The most interesting group of rookie rushers has been the 3-4 outside linebackers, especially with the rise in 3-4 defenses. There have only been seven selected in the first round since '05, and it has been feast or famine. Vernon Gholston was the sixth overall selection last year and he couldn't even get on the field. Shawne Merriman and DeMarcus Ware hit the ground running and combined for 18 sacks in their rookie season. In total, the seven rookie outside linebackers had 36 sacks in their first season, or a 5.1 average.
"Unlike the 4-3 defensive ends, there are ways to get these OLBs on a back or, at worst, a tight end, and they will win more," said one offensive line coach.
That may be true, but the case of Kamerion Wimbley, who had 11 sacks as a rookie but only nine over the two seasons after that, points to the next problem. If a young outside linebacker produces early, offensive lines will adjust their protection and make sure a tackle has him. Then he faces the same problem as defensive ends.
The outside linebackers taken in the draft's first round last weekend include Orakpo, English, Aaron Curry (No. 4 to Seattle), Aaron Maybin (No. 11 to Buffalo), Brian Cushing (No. 15 to Houston) and Clay Matthews (No. 26 to Green Bay), and some will be used in a 3-4 defense. The question is, who will turn into Gholston, who had 22.5 sacks in college but none as a rookie, and who will turn into Merriman, who had 10 sacks as a rookie in 2005?