OLB Discussion...

[MrPhil]

This year, I have my hopes set on Lawson, but I'm going to go with the averages and say they don't take anyone I'm thinking of.

SS

As thorough as we are on this board around draft time, I would be SHOCKED if our first pick was someone NOT already discussed on this board. Seems to me we have discussed most of the "what ifs" (even the crazy ones) and the merits of the majority of the 1st round (and even 2nd round) prospects. I mean we have pretty much dissected the OT, OG, WR, QB, FS, CB, DT, and LB positions pretty well.

I admit to being surprised with the 2004 draft but, nothing really surprised me about our draftees last year except maybe where we got them.

 

[Woods]

As thorough as we are on this board around draft time, I would be SHOCKED if our first pick was someone NOT already discussed on this board. Seems to me we have discussed most of the "what ifs" (even the crazy ones) and the merits of the majority of the 1st round (and even 2nd round) prospects. I mean we have pretty much dissected the OT, OG, WR, QB, FS, CB, DT, and LB positions pretty well.

I admit to being surprised with the 2004 draft but, nothing really surprised me about our draftees last year except maybe where we got them.

That means at least one of us is going to be right on draft day! :laugh2:

 

[MrPhil]

That means at least one of us is going to be right on draft day! :laugh2:

lol, very true!

Now, the $64,000 question is: Who's it gonna be?

Or maybe a better question is: Will we be able to live with that person after he/she is proven right??

 

[ddh33]

Going back to this Thomas Howard thing, Goose has him as the 7th best true OLB prospect, and that's not counting all of the higher ranked tweeners like Lawson and Wimbley. That makes Howard look a lot more like a second rounder to me, right?

 

[MrPhil]

Going back to this Thomas Howard thing, Goose has him as the 7th best true OLB prospect, and that's not counting all of the higher ranked tweeners like Lawson and Wimbley. That makes Howard look a lot more like a second rounder to me, right?

The Great Blue North site has him listed as #52. So going on that I would say yes, he is a 2nd round type. Let me see what other rankings there are for him.......

 

[Woods]

Going back to this Thomas Howard thing, Goose has him as the 7th best true OLB prospect, and that's not counting all of the higher ranked tweeners like Lawson and Wimbley. That makes Howard look a lot more like a second rounder to me, right?

I think most have him as a high second or end of the 1st round type.

The thing is that Howard might be the 4th best guy who fits our scheme - after Lawson, Carpenter, and Wembley (in whatever order you want to rank the top 3).

If that's the case, he could easily go end of the 1st round to a 3-4 scheme (i.e., Pittsburgh).

 

[Woods]

I think most have him as a high second or end of the 1st round type.

The thing is that Howard might be the 4th best guy who fits our scheme - after Lawson, Carpenter, and Wembley (in whatever order you want to rank the top 3).

If that's the case, he could easily go end of the 1st round to a 3-4 scheme (i.e., Pittsburgh).

I'll add that while a LB like Sims or Greenway are ranked higher by Ourlads, Kiper, PFW, etc., etc., I doubt they could play as effectively in a 3-4 defense than perhaps someone like Howard.

I think when we look at OLB rankings, we've got to look at rankings (or fit, for a better word) in the 3-4 instead of the 4-3.

 

[MrPhil]

Going back to this Thomas Howard thing, Goose has him as the 7th best true OLB prospect, and that's not counting all of the higher ranked tweeners like Lawson and Wimbley. That makes Howard look a lot more like a second rounder to me, right?

Here are some quick figures I dug up on Howard:

NFL Draft Countdown - #37

Footballs Future - Not in the top 50 (#7 OLB)

NFL Draft Scout - #43

NFL Draft Blitz - Not in top 10 (obviously) can't access any other ranking with paying for it. They do list him as a 1st rounder on their value chart.

 

[MrPhil]

I think most have him as a high second or end of the 1st round type.

The thing is that Howard might be the 4th best guy who fits our scheme - after Lawson, Carpenter, and Wembley (in whatever order you want to rank the top 3).

If that's the case, he could easily go end of the 1st round to a 3-4 scheme (i.e., Pittsburgh).

I agree.....the more teams that switch to the 3-4, the earlier these guys will jump off the board......

 

[Woods]

Here are some quick figures I dug up on Howard:

NFL Draft Countdown - #37

Footballs Future - Not in the top 50 (#7 OLB)

NFL Draft Scout - #43

NFL Draft Blitz - Not in top 10 (obviously) can't access any other ranking with paying for it. They do list him as a 1st rounder on their value chart.

