How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go?

07-17-2013, 12:14 AM

Does anyone know of any other DE's who made this transition? I can't think of any that made a real impact so that's probably not a good thing right out the gate.

jeanpierre · 07-17-2013, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by hagan714

i think he will do ok overall in run support unlike Jr.
Blitz he should be ok like Jr
What he shares with JR is my concerns in pass coverage.

OLB that is more well rounded will be high on the 2014 draft list.
as will the DL like i said in another thread
Right now i can see 4 picks in the first 5 rounds going defense

And this is why I wanted Alec Ogletree in the first and Chase Thomas later to complement each other on the outside...

Danno · 07-17-2013, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by Beastmode

Does anyone know of any other DE's who made this transition? I can't think of any that made a real impact so that's probably not a good thing right out the gate.

Good question. I wonder if Terrell Suggs did it? I know the Ravens switched back and forth from a 4-3 and 3-4, and still play a lot of both, but I don't know if Suggs played DE and OLB in those packages.

dizzle88 · 07-17-2013, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Beastmode

Does anyone know of any other DE's who made this transition? I can't think of any that made a real impact so that's probably not a good thing right out the gate.

Aldon smith played DE in college and had never player OLB

Then transitioned to stand up OLB

papz · 07-17-2013, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Beastmode

Does anyone know of any other DE's who made this transition? I can't think of any that made a real impact so that's probably not a good thing right out the gate.

Tons. Over the past decade alone, plenty of guys have made the transition from DE to OLB vice versa coming from colllege into the pros. Even established All Pro veterans such as Mario Williams and Julius Peppers have made the transition once their respective teams switched schemes. As long as they're used essentially the same way, it's typically a pretty smooth transition. You're not going to all of a sudden move a Mario Williams out to cover a slot receiver.

TheOak · 07-17-2013, 11:28 AM

A&M has a position called the "Joker" its a DE/LB hybrid

homerj07 · 07-17-2013, 11:55 AM

I don't see him as being that good at OLB - I hope he proves me wrong

lee909 · 07-17-2013, 12:00 PM

I thinks he is a one season fill in.
I can see Smith and a couple of other highly paid vets being gone as the change to 3-4 is completed.With the cap situation next year not looking good and Jimmy needing a new deal he would need a monster season to be back imo.

pinch · 07-17-2013, 12:11 PM

I must admit I'm very skeptical about a smooth transition from DE to LB. I think playing the linebacker is 50% instinct which is accumulated over years and year of playing the positions. It's hard for me to grasp that our DEs will just pick this up.

The only place I've seen this attempted was in high school, which probably means nothing, but it ended very badly.

ProMallNinja · 07-17-2013, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by lee909

...he would need a monster season to be back imo.

Monster season or not, he WILL NOT BE BACK. The writing is on the wall, and we have much bigger fish to fry next season. I personally am more hopeful that Jenkins has a "monster season" so that we can re-sign him and shed Harper. I'd be willin to bet that Smith, Greer, Vilma, and Harper are all gone after this season. Anyone want a piece of that action?

07-17-2013, 12:14 AM	#21
Threaded by Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126 Rating: (0 votes - average) Does anyone know of any other DE's who made this transition? I can't think of any that made a real impact so that's probably not a good thing right out the gate.
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07-17-2013, 06:10 AM	#22
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go? Originally Posted by hagan714 i think he will do ok overall in run support unlike Jr. Blitz he should be ok like Jr What he shares with JR is my concerns in pass coverage. OLB that is more well rounded will be high on the 2014 draft list. as will the DL like i said in another thread Right now i can see 4 picks in the first 5 rounds going defense And this is why I wanted Alec Ogletree in the first and Chase Thomas later to complement each other on the outside...

07-17-2013, 08:43 AM	#23
Danno Site Donor 2014 Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,640	Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go? Originally Posted by Beastmode Does anyone know of any other DE's who made this transition? I can't think of any that made a real impact so that's probably not a good thing right out the gate. Good question. I wonder if Terrell Suggs did it? I know the Ravens switched back and forth from a 4-3 and 3-4, and still play a lot of both, but I don't know if Suggs played DE and OLB in those packages.

07-17-2013, 10:37 AM	#24
dizzle88 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 10,838	Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go? Originally Posted by Beastmode Does anyone know of any other DE's who made this transition? I can't think of any that made a real impact so that's probably not a good thing right out the gate. Aldon smith played DE in college and had never player OLB Then transitioned to stand up OLB

07-17-2013, 11:00 AM	#25
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,681	Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go? Originally Posted by Beastmode Does anyone know of any other DE's who made this transition? I can't think of any that made a real impact so that's probably not a good thing right out the gate. Tons. Over the past decade alone, plenty of guys have made the transition from DE to OLB vice versa coming from colllege into the pros. Even established All Pro veterans such as Mario Williams and Julius Peppers have made the transition once their respective teams switched schemes. As long as they're used essentially the same way, it's typically a pretty smooth transition. You're not going to all of a sudden move a Mario Williams out to cover a slot receiver. Beastmode likes this.

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07-17-2013, 11:28 AM	#26
TheOak 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cypress Tx. Posts: 18,978	Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go? A&M has a position called the "Joker" its a DE/LB hybrid jeanpierre likes this.

07-17-2013, 11:55 AM	#27
homerj07 In Doh We Trust Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 7,027 Blog Entries: 16	Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go? I don't see him as being that good at OLB - I hope he proves me wrong

07-17-2013, 12:00 PM	#28
lee909 Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Watford England Posts: 8,716 Blog Entries: 1	Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go? I thinks he is a one season fill in. I can see Smith and a couple of other highly paid vets being gone as the change to 3-4 is completed.With the cap situation next year not looking good and Jimmy needing a new deal he would need a monster season to be back imo.

07-17-2013, 12:11 PM	#29
pinch 100th Post Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Diamondhead, MS Posts: 272 Blog Entries: 1	Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go? I must admit I'm very skeptical about a smooth transition from DE to LB. I think playing the linebacker is 50% instinct which is accumulated over years and year of playing the positions. It's hard for me to grasp that our DEs will just pick this up. The only place I've seen this attempted was in high school, which probably means nothing, but it ended very badly.

07-17-2013, 01:19 PM	#30
ProMallNinja Site Donor 2014 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 242	Re: How will Will Smith's transition from DE to OLB go? Originally Posted by lee909 ...he would need a monster season to be back imo. Monster season or not, he WILL NOT BE BACK. The writing is on the wall, and we have much bigger fish to fry next season. I personally am more hopeful that Jenkins has a "monster season" so that we can re-sign him and shed Harper. I'd be willin to bet that Smith, Greer, Vilma, and Harper are all gone after this season. Anyone want a piece of that action?

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