Box_O_Rocks

3 Part Look at prospects for the 3-4: Part 3: Outside Backers

http://www.draftshowcase.com/34olb.htm

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...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
...He has great athleticism and quickness and has a great motor in pursuit, another key aspect of playing OLB in a 34.

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 doesnt have a lot of experience dropping into coverage...

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.

5. Mark Anderson - Alabama
Size: 6'5, 253 | College Positions: DE
Anderson is a super pass rusher, too undersized for a 4-3...

6. Quentin Groves - Auburn
Size: 6'3, 248 | College Positions: DE
...Groves is very undersized for a DE. However, he does hold his ground pretty well for a smaller end...

7. Copeland Bryan - Arizona
Size: 6'4, 240 | College Positions: DE, OLB
...former walk-on...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...

8. Gaines Adams - Clemson
Size: 6'5, 260 | College Position: DE
This junior is a relentless pass rusher...

9. Mkristo Bruce - Washington State
Size: 6'6, 255 | College Position: DE
A great pass rusher, Bruce is only a junior...He finished the year with 10 sacks...is raw in coverage.

10. Stanley McClover - Auburn
Size: 6'5, 260 | College Position: DE
Another junior...

11. Brandon Guillory - LA-Monroe
Size: 6'4, 240 | College Position: DE
Reportedly running...4.42 in the forty...poor man's DeMarcus Ware...10.5 sacks this season...

12. Mike Kudla - Ohio State
Size: 6'3, 265 | College Position: DE
...weight room freak...played well for the Buckeyes as a situational rusher...will remind scouts of...current Patriot Mike Vrabel.

13. Daryl Tapp - Virginia Tech
Size: 6'0, 270 | College Positions: DE
...projects better as a 4-3 RDE...struggled the few times he's been asked to play in space...

14. Parys Haralson - Tennessee
Size: 6'2, 248 | College Position: DE

15. Pierre Woods - Michigan
Size: 6'5, 249 | College Positions: OLB, DE
...played OLB in Michigan's 3-4...has rushed with his hand down too...

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

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Box_O_Rocks

A couple things jumped out of this write up...some prospects to ponder.

7. Copeland Bryan - Arizona
Size: 6'4, 240 | College Positions: DE, OLB
...former walk-on...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...

You have to like the walk-on over achiever point. Experienced in coverage.

11. Brandon Guillory - LA-Monroe
Size: 6'4, 240 | College Position: DE
Reportedly running...4.42 in the forty...poor man's DeMarcus Ware...10.5 sacks this season...

Who was that kid NEM liked last year? Anybody know how he turned out?

12. Mike Kudla - Ohio State
Size: 6'3, 265 | College Position: DE
...weight room freak...played well for the Buckeyes as a situational rusher...will remind scouts of...current Patriot Mike Vrabel.

Where do his parents teach/coach?

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