Jumping on the OLB bandwagon
 

tanked and krafty i know you guys have been lobbying for a passrushing OLB in the past few drafts, i been on the CB safety bandwagon, but this year i might have to hop on your bandwagon with ya. Its time that we get a STUD passrushing OLB BEAST that can put pressure on the QB. Im sick and tired of Vrabel, now Adalius is hurt. Our poor secondary is held at mercy because our dline doesnt consitently get pressure on the QB, and were are not even talking about being dominant in that area either.

We absolutely need to draft a #1 stud cornerback though, but we have been patching in sorta good, and i havent looked at all the CBs yet in the draft but i think some of the elite ones will be out of our range. So im thinking STUD passrushing OLB this year.

Of course the only guy i would absolutely draft over any position is Maualuga, but there is a fat chance in hell he will be in our range.

So have you guys seen any studs at OLB in this draft? Mid teens where we are picking probably? I havent really checked them out yet but plan to.

I watched a bit of Orakpo and he is a beast and would be the perfect passrusher to add to our team. But i dont know if he would convert well to OLB in coverage, AKA the Ghooolston Syndrome. Heck i would love to draft Orakpo, switch to a 4-3 with Seymour and Wilfork inside at DT's, Warren and Orakpo at the DE's with Mayo at MLB inside and Bruschi taking a hike. But we all know BB aint gunna give up his binky 3-4. You guys seen Orakpo play much what do you think about him converting to a 3-4 OLB?

Re: Jumping on the OLB bandwagon
 

The only OLB candidate who won't have a huge transition curve is Sintim of Virginia. A Selvie or Orakpo or whomever college DE is going to follow the same transition Gholston and Crable are doing now.

Re: Jumping on the OLB bandwagon
 

Sintim havent seen him but ill check him out. The thing with Ghooolston is he cant make the transition no matter what, because he is a scrub in space, he is not athletic enough and not able to make the transition, this was very evident scouting him before the draft. I havent seen enough of Orakpo or Selvie but if they have the athletic ability to cover in space the transition shouldnt be that difficult. I havent seen enough of them to make that conclusion yet however.

Re: Jumping on the OLB bandwagon
 

We should go after JABARI GREER in Free agency.

He's a really good CB on Buffalo. I don't think the Bills will be willing to pay him since they already drafted his replacement Leodis McKelvin, and have Terrence McGee on the other side.

Greer is experienced but still young (26).


and yes...this would then allow us to use our first rounder on a stud OLB like Sintim or Selvie. Our defense of the future would then be looking pretty damn good.

Mayo, Guyton, Crable, 1st round OLB, Greer, Meriweather, Sanders, Hobbs, Wheatley, Wilhite, Ty Warren, Wilfork... I left Seymour out thinking he leaves for a bigger pay day

Re: Jumping on the OLB bandwagon
 

Selvie has the athleticism and work ethic to succeed in a 34.

Not sure if he'll still be around by our pick, but Sintim will.

Selvie is a slightly more talented version of Crable of Michael Johnson of Ga. Tech. We have one on the roster now (Crable) so I can not see BB taking Selvie or Johnson in this draft. Remember also that BB does not like to "project" first round talent from positions they played in college to positions they will play in the pros. A perfect example is how he retarded the development of Merriweather last season by trying to make a college saftey into a pro CB.
BB had a first round win or two in moving players, Mankins and Wilfork (after a year or two of spotty play) for example, but for the most part he stays true to a players college position.

Cornerbacks:

As I have said for years, BB craves quick twitch in his CB's. Bigger guys without the change of direction skills (notice I did not say loose hips) do not interest BB that much.

In this draft, depending on how he runs the 40 and the 3 cone drill, the CB I see that best fits with what BB has historically gone after in this draft is Burnett of UCF. Burnett plays like a slightly bigger clone of Samuel.

If he runs well and does great in the 3 cone drill, Burnett in the 3rd should be a lock for us.

Re: Jumping on the OLB bandwagon
 

Burnett right now is #1 among three CBs I like. Was very high on him last draft along with Wheatley. I'm hoping for only solid but unspectacular workouts from him which ought to keep him that round three range, allowing us to draft other positions in rounds one and two. In terms of playing the position, he's exactly the type of CB that BB covets. In addition, he's a heck of a returner.

Re: Jumping on the OLB bandwagon
 

Good point, I forgot to mention that as well.

Re: Jumping on the OLB bandwagon
 

If we go OLB, I think Cushing USC would be our guy. He's a versatile lb.
Would allow us to use A.Thomas as our pass-rusher.

Re: Jumping on the OLB bandwagon
 

With the signing of OLB Darrell Robertson to the Practice Squad, I wouldn't get too set on expecting BB to draft an OLB in 2009.

OLB: Adalius Thomas, Mike Vrabel, Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable, Vince Redd, Darrell Robertson, Gary Guyton.
ILB: Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton, Tedy Bruschi, Adalius Thomas, Mike Vrabel, Eric Alexander, Bo Ruud.

All of a sudden OLB appears less needy looking ahead to the offseason.