Crable as pass rush specialist?

[PatsFan37]

Reiss has a pass rush analysis where he states that

at 6-foot-5, 243 pounds, Crable is probably too tall to play inside linebacker and doesn't appear to be a prototypical take-on player at that spot. At the same time, he also doesn't appear to be an every-down on-the-line player, meaning he wouldn't be a fit at outside linebacker in the 3-4.

I respect Reiss mightily, but it seems to me that Crable is young and can put on enough muscle to grow into an every down OLB, exactly the same as Vrabel, with the speed and power to both seal the edge and rush the QB.

I also think that was what the brain trust were thinking (well, how the heck do I know ) when they drafted Crable and that Belichick may have been talking about Jarvis Green as a pass rush specialist.

 

[mdhprime]

I think Reiss' concern with Crable on the inside had to do with height. Physically he may be more apt to play outside in a 3-4.

 

[tombonneau]

I thought it was an excellent bit of insight on Reiss's part. The Pats are already paying Jarvis Green decent money to essentially function as DL passrushing specialist. I don't think it's a stretch to conjecture that the Pats drafted Crable to fill the same type of role at LB.

And, in fact, I think Reiss just might be spot on.

 

[signbabybrady]

I thought it was an excellent bit of insight on Reiss's part. The Pats are already paying Jarvis Green decent money to essentially function as DL passrushing specialist. I don't think it's a stretch to conjecture that the Pats drafted Crable to fill the same type of role at LB.

And, in fact, I think Reiss just might be spot on.

I agree, I think Reiss read between the lines correctly on that one.

 

[TB146]

I thought it was an excellent bit of insight on Reiss's part. The Pats are already paying Jarvis Green decent money to essentially function as DL passrushing specialist. I don't think it's a stretch to conjecture that the Pats drafted Crable to fill the same type of role at LB.

And, in fact, I think Reiss just might be spot on.

I was just about to post something about this. Very insightful on the part of Reiss, even if he is wrong, but I think he very well could be right. Stuff like this gets me more and more excited about our defense.

 

[Metaphors]

I thought it was an excellent bit of insight on Reiss's part. The Pats are already paying Jarvis Green decent money to essentially function as DL passrushing specialist. I don't think it's a stretch to conjecture that the Pats drafted Crable to fill the same type of role at LB.

And, in fact, I think Reiss just might be spot on.

I think his conclusion is probably right in the short-term (Crable not an every down OLB) but his method for getting there has some issues:

1) Crable wasn't a traditional 4-3 OLB at Michigan. He played on the line a lot...more like a 3-4 rush OLB than a 4-3 end.

2) Just quoting weight numbers and translating that to position readiness is weak. Dude is not filled out and putting him on an NFL weight training schedule will almost certainly put some weight on. What did McGinest weigh coming out of USC?

3) "he also doesn't appear to be an every-down on-the-line player, meaning he wouldn't be a fit at outside linebacker in the 3-4." Since he gave no explanation, hard to counter this point. Assuming he meant that Crable doesn't seem suited to seal the edge on running plays (since Crable gets high marks for rushing the passer). Not sure how he got to this conclusion since Crable was a penetrator at Michigan. He played the run by avoiding lineman and getting into the backfield...just like 99% of DEs in college.

Reiss seems rooted in the past when discussing linebackers for the Pats. The scheme hasn't changed, but the league and rules certainly have. Crable can get to the QB and has some solid (but still raw) cover skills. That seems like a mighty good fit for today's NFL...assuming you don't play the Vikings every week.

Crable isn't your typical Pats OLB. Mayo isn't your typical Pats ILB. Wheatley isn't your typical Pats zone coverage CB. Blah, Blah, Blah. Maybe it is because this won't be your typical Pats 3-4 defense. Not saying the overall scheme and responsibilities will change...just that Belichick has seen league rules and offensive tendencies move to an environment with spread offenses, high percentage passes and free-roaming WRs. Why is it so controversial that the Pats defense would adjust to this brave new world?

 

[Deus Irae]

I think his conclusion is probably right in the short-term (Crable not an every down OLB) but his method for getting there has some issues:

1) Crable wasn't a traditional 4-3 OLB at Michigan. He played on the line a lot...more like a 3-4 rush OLB than a 4-3 end.

2) Just quoting weight numbers and translating that to position readiness is weak. Dude is not filled out and putting him on an NFL weight training schedule will almost certainly put some weight on. What did McGinest weigh coming out of USC?

