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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Aldon smith played DE in college and had never player OLB

Then transitioned to stand up OLB

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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? :-)