AsthmaField said:
Those guys were pass rushers... but I think what he might have been saying is that guys like Lloyd were LB's in college... not converted DE's. I'm sure you could find examples of college DE's who were then converted to SOLB's in a pro 3-4... but I'd think that would be the exception more than the rule. Most (I think without looking it up) were just bigger LB's from college who could play SOLB in a 3-4... not DE's like Ware.
Like I said, Lloyd was a LB in college who had experience in coverage and running sideline to sideline against the run. Foley was a LB in college too.
Steve Foley
DE, NE Louisiana
Steve Foley 86 NE Louisiana 6034 261 4.68 forty
1997- Led the nation in sacks...set school record for both sacks and tackles for losses in a season...invited to play in Blue-Grey, Senior Bowl, and Hula Bowl, strong inthe final 10 games...two time all-independent selection...1996-Started nine games...8th on team with 54 tackles...2nd on team in tackles for loss...1995- 5th on the team in tackles with 58...capped his sophomore season by being named to the third team of the National All-Independent squad...1994- Prop 48...
He has come out of nowhere after the All-Star games to become a viable first day selection in the draft...He is strictly an edge rusher that is somewhat undersized, but relies on excellent speed and AA to get to the football. He was virtually unblockable in the Blue-Gray game, and flashed with his AA and quickness at the Senior Bowl. He is not an accomplished player by any stretch of the imagination, and most of his skills are raw.
He does not have enough size to be a force vs. the run, and he can be engulfed by big OTs.. He is at his best in 1 on 1 matchups, and he will usually win those battles, hands down. This is an interesting guy to develop AA, and he should be able to contribute early as a nickel type pass rusher.
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Foley was a DE in college, not a linebacker.
If the 3-4 is too be effective, you need both OLB as a great pass rushing threat. Then and only then, will the Offense be in a guessing game. Which OLB is coming. The 3-4 is really at is peak, when the ILB are great blitzers. Then, the QB has to treat both OLB and ILB as pass rushing threats. This really complicates the centers ability to call a protection shceme. The center is ulitmately responsible for sliding protection to the blitzing side, but if he or the QB can't deciepher who is "hot", its very difficult.
Think about how many sacks Porter got in the playoff. On how many of those plays was he unblocked. Quite a few. Of Wares 8 sacks, how many times was he unblocked. Imagine the possiblities....
