PatsFan37

Reiss has a pass rush analysis where he states that I respect Reiss mightily, but it seems to me that Crable is young and can put on enough muscle to grow into an every down OLB, exactly the same as Vrabel, with the speed and power to both seal the edge and rush the QB.

I also think that was what the brain trust were thinking (well, how the heck do I know ) when they drafted Crable and that Belichick may have been talking about Jarvis Green as a pass rush specialist.

mdhprime

I think Reiss' concern with Crable on the inside had to do with height. Physically he may be more apt to play outside in a 3-4.

tombonneau

I thought it was an excellent bit of insight on Reiss's part. The Pats are already paying Jarvis Green decent money to essentially function as DL passrushing specialist. I don't think it's a stretch to conjecture that the Pats drafted Crable to fill the same type of role at LB.

And, in fact, I think Reiss just might be spot on.

signbabybrady

I agree, I think Reiss read between the lines correctly on that one.

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TB146

I was just about to post something about this. Very insightful on the part of Reiss, even if he is wrong, but I think he very well could be right. Stuff like this gets me more and more excited about our defense.

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Metaphors

I think his conclusion is probably right in the short-term (Crable not an every down OLB) but his method for getting there has some issues:

1) Crable wasn't a traditional 4-3 OLB at Michigan. He played on the line a lot...more like a 3-4 rush OLB than a 4-3 end.

2) Just quoting weight numbers and translating that to position readiness is weak. Dude is not filled out and putting him on an NFL weight training schedule will almost certainly put some weight on. What did McGinest weigh coming out of USC?

3) "he also doesn't appear to be an every-down on-the-line player, meaning he wouldn't be a fit at outside linebacker in the 3-4." Since he gave no explanation, hard to counter this point. Assuming he meant that Crable doesn't seem suited to seal the edge on running plays (since Crable gets high marks for rushing the passer). Not sure how he got to this conclusion since Crable was a penetrator at Michigan. He played the run by avoiding lineman and getting into the backfield...just like 99% of DEs in college.

Reiss seems rooted in the past when discussing linebackers for the Pats. The scheme hasn't changed, but the league and rules certainly have. Crable can get to the QB and has some solid (but still raw) cover skills. That seems like a mighty good fit for today's NFL...assuming you don't play the Vikings every week.

Crable isn't your typical Pats OLB. Mayo isn't your typical Pats ILB. Wheatley isn't your typical Pats zone coverage CB. Blah, Blah, Blah. Maybe it is because this won't be your typical Pats 3-4 defense. Not saying the overall scheme and responsibilities will change...just that Belichick has seen league rules and offensive tendencies move to an environment with spread offenses, high percentage passes and free-roaming WRs. Why is it so controversial that the Pats defense would adjust to this brave new world?

Deus Irae

The kid doesn't have the pins to hold up against the running game, in all likelihood. He's got basketball calves.

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Metaphors

If that is what Reiss meant, he should have put "...until he puts on some lower-body weight/muscle." into one of his sentences about Crable. It reads like he is making a career evaluation, not a first year one.

I just think he is stuck in a "college DE = Pats OLB, college OLB = Pats ILB" rut.

Deus Irae

You may well be right. On the other hand, my forearms are bigger than Crable's calves. I'm a big guy, but that's still not what you want to see from a 3-4 OLB.

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PatsFan37

This is one that we won't be able to settle for a couple of years, assuming Crable catches onto the system, stays healthy, etc. My own feeling is if he comes out of next year's offseason weighing closer to 255 or 260, that is, if he puts on 15 lbs or so, he could grow into an every-down OLB. It's hard to imagine, with his frame, they won't be trying to put some weight on him.