Is OLB being overlooked?

Everyone is talking ILB, OL, DL but I hear no-one pimping an OLB. Woodley is locked up but Harrison will be 34 in a month with a bad back. Give him 2 years. Worilds is struggling to stay healthy and hasn't shown his full potential yet.

Our defense relies on QB pressure form the OLB position. Please no-one say timmons can move to OLB if needed cause he can't.

I'm just putting it out there we better take a hard look at the OLB position this draft.

What say you steelernation?

Cajun-

 

i say what we have is good for now! wait till we come to that bridge before we cross it > one daft CANT fill every position! there are more pressing needs at Oline Oline Oline lol DT ect

 

I wouldn't be shocked if we went OLB in round 1 with some good prospects fitting the range like Courtney Upshaw, Shea McClellin, Nick Perry, etc

 

I've seen us taking an OLB in round 1 in mocks, and it blows my mind. It's one of the least needed positions on the team.

Woodley and Harrison are 5 star players. Harrison might be done after 2 more years. Or he might have more. He's "low mileage" and Farrior played until 37. Harrison is a competitor so it's possible. Who knows?

But let's say he's only got 2 years left. Worilds will be ready. No, he won't be as good as Harrison OR Woodley, but that would be asking too much. I'd say there's a 99% chance no one drafted this year will be that good either. Worilds will be a good starter for us. I think he could start this year if he needed to. And I think Carter is a great #4 and in his second year might be a good #3 (not that he'd be that high).

Would one of these other guys like Upshaw eventually be better than Worilds? I have no idea. It's possible. But with our needs and position on the board, there will be players worthy of that pick that we can put to use right away and not have to bump talent out of the way to take them. I mean, there may be a receiver on the board that's good value and better than Sanders. Would that be a good pick? There may be a good DE on the board better than Heyward. Would that be a good pick? Of course not. There are ALWAYS great players to pick from, but BPA only goes so far. There's a difference between not reaching for need and picking a position that is not needed.

 

i think theres a very distinct possibility they will. i don't think they were very happy with the pressure last year from the d-line or the OLB's when we had a couple of injuries. timmons was not the answer and worilds did play OK from that spot but i think they expected more. i also think they are after an all around guy though. OLB/ILB/pass rush specialist/pass defender. yea right hard to find. kendricks? upshaw? johnson? lewis? wagner? spence? hightower? who was the most productive guy from many spots consistantly? you know , use one pick or two for the results they want.

 

As long as we keep our DL stocked I'm comfortable giving Worilds and Carter a shot. I'd rather take another DL than another OLB.

 

GB, whats your take on wolfe being able to play some NT as well as DE? he did play inside and outside at cin. maybe our new type of NT on two down linemen sets? i think he's a gotta have player in our 3-4 defense. he's a playmaker and a difference maker on the line and should only get better. i think he could handle the nose on a limited basis behind mclendon and could also lineup at DE. then in the two down linemen sets in our nickle and dime stuff, he'd be perfect next to a number of guys inside.

 

if there is a OLB out there that is BPA in the first round I would not be surprised they draft them and not think twice. That is the Steelers MO.

I'm still hoping there is a decent guard on the board we can't pass up though, and option B would be Hightower.

 

as a pass rusher i like mercilus.but i 'm not sure he will translate welll to olb
probably the most suited is nick perry
upshaw could be the most sure things and maybe can play inside till harrison is here

 

Take Hightower and if Harrison suffers from more back problems move him to the outside.

Hightower, Timmons, Foote and Woodley or

Harrison, Hightower, Timmons and Woodley or

Hightower, Harrison, Timmons and Woodley.

Any combination is nice.

 

GB, whats your take on wolfe being able to play some NT as well as DE? he did play inside and outside at cin. maybe our new type of NT on two down linemen sets? i think he's a gotta have player in our 3-4 defense. he's a playmaker and a difference maker on the line and should only get better. i think he could handle the nose on a limited basis behind mclendon and could also lineup at DE. then in the two down linemen sets in our nickle and dime stuff, he'd be perfect next to a number of guys inside. [/quote:2j5gm3ig]

Just watched what tape I could find on Wolfe and I came away very impressed. It was the bowl game vs Vandy, and although not much running was going on, what I really liked about his play was that he never got pushed backwards. He either stonewalled the 1-2 OL blocking him or got some good penetration. I also like what I read about him, how that he's a team player, over-achiever and very hard worker. That's what I'm looking for in a 3-4 DE. As for filling in at NT, I'm not so sure he could do it long term, but he could give Chapman (I'm getting ahead of myself here!) a breather if need be. He reminds me a lot of Kheeston Randall, another prospect I like for our DL, and one of the two should be around in the 4th or later, although I wouldn't be opposed to taking one of them in the late 3rd as I think both will be very solid pros. Indy would do well to build their 3-4 DL around one of them, if not both.

Perry, to me, is the best 3-4 OLB candidate in this draft class. I think he'll be able to do everything well: stop the run, rush the passer, and drop back into coverage.

 

GB, whats your take on wolfe being able to play some NT as well as DE? he did play inside and outside at cin. maybe our new type of NT on two down linemen sets? i think he's a gotta have player in our 3-4 defense. he's a playmaker and a difference maker on the line and should only get better. i think he could handle the nose on a limited basis behind mclendon and could also lineup at DE. then in the two down linemen sets in our nickle and dime stuff, he'd be perfect next to a number of guys inside. [/quote:2ek9ca2h]

I graduated from Cincinnati last June so I've watched Wolfe a lot. He's not a NT. He's like your prototype size for a 3-4 DE, and he's very well balance at playing the run and the pass. He sheds blocks well but he's not a guy that just eats up OL the way a NT needs to.

I love the guy and if he's there in the 3rd I hope we grab him... I'd have no problem w him in the 2nd either but I think that's too high given our depth at DE.




Speaking of Wolfe I love this play... Gets the sack when he's TRIPLE teamed. How do you let that happen if you're one of those OL?
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7197180

 

#70 just let him go. A lot of OL, including our own, feel like they only need to block for a certain amount of time, and in a certain direction. Even though there were three of them surrounding Wolfe, it looks like it never occurred to #70 to stop him from running freely to his right. He said, "Oh you want to go that way? That's fine with me. I doubt my quarterback is over ther--WHA????" Idiot.

 

Couldnt have said it better myself.

 

i'm talking as a backup. partime nose behind mclendon. hoke was used that way some. NT/DE. he played inside over the center at UC a good bit having to take on double teams.

i also think worilds will be alright if we have a more dominant guy coming from the otherside that they have to pay more attention too. i think their going after a pass rush specialist. ronnell lewis, irvin from wvu. they're looking for a more viable backup it seems. worilds will soon be up for re-signing.