How would you rank your top 5-7 OLBs who primarily play the 3-4 in this year's draft?

 

[Clove]

The player is Thomas Howard. They are speculating a trade down and gaining a couple of extra picks, picking Howard at the trade down spot.

SS

I would love that pick. There is something to be said that perhaps the Cowboys think that either Burnett can handle the duties, or they can bring in a 2nd tear guy who is fast like a whip in Howard, and thus, having all 4 of those guys battling it out, and the worst man loses his job.

 

[MrPhil]

How would you rank your top 5-7 OLBs who primarily play the 3-4 in this year's draft?

Me personally?

Lets see, assuming Hawk as an OLB, I would say:

1. Hawk
2. Lawson
3. Carpenter
4. Wimbley
5. Greenway
6. Howard

Carpenter and Wimbley are kind of a toss up for me at 3/4 and Greenway and Howard are a toss up for me at 5/6. After that group, which probably gets picked clean by the middle of round 2, there seems to be a bit of a drop off IMO, with players like Mark Anderson, Daryl Tapp, Paris Harylson, AJ Nicholson, etc. in the next group.

Of course, you could really confuse things if you start throwing guys like Kiwi in there who are listed as DE's but, might be looked at as LB in the 3-4. If you look at Kiwi in that capacity, I would see him in the 5-7 range of my list there.

 

[Woods]

Me personally?

Lets see, assuming Hawk as an OLB, I would say:

1. Hawk
2. Lawson
3. Carpenter
4. Wimbley
5. Greenway
6. Howard

Carpenter and Wimbley are kind of a toss up for me at 3/4 and Greenway and Howard are a toss up for me at 5/6. After that group, which probably gets picked clean by the middle of round 2, there seems to be a bit of a drop off IMO, with players like Mark Anderson, Daryl Tapp, Paris Harylson, AJ Nicholson, etc. in the next group.

Of course, you could really confuse things if you start throwing guys like Kiwi in there who are listed as DE's but, might be looked at as LB in the 3-4. If you look at Kiwi in that capacity, I would see him in the 5-7 range of my list there.

My list is similar to your list, at the top of my head. Though I would rank Howard number 5, well ahead of Greenway (in the 3-4 scheme only, of course).

I agree with your second tier. It does get confusing. Another guy discussed on this Board is Hali from Penn State. I've read in at least one draft mag that he could potentially play in the 3-4 as an OLB, which sort of surprised me tell you the truth. They said he has the ability to drop back into zone coverage and is athletic enough to do so.

I only mention has name because he's one of the guys we looked at pretty closely a month or so ago.

 

[MrPhil]

My list is similar to your list, at the top of my head. Though I would rank Howard number 5, well ahead of Greenway (in the 3-4 scheme only, of course).

I agree with your second tier. It does get confusing. Another guy discussed on this Board is Hali from Penn State. I've read in at least one draft mag that he could potentially play in the 3-4 as an OLB, which sort of surprised me tell you the truth. They said he has the ability to drop back into zone coverage and is athletic enough to do so.

I only mention has name because he's one of the guys we looked at pretty closely a month or so ago.

Yeah Hali, I knew I was forgeting someone at DE. I didn't know we were looking that closely at him. I know that 40 times aren't the end all be all but, if I remember correctly, didn't he time poorly in the 40? I'd be hesitant about giving TE coverage duties to a "slow" OLB, especially with all the guys like Witten, Shockey, Gates and now Davis at TE that can RUN.

It does get confusing looking at 3-4 OLB versus 4-3 DEs. Its strange how 2 players, both about the same size can fit better in one system versus the other. Guess that is why I am a message board scout! lol.....

 

[DBoys]

Great posts guys it's going to be real interesting what we do.

 

[ddh33]

Out of curiosity, because we've only seen one 3-4 Parcells team in Dallas, how does Bill like to run his 3-4? Does he like having two guys on the outside that can blitz? Does he prefer more of a true LB at one spot? Does he like the DE converts outside?

Bill's history has certainly been handy before when analyzing needs and acquisitions. It might be this time too.

 

[Alexander]

The player is Thomas Howard. They are speculating a trade down and gaining a couple of extra picks, picking Howard at the trade down spot.

SS

I hope you have a good attorney because you just broke COPYRIGHT LAW!