snap of the ball, he also shows the athletic ability to track down and make the plays necessary running down runners from the backfield, he is consistently in an attack mode on the field, and stout at the point of attack anywhere on the field, he is quite simply a difference maker!
With his lack of weight he is somewhat of a liability against the run, that is why I proposed the idea of making him a linebacker where he does not have to take on blockers consistently 50+ pounds heavier than him, which in turn wears him down and makes his ability to work in open space and use his athleticness to his advantage limited
If he were to be moved to the linebacker spot he would be freed up to do the things he can do best more often and more creatively, he can be used as a combo blitzing linebacker/ rush end in known passing situations, and he can be utilized in the defense in creative ways by the coaches and coordinator
I feel he posses the agility in the hips, mobility, quickness and lateral movement where his transition from the defensive end spot to the linebacker position would be a smooth one, his upside to me is limitless!
http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/2006_profiles.cfm?pos=DE

Click and read on the DE/OLB, we have plenty there. But I like this guy too for our ILB next to James. 4th rounder maybe.

Ryan Neill 6'3 (265) my choice at ILB
He is a player at the defensive end position that is undersized and who gives you his all
He is an all out hustler on each and every play he participates in, you know there will be no opponent across from him who will out hustle and have more determination than he
He is a player in constant pursuit making his way to the ball, who pursues ball carriers with the best of them, he is a ball hawk constantly around to make plays around the ball
He is a terror coming off the edge providing a consistent and frequent pass rush, using his quickness off the snap and all out effort to beat the player across from him constantly
He will play at the next level, the question will be at what position, I feel he has two options at either defensive end or inside linebacker
At defensive end he will be considered undersized for the position and somewhat of a liability in run defense at only 265lbs, if he were to gain another 20lbs or so and become more stout at the point of attack he could become a starter at the next level
At inside linebacker he would have the prototype size, and he has the physical mentality and the tools to thrive inside the teeth of the interior, and I feel his hip swivel and lateral movement would make his transition period to linebacker a swift and successful one

 

[Clove]

Fifita - NT

And see guys like fifta won't go until 3 or 4 or even later. Lawson will go in the second, we can trade down and pick up an early 2 & 3, and get a monster Guard like Gilles. Then our 18th pick (in the 2nd) we can pick up Lawson.

If we trade Ellis or Glover and next years 4 , we can get another 2 and pick up a FS.

Our early third we can get a LT, and in our late 3rd we can pick up Fifta.
We can get Ryan Neil in the 4th via trade in some capacity for our other ILB, and in the 7th, we can find a kick returner. Everything else we can find in FA.

Our defense would be a slaughter house.

 

[speedkilz88]

There is no way Parcells drafts Dumervil at 6-0 to play strong side LB. He already didn't like the height of Burnett and Singleton at that spot and they are 6-2 - 6-3.

I thought the Ravens went back to the 4-3 and Houston is already talking that Kubiak will move them to a 4-3. So there are two team s going the other way.