I looked for a thread on this and didn't see it. I apologize if this has already been posted. What do you guys think of BT as an OLB in the 3-4? He was drafted as a tweener and now we have the opportunity to employ him there. I have read that he ran a 4.47 40 when we drafted him. Plus, he has good size. Another thing I like about this is that if BT plays OLB then it eliminated a position that we need to address this offseason. We can always replace him next year if he doesn't work out. What do you think? Give him a shot?
Problem is, he has shown that is strength is stopping the run, not pass rushing. He doesn't really have the right technique, which certainly can be modified though. He bullrushes a bit too much and doesn't have the size for it. He does hold his ground though, which is why he's good vs. the run.
Damn right but why not make him the starting DE? He was a first round pick at DE remember. I'd want him inside with Vilma though, he is big and could get off blocks, and if he did get block Vilma is so good at getting to the ball...
He is a good end for this system. He has some size and speed. We should keep him there. He has no NFL exprience in pass coverage.
I don't like it. Thomas doesn't really seem to excell in either run stopping or pass rushing, I don't want to put him in a position where failure would cause so much damage if we don't have to. If we can sign Smith or someone of his ilk then we have our LB corp set..
Who do you want at inside? Unless Thomas can still run a 4.47 do you want him at OLD? And even if he can, do you think he has the coverage skills to take on TEs? Certainly not. So, you blitz him from the inside and play him against the run....
All of the LBs have to be able to do all of those things. Cover. Rush. Defend the Rush. You don't want to put BT in a position that he has absolutely zero experience in. At least he played some OLB in college.
No sir I don't like it. He would make a terrible end in 3-4 and terrible LB in 3-4......I see him more as a nickel package option JMO
I know where you going with this... But BT should remain at DE.. He has no experience doing anything else, he is a run stuffer.
i dont think the battle is between 3-4 and 4-3, i think we will do both(depending on situation) so he can either only play DE in the 4-3, but he may convince the coaching staff that he can go olb too
We still have to have a base defense. The blueprint we all expect Mangini to follow is the Parcells/Belichick blueprint, which is a base 3-4, although BB likes to change his looks and formations much more, so I guess it can be considered a form of hybrid. We'll need the personnel to effectively run that base defense and build from that, and while I hope Thomas can succeed in a 3-4, I don't think he is an ideal candidate for that defense.
i agree we'll have a base D, my point was that even if he isnt the starting DE or OLB he will still probably see a ton of snaps, and have ample opportunity to prove himself
BT was inserted as a third down pass rusher in the slant nose spot, and did OK in that role last year. If he can do that, I would not rule him out as a DE/LB in a very fluid D scheme that features speed over power. This is what Mangini brings, in my hopeful opinion, a flexabilty and an unpredictabilty in how opposing offenses attack the new defense. BT could be down, stand up, shift... all sorts of possibilties. Forget any of this unless we sign Ma'ake Kemoeatu, with Pouha for depth at NT though.
While it's fun to speculate... I think it's best to just let mangini work with BT, see what he can do and then either set him up for success or get rid of him.
I have a hard time seeing where he fits in a base 3-4 D. However he would definately have some value in specialty packages. He's way to small to do it full-time, but considering he played some DT on passing situations last year, maybe he can occasionally (key word there) play a 3-4 DE on 3rd and long.
Its difficult to say whether or not BT would succeed as an OLB in a 3-4 D. I have no idea how effective he is dropping back into coverage and I'm not sure anyone else here really knows either but its certainly worth a look see during camp and preseason. He is strong and plenty quick. It also seems that he has been making positive strides as a pass rusher. What nobody here has apparently mentioned is that he could very well end up being much more effective as a pass rusher lining up as an OLB rather than at the line of scrimmage. That can make all the difference with respect to his effectiveness and utilization of his skill, all of which I'm sure will be throughly analysed and reviewed by Mangini & Co. during camp.
