Patriots type 3-4 OLB

[supafly]

264 at the combine.

I recently read that he was creeping up to the 275-280 range, and here he's still 10 lbs lighter. I stand corrected then, thank you.

 

[IllegalContact]

Weren't we talking about Martez Wilson? He was a linebacker at Illinois, not a DE.

he was recruited as a DE.....he played primarily as ILB, but played in other spots, too.

what's the point? players get drafted to play other positions all the time

 

[IllegalContact]

All I'm saying is that you can look at his measureables and think this guy's potentially the answer and offers great versatility. Or, you could have had the "pleasure" of watching him play, and come to the conclusion that he's not going to be more that a Special Teams player in this league. I'm in that latter category. Watching maybe a half-dozen games over the past two years, not once did he play to his athletic gifts.

It's OK to disagree.

I've watched him play........ I guess we all only see what we are looking for....that's fine

guess the pats won't be worrying about an OLB this year.......each have substantial reasons not to be drafted

 

[jays52]

he was recruited as a DE.....he played primarily as ILB, but played in other spots, too.

what's the point? players get drafted to play other positions all the time

Ends moved to inside backer are a function of either height or first step. These two are pretty big requirements for Patriots OLB's.

 

[Off The Grid]

I still think that martez wilson is the one considering his positional flexibility......he has played DE,OLB, and ILB and projects as a 3-4 OLB, but has the versatility to play any 3-4 LB position. what makes him most attractive is his experience in coverage, something none of the other late 1st round through the 2nd round prospects have....he has the frame to put on another 10 lbs or so.

I agree that he has the versatility to be a disappointment in any scheme.

That ain't right!!

 

[Water Boy]

I agree that he has the versatility to be a disappointment in any scheme.

I agree. Thank god the Pats are deep enough at ILB this year. It tells you how week the class is if Martez Wilson is listed among the top ILBs.

 

[IllegalContact]

Ends moved to inside backer are a function of either height or first step. These two are pretty big requirements for Patriots OLB's.

yep.....so much so that at 6'3", cunningham is the tallest OLB on the team.......wilson is taller.

as for 1st step, I'll tell you....BB has a massed an entire OLB group with a 1st step.......only that none of them have a fast one....

I think I liked the instinct/awareness argument better........at least that one made sense.

 

[patchick]

he was recruited as a DE.....he played primarily as ILB, but played in other spots, too.

what's the point? players get drafted to play other positions all the time

OK, I'm confused. Didn't you just wave away concerns about Wilson's instincts and awareness as "a convenient excuse for all those DE's who are slated to be 3-4 OLBS in the NFL........none of them have ever had the need to prove much instinct or awareness"? What does that mean, given that you know Wilson isn't a DE?

 

[jays52]

as for 1st step, I'll tell you....BB has a massed an entire OLB group with a 1st step.......only that none of them have a fast one....

I think I liked the instinct/awareness argument better........at least that one made sense.

Wait woah what? The Pats outside backers don't have a first step? Cunningham ran a 1.57 10-yard split. That is an insane time and virtually identical to that of Wilson, more on that later, though. Cunningham also understood how to accelerate through that step and through contact. Some guys get faster coming off of blocks, others get slower. If all ya got is a swim and side scizzors you're gonna look slow coming off a blocker. Banta-Cain's entire game is predicated upon his first step. Rob Ninkovich has the best lateral drive step of any backer in the division. Hell, even slower than dogsh*t Vrabel had pretty good initial step that was complimented by outstanding snap awareness and run/pass keys. Every outside backer that has seen significant time under Belichick hits high gear in a hurry.

The point that I was making is that the Mike and a 7, 6, or 9 technique are very different positions with different requirements. The 43 Mike is about vision and sifting through trash while having the hips and multidirectional acceleration to play in space. Ends just go get it. Moving an end with those freakazoid measurables to the Mike is indicative of something being awry. Coaches see these guys every day and a recruit with those measurables is an end. They're easier to develop and when you have an athlete like that they can cause a lot of havoc. Moving a guy like that to a pursuit position tells me he plays a lot slower than he is.

 

[CanadianPat'sFan]

Ends moved to inside backer are a function of either height or first step. These two are pretty big requirements for Patriots OLB's.

Tedy Bruschi comes to mind.

 

[IllegalContact]

OK, I'm confused. Didn't you just wave away concerns about Wilson's instincts and awareness as "a convenient excuse for all those DE's who are slated to be 3-4 OLBS in the NFL........none of them have ever had the need to prove much instinct or awareness"? What does that mean, given that you know Wilson isn't a DE?

Uhhhhhhhh.............. What?

 

[IllegalContact]

You're missing one crucial point.......in general, the pats OLB unit really sucks.....currently, every ingle one of them is a liability in ome way or another

Strange logic you got there

Wait woah what? The Pats outside backers don't have a first step? Cunningham ran a 1.57 10-yard split. That is an insane time and virtually identical to that of Wilson, more on that later, though. Cunningham also understood how to accelerate through that step and through contact. Some guys get faster coming off of blocks, others get slower. If all ya got is a swim and side scizzors you're gonna look slow coming off a blocker. Banta-Cain's entire game is predicated upon his first step. Rob Ninkovich has the best lateral drive step of any backer in the division. Hell, even slower than dogsh*t Vrabel had pretty good initial step that was complimented by outstanding snap awareness and run/pass keys. Every outside backer that has seen significant time under Belichick hits high gear in a hurry.

The point that I was making is that the Mike and a 7, 6, or 9 technique are very different positions with different requirements. The 43 Mike is about vision and sifting through trash while having the hips and multidirectional acceleration to play in space. Ends just go get it. Moving an end with those freakazoid measurables to the Mike is indicative of something being awry. Coaches see these guys every day and a recruit with those measurables is an end. They're easier to develop and when you have an athlete like that they can cause a lot of havoc. Moving a guy like that to a pursuit position tells me he plays a lot slower than he is.

 

[IllegalContact]

Well, you can cross Justin Houston off of the pats list.....he tore it up at the GA pro day......gotta be a bust

 

[BPF]

I've watched him play........ I guess we all only see what we are looking for....that's fine

guess the pats won't be worrying about an OLB this year.......each have substantial reasons not to be drafted

If you've watched him play you should know that Martez Wilson is STIFF, it looks like he can't bend down to tie his shoes. He also has medical concerns (neck injury). I can see what you'd like about him: long arms, speed and closing burst but all those things are overshadowed by the fact that he plays stiff and tall, he can't move laterally, can't shed and worst off all he's a see and go player with limited football instincts and anticipation skills. In my eyes he's got the look of a 3rd or 4th Rd prospect and I don't much like him at his original position nevermind a conversion.

No need to talk in generalities about the Pats not worrying about OLB, they should look to ugrade impact and depth through the draft but do so with the right players not for the sake of picking a player at the position regardless of fit.

 

[Sciz]

Well, you can cross Justin Houston off of the pats list.....he tore it up at the GA pro day......gotta be a bust

Yeah, he tore it up when he was moving forward. Supposedly looked out of place in linebacker drills, just like he did at the combine. 4-3 DE only.

 

[BPF]

Well, you can cross Justin Houston off of the pats list.....he tore it up at the GA pro day......gotta be a bust

Much better player as an OLB than Wilson. This guy is strong, quick and has bend and balance. Very good lateral movement with quick first step and has some good tug and rip moves. He needs to improve vs run, looked like he couldn't set the edge vs GTech in game I saw. As a pash rusher looks like he's got the goods.

 

[BPF]

Yeah, he tore it up when he was moving forward. Supposedly looked out of place in linebacker drills, just like he did at the combine. 4-3 DE only.

This kid can move laterally, 6.95 3-cone at combine.

 

[BPF]

Yeah, he tore it up when he was moving forward. Supposedly looked out of place in linebacker drills, just like he did at the combine. 4-3 DE only.

He's also not a projection....Houston actually was a stand-up pass rusher in Georgia's new 3-4 scheme in 2010. So there's game film of him standing up so he'll be easier to evaluate. Where did you read that he struggled in pass coverage drills? I read the opposite.

 

[VJCPatriot]

OLB no earlier than round 2 please. Just not that excited about taking an OLB early. These guys all have questionmarks.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

He's also not a projection....Houston actually was a stand-up pass rusher in Georgia's new 3-4 scheme in 2010. So there's game film of him standing up so he'll be easier to evaluate. Where did you read that he struggled in pass coverage drills? I read the opposite.

Justin Houston, DE. He displayed special athleticism to rush the passer effectively. He looked uncomfortable and unnatural dropping into coverage, though, and doesn't appear capable of converting to outside linebacker. His NFL future likely will be as an end in a 4-3 scheme.

Georgia defensive end Justin Houston ran about as expected at the team's pro day Tuesday, slightly improving on his 4.62 40 at the Combine by timing in the high 4.5's on some watches. He also looked solid in position drills, showing good foot quickness and balance when changing directions.

Houston's versatility as a pass-rushing 3-4 OLB or 4-3 defensive end (in systems where being a shade under 6-3 is not a concern) makes him a coveted prospect. Unlike many college defensive ends transitioning into the 3-4, Houston does have some experience rushing from a stand-up position. But his "linebacker" work comprised mostly of chasing the quarterback, so he would have to work on other aspects of his game to be more than a specialist at the next level.

Former Ohio State star Vernon Gholston, recently released by the Jets after taking him with the sixth overall selection in 2006, tested simiarly to Houston coming out of school but struggled to make the transition to the 3-4 outside linebacker position. That's one reason Houston may, instead, be a mid-to-late first round pick to Tampa Bay or New Orleans as a weak-side defensive end.