jays52

Included in all of the hype surrounding the "top" 34 OLB candidates, there seems to be a major hole in each of their games. Be it Orakpo's inconsistency, Brown's flagrant 43 fit, Maybin's lack of POA ability, Barwin's lack of experience or Johnson being the tin man, there is a negative to all of them. I've been high on English since November, and personally have him rated 1b behind Barwin at the position. I've looked high and low and can't seem to find a single piece of solid commentary on a hole in his game. Of course, he didn't run a sub 4.7, but he seems to play at 4.6. So I have a question for you, fine members of the draft board. Can you find a solid hole in English's game?

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klinefan

He's too short. What does he bring that TBC or Crable don't? TBC was good in college too...English played in a weak conference.

Box_O_Rocks

Coverage... The film clip Mayock uses to highlight his selling points shows him dropping into a zone and pretty much looking lost. Your Mr. 1a looks much, much more natural in space.

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TheBaronPatriot

Do you think this is due to a lack of experience dropping into coverage?
Or from a lack of physical skill to perform coverage responsibilities?

Do you think coverage is something he could be coached up to perform?

letekro

For those complaing about the lack of competition, check out the highlights of him abusing SEC (Tennessee) and Big 10 (Minnesota) competition. Also, Jason Taylor is a pretty good pass-rusher who also came out of the MAC. I think if the Pats want this guy, they will have to trade up to get him.

betterthanthealternative

There is a major hole in the game of every one of the top 20 players listed on any board you can find. It is remarkable, reading the descriptions, that any of these players make the NFL at all.

For example:
Curry won't be able to pressure the quarterback. He is stiff and can't change directions quickly. He doesn't tackle well, overusing his arms. Who would want this guy?

Monroe is too big around the middle, doesn't have good awareness of blitzes and doesn't block well in the open field. Who would want this guy?

patsfan1251

I think the problem with all of the DE/OLB conversions are as follows.
1. Defensive shemes in NCAA arent too complicated
2. A large majority of the NCAA teams run basic coverages and do not require players to do too much
3. Most teams run a 4-3 in NCAA
4. There is going to becoming less and less prospects avil who fit into the 3-4 becuse of more teams in the nfl switching to 3-4 D (thus a player like Tyson Jackson will likely be picked top 5)
5. The closer a player moves towards the line of scrimage the easier it is, because there is a lack of responsibilities the closer you are to the ball.
6. Thus the further you move from the ball you have more responsiblities.

I think #6 is the key sticking point because you have players who have been rushing the passer and thats it...not required to drop into zone and not required to cover TE's and such. Its difficult to project how that player will play in space. Like i said the futher you move away from the ball the more responsibility you have.

dryheat44

Stiff and unathletic (relatively speaking, or course). I don't see him as a first-round talent with regard to rushing the quarterback or dropping into space.

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BPF

I like English a ton and think he will turn out being the best OLB hybrid to come out of this draft. I'm hoping he somehow lands w/the Pats. I don't care about his 40, because there's functional football speed and manufactured track speed. This kid is fast on the football field, look at the tape, where it matters. Here are some things I've posted on him in the past:

Larry English vid

Mayock on OLB's for the Pats

Mayock ranks Ayers as third best player in the draft!

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mayoclinic

Larry English is a fine 4-3 DE with a nice motor and pass rush moves. There's a lot to like about his game. Though he played against lesser competition, he seemed to do fine in games against upper echelon teams as well.

The big question I have with English is whether he is suited to be a 3-4 OLB as opposed to a 4-3 DE. I lean towards the latter. He seems to play best when he is moving forwards, and I haven't seen much film of him moving well in space. I'm not sure he has enough speed to be an edge rusher at OLB, and he lacks ideal height. His lateral agility numbers are average.

Right now I would rank Barwin and Aaron Maybin as the top 2 OLB conversion guys in terms of their ceiling. I think English is 3rd, with a much higher floor than Maybin. Barwin's TE/ST background gives him something of an insurance policy if he doesn't work out at OLB, otherwise I would say Engish has a higher floor than Barwin. I think he's a fine player, but I certainly wouldn't say that he doesn't have some major questions as far as a 3-4 OLB prospect goes.

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