kurtinelson

Every year we grapple with finding the elusive prototypical 3/4 OLB for BB's system. One who can play with a hand down and rush the QB, set the edge, and drop into coverage. This type of player takes time to develop in the system. However, we also know that BB is not afraid to have role players on the roster. Case in point is TBC. Due to his skill set, his one job is to rush the QB. TBC did not have a good year in 2010/2011 IMO.

In your opinion, is there a player in this draft who could replace TBC and give us an immediate impact as an outside pass rush specialist? A player who may not develop into a prototypical BB 3/4 OLB, but who can pin his ears back and simply rush the QB? If so, who would you draft and how high of a pick would you be willing to use?

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MaineMan

And the other question is, "Do we need to spend a draft pick at all to acquire a pass rush specialist?" By that, I mean a guy who wouldn't necessarily have a lot of versatility to begin with and might not ever develop any.

McGinest was a 1st rounder, but he was already on the roster when BB arrived.
Vrabel was, IIRC, a free agent
Colvin was a free agent
TBC was a 7th rounder (re-signed after he was cut by SF)
Crable was a 3rd rounder
Thomas was a free agent
Burgess cost us a 3rd and a 5th
Eric Moore was a free agent

Seems to me that, aside from McGinest, we've gotten more production out of guys who didn't cost us anything in the draft.

upstater1

It's a good sign that Belichick went after Thomas and Colvin. it means he sees some value in FA pass rushers coming in.

VJCPatriot

I'd like to get Tamba Hali if we're going the free agent route. This is assuming that Ngata will get locked up by the Ravens.

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SeymourTrophies

I think we have something in Ninkovich and Cunningham. Cunningham has a strong start and sort of petered out, and Ninkovich really showed us something down the home stretch and was the only guy to even get close to Sanchez. Obviously, neither of them is Julius Peppers or Willie Mac, but they're about as good as we've had in recent memory.

The problem with the pass rush is that Vince can't do it alone in the trenches. If we can land a decent big ugly in the draft we could be in business.

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Homeland Defense

I think the argument that certain guys can't play in this system is overrated. I think talented guys like Clay Mathews and Peppers can play in any system.

Sciz

Peppers absolutely. He's a freak. Matthews, on the other hand, has strengths (speed and burst) that aren't especially needed in the scheme and weaknesses (bulk, ability to set the edge, pass-rush moves other than speed move) that are almost required in the scheme. When Gronk can take Matthews out of a play by himself, then that's a sign that Matthews wouldn't fit at OLB in our scheme.

Marqui

Ninkovich is terrible. Always will be.

PowerRunRevival

I think Cunningham will be sacking people from that position for years to come. He needs to get stronger as evidenced by him often getting to the qb but rarely coming up with the sack. As he gets stronger and more used to the role those qb pressures will turn into qb sacks and he will set the edge more effectively.

I think we need one more good all around outside backer to make this defense elite for years to come. To me that guy is Kerrigan from Purdue. He reminds me of Vrable in that he isn't an elite athlete but is intelligent and has a motor that never stops.

letekro

I would rather draft a more explosive athlete such as Houston from Georgia and teach him up on playing the run. Worst case scenario, he is a demon in sub packages (i.e., more than 50% of snaps) and Ninko plays in the base.