3) "he also doesn't appear to be an every-down on-the-line player, meaning he wouldn't be a fit at outside linebacker in the 3-4." Since he gave no explanation, hard to counter this point. Assuming he meant that Crable doesn't seem suited to seal the edge on running plays (since Crable gets high marks for rushing the passer). Not sure how he got to this conclusion since Crable was a penetrator at Michigan. He played the run by avoiding lineman and getting into the backfield...just like 99% of DEs in college.

Reiss seems rooted in the past when discussing linebackers for the Pats. The scheme hasn't changed, but the league and rules certainly have. Crable can get to the QB and has some solid (but still raw) cover skills. That seems like a mighty good fit for today's NFL...assuming you don't play the Vikings every week.

Crable isn't your typical Pats OLB. Mayo isn't your typical Pats ILB. Wheatley isn't your typical Pats zone coverage CB. Blah, Blah, Blah. Maybe it is because this won't be your typical Pats 3-4 defense. Not saying the overall scheme and responsibilities will change...just that Belichick has seen league rules and offensive tendencies move to an environment with spread offenses, high percentage passes and free-roaming WRs. Why is it so controversial that the Pats defense would adjust to this brave new world?

The kid doesn't have the pins to hold up against the running game, in all likelihood. He's got basketball calves.

 

[Metaphors]

The kid doesn't have the pins to hold up against the running game, in all likelihood. He's got basketball calves.

If that is what Reiss meant, he should have put "...until he puts on some lower-body weight/muscle." into one of his sentences about Crable. It reads like he is making a career evaluation, not a first year one.

I just think he is stuck in a "college DE = Pats OLB, college OLB = Pats ILB" rut.

 

[Deus Irae]

If that is what Reiss meant, he should have put "...until he puts on some lower-body weight/muscle." into one of his sentences about Crable. It reads like he is making a career evaluation, not a first year one.

I just think he is stuck in a "college DE = Pats OLB, college OLB = Pats ILB" rut.

You may well be right. On the other hand, my forearms are bigger than Crable's calves. I'm a big guy, but that's still not what you want to see from a 3-4 OLB.

 

[PatsFan37]

This is one that we won't be able to settle for a couple of years, assuming Crable catches onto the system, stays healthy, etc. My own feeling is if he comes out of next year's offseason weighing closer to 255 or 260, that is, if he puts on 15 lbs or so, he could grow into an every-down OLB. It's hard to imagine, with his frame, they won't be trying to put some weight on him.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Reiss has a pass rush analysis where he states that I respect Reiss mightily, but it seems to me that Crable is young and can put on enough muscle to grow into an every down OLB, exactly the same as Vrabel, with the speed and power to both seal the edge and rush the QB.

I also think that was what the brain trust were thinking (well, how the heck do I know ) when they drafted Crable and that Belichick may have been talking about Jarvis Green as a pass rush specialist.

Given that both Crable and Mayo are rookies, I'd tend to think that Belichick isn't going to rush them... they are going to be inserted into the rotation, and as such, they likely will be inserted in situations that best match their skills, and best match the likely limited plays Belichick will call on them to learn within his admittedly complex defensive system.

This isn't a knock on either player - just smart coaching as they spend at the very least, this first year in transition from college to the pros.

So no, Crable won't be an every down back - nor should we expect Mayo will, especially this year (and if either of them are, we should really count our blessings!)

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Maybe there's a calculation that our secondary ain't gonna scare NObody, so we really need to have a respected pass rush more than ever. Like last year but moreso.

 

[cstjohn17]

I don't see this as a major relevation, he seems like a OLB. I hope he can rush the passer but only see him getting playing time if Thomas or Vrabel need a breather.

 

[jeffbiologist]

He very might well fit into a similar role that Tedy B first had on the team. His first year he didnt fit well with the LBs, and was a situational pass rusher and special teams guy. To get him on the field see him in a very specific role. It wouldnt surprise me to see Vrabel as a rush end on passing siutations(bumping big Sey inside) similar to the Giants did against us....getting more DEs on the field for passing downs.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I didn't see a lot of Crable in college. But the little I saw and it looked like he is very adept at stringing a play out to the sideline, and not letting them turn him in. Many of his behind-the- line tackles came on string it out to the sideline plays, while penetrating.

If that holds true, I suspect he would be more adept at preventing the strong side run, so I think he is likely to be a Willie McGinest, Mike Vrabel Left side 3-4 OLB -DE- Elephant guy than any other person on the roster.

This assumes that he does the usual pro beef up over the next few off seasons. I think it is pretty well established that Lloyd Carr did not emphasize weight training as much; and many Michigan players bloom after a year in a pro weight regime.