Do we need to draft a pass rusher???

We run a 3-4 which means our rush comes from the Sam and Will OLBs. On passing downs we have Manny Lawson and Ahmed Brooks coming off the edges.

Lets say we draft Graham or Hughes, are either of those guys going to be players on running downs? Lawson is an avg pass rusher with upside yet to be realized, Brooks is a good pass rusher. On running downs we know that Harylson is decent, and Lawson is good.

So where are we going to play Graham/Hughes? I would prefer to have Lawson, Willis, Wilhelm, Brooks on a passing down; Lawson, Willis, Spikes, Harylson on a rushing down.

So if we draft a pass rushing OLB, where/how would you play him?

Play them with Brooks on passing downs.

I am a great fan of Brooks but it is surely way too early to describe him as a good pass rusher. And despite Lawson's strengths I don't consider him an average pass rusher. We need a beast. And at the moment we don't have one.

You always need pass rushers. And we don't have a premier one.

A "can't miss" pick to get a pass rush specialist is a close second to finding a franchise QB, as far as degree of difficulty. I think scheme, level of competition, talent level of team mates on defense, play a minuet of variables when looking at a player.

Actually, on third and long, we run a 4-3 D, with Justin Smith and Ray McDonald at DT and Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson or Ahmed Brooks at DE, with a nickle package.

We could definitely use an additional DE/OLB to make this line more formidable.

I would not be opposed at all to drafting a DE who is capable of taking over for Justin Smith (or if good enough replace Ice) for the 3-4.

Alex Carrington comes to mind. Big enough to play 3-4, but pretty good.

Balmer is next on the depth cart. Wish he had'nt gotten hurt,he was getting in the rotation. Hard to beat out a pro bowler, but hopefully he'll pass Ice this yr.

I have talked to 3 teams that have Mich DE Brandon Graham over Derrick Morgan on their board... I don't think Graham will make it to #20
http://twitter.com/movethesticks

Brandon Graham. Period.

Originally posted by cupcheck:
Balmer is next on the depth cart. Wish he had'nt gotten hurt,he was getting in the rotation. Hard to beat out a pro bowler, but hopefully he'll pass Ice this yr.

Balmer? This is a make or break year for him. If he doesn't really show something this year, then he was a wasted pick.

As for those talking Graham, yes I like him alot and wouldn't mind taking him at 17.
He won't be there in the 2nd round.

My reason for Carrington, is that we could get him later. Maybe even in the 3rd, but that's stretching it.

I realize that 3-4 lineman are space eaters but if you can have both space eaters and guys that can be disruptive then that's good. Also, Justin Smith isn't going to be around forever and it usually takes a couple of years for linemen to blossom.

I'm interested in Jared Odrick for just that reason. He can take up space at DE, but he is also powerful and quick enough to split double team blocks.

The only thing stopping me from wanting him is that we have two unknown DE's Kentwan Balmer and Ricky Jean-Francois, two raw D-linemen with physical upside.

They say it takes two years for a D-line man to learn his position.

Yes we do.

I've already mentioned it before but a lot of our sack numbers are skewed by big performances against sucky teams. We also manufacture our pass rush. It would be ideal if we had one guy that the other team has to game plan for to stop.

Thinking Ahmad Brooks is that guy at this point is pre-mature. We made the mistake last year with seeing what Haralson did in limited pass rush situations well he didn't look nearly as good this year as a starter. Plus as much as I love Manny he may be gone after next year.

We have one OLB signed beyond 2010 and no top tier talent . . . just a bunch of "potential".

Parys Haralson (13)
Manny Lawson (10)
Ahmad Brooks (10)
Diyral Briggs (10)
Martail Burnett (10)

The Sam and Will spots need draft and free agent help.

Originally posted by genus49:
Yes we do.

I've already mentioned it before but a lot of our sack numbers are skewed by big performances against sucky teams. We also manufacture our pass rush. It would be ideal if we had one guy that the other team has to game plan for to stop.

Thinking Ahmad Brooks is that guy at this point is pre-mature. We made the mistake last year with seeing what Haralson did in limited pass rush situations well he didn't look nearly as good this year as a starter. Plus as much as I love Manny he may be gone after next year.

HEY, Genus, most teams manufacture their pass rush. It's called blitzing and stunting.