My question to you, though, is: If Coach Bill The Mad is regularly lining up Brandon Spikes at Flanker ~ OLB, to you Earthlings!! ~ are you SURE he can't cut it??
...Coach Bill The Mad obviously thinks he can.
Not that THAT is a Trump Card, in my view...just an interesting point.
What think ye?
While one possibility is that the other talent we have for OLB is wanting it's also very possible that Spikes has the goods for the position. Everyone loves to talk about his weak 40 time, which I think is the most over-rated measurable in football, his 3 cone time, IMO the most under-rated is not too shabby.
Let's compare Spikes 3 cone to some bigger names, many of whom were draft binkies.
Connor Barwin - 6.87
Brandon Spikes - 6.97
DeMarcus Ware - 6.85
Brian Orakpo - 7.26
Cameron Wake - 7.12
Tamba Hali - 7.28
That said, I think very overlooked attribute to being an effective pass-rusher (admit it, that's what you want out of an OLB) is attitude, and I don't think Spikes has any problem running through a brick wall if it means he might have a chance to hurt the QB.
I don't think 3 cone is a good measuring tool for the 3-4 OLB position. I think that success at this position is measured by 1.) suddenness at the snap of the ball and 2.) Great ability to hand fight.
For pass rushers, we want a guy that explodes at the snap of the ball. Part of thes reason we, as a board, latched onto Mathews and Von Miller was the explosion at the snap of the ball.
The other thing is that we need a pass rusher that can use his hands to keep opposing OT's for clamping down and riding our guy out of the play.
I never said it was THE measurable for an OLB, just that it’s a very under-rated measureable for football players, including OLBs, which I stand by. I also agree that the explosion off the snap is key for the front 7, as well as great hands/technique.
I’d like to see the .3yd dash measured a lot more.
Interesting Arguments, gents.
Mind you: the only reason I even tossed out the idea of Spikes playing Flanker ~ OLB to you Earthlings ~ is that that's precisely where Coach Bill is currently deploying him. I'm certainly not suggesting that that
makes him a Flanker, any more than
Vince Wilfork is a Defensive End because of last year's deployments...which is not to say he
couldn't be, either.
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As for measureables, I'm fully in accord with Snake regarding the "40" time, which is, without peer, the most vastly overrated of them.
And I concur that the 3 Cone is ~ along with the Short Shuttle ~ very underrated.
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Flanker is one of the most difficult positions to evaluate, not least because we must target Convertibles from Defensive End. If I was focused primarily on Pass Rush ~ sorry, Snake, but I'm not!! ~ then it would be a far easier task...But as our unique system calls for a unique player, I divide my priorities between the Pass Rush, Run Defense, and Pass Defense.
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Regarding Jones' points, I would certainly agree with the importance of Burst, of course: Personally, I feel that the 10 Yard Split is
far more critical in assessing a Rush Flanker than the 40, itself...And I'm sure we all agree that powerfull hands and the technical aspect of disengaging from Blocks is important, albeit immeasurable.
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Of course: this is just an intellectual exercise. At the end of the day, I wouldn't be surprised if
every last one of my Binkies and other favorites rises up the Boards
considerably over the next 6 months, forcing me to make some hard decisions. And if Spikes continues to kick @$$ as I never doubted he would, Burfict would top the list of most likely sacrifices.
