Ahmad Brooks starts?

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by SportinWood:
Does ahmad have starting potential? Or is he a pass rush specialist?

He was a starter as an ILB but got hurt. He's been training to be a starter for two years now in our defense and was used more as a pass rush specialist last year. We know he can pass rush. We know he can play the run. We know he's explosive. We know he makes plays. We know he's working in practice at dropping into coverage. We know he's worked hard on his conditioning and diet. And we know he wants to lead the team in sacks. So, to answer your question, yes, no question about it. BUT what we need to know to verify this is the Manny situation and the coaches desire to give him those reps. Give him the reps now, let him make his mistakes and let him grow into the starter Singletary/Manusky wants and use LaBoy/Briggs/Long to spell both SAM and WILL spots to keep everyone fresh.

I hope he starts

Originally posted by SportinWood:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by SportinWood:
Does ahmad have starting potential? Or is he a pass rush specialist?

He was a starter as an ILB but got hurt. He's been training to be a starter for two years now in our defense and was used more as a pass rush specialist last year. We know he can pass rush. We know he can play the run. We know he's explosive. We know he makes plays. We know he's working in practice at dropping into coverage. We know he's worked hard on his conditioning and diet. And we know he wants to lead the team in sacks. So, to answer your question, yes, no question about it. BUT what we need to know to verify this is the Manny situation and the coaches desire to give him those reps. Give him the reps now, let him make his mistakes and let him grow into the starter Singletary/Manusky wants and use LaBoy/Briggs/Long to spell both SAM and WILL spots to keep everyone fresh.

I hope he starts

At least let him compete for it legitimately and let the best man win. Either way, it's great nobody is handed the job anymore and that we have some depth and some potential studs at both SAM & WILL now WITH depth.

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by SportinWood:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by SportinWood:
Does ahmad have starting potential? Or is he a pass rush specialist?

He was a starter as an ILB but got hurt. He's been training to be a starter for two years now in our defense and was used more as a pass rush specialist last year. We know he can pass rush. We know he can play the run. We know he's explosive. We know he makes plays. We know he's working in practice at dropping into coverage. We know he's worked hard on his conditioning and diet. And we know he wants to lead the team in sacks. So, to answer your question, yes, no question about it. BUT what we need to know to verify this is the Manny situation and the coaches desire to give him those reps. Give him the reps now, let him make his mistakes and let him grow into the starter Singletary/Manusky wants and use LaBoy/Briggs/Long to spell both SAM and WILL spots to keep everyone fresh.

I hope he starts

At least let him compete for it legitimately and let the best man win. Either way, it's great nobody is handed the job anymore and that we have some depth and some potential studs at both SAM & WILL now WITH depth.

And its not devastating if we lost an OLB this year because we have 4 starting calibre guys

Originally posted by Oakland-Niner:

Originally posted by WildBill:

Originally posted by Overkill:
If all our OLB's did was rush the passer, than Brooks would be starting right now. But obviously there's more to it than that. He's got to learn to play the run and understand coverages, too.

Manny is a solid OLB for us. Its not going to be easy to unseat him as starter.

I feel there is no need to push Brooks to start, let him learn the position more, but use him on obvious passing situation, like the niners did with Fred Dean, keep both of them fresh. It is a long season.

Dude, the guys has been in the league for 4 years and on our team for two of them. I wouldn't exactly call that pushing him to start.

I think you know what I am saying, if not, no need to make him an everydown LB, despite his age walsh and others in the league would rotate their front seven to keep them fresh. Plus when a guy is egar to get on the field and play that motor and any complacency for taking a play off is lessoned. I also understand that you want to disguise coverage-you still can, thinking Brooks will Blitz so you throw a quick slant to his side but instead you have drop back to take away or alter the throwing lane.

Like I said although they are pros 16 games is long season, and when you are tired, that is when you pull muscles and get injuries. thats all. If the brass feels he is better than, then start him every down.

Anyone feel any different about him yet?

btw found this old vid (new to me)

Originally posted by sincalfaithful:

Originally posted by Kolohe:
I'd rather see Brooks start in place of Haralson. Haralson was better in pass-rushing situations.

except haralson gets outran by mcnabb

and misses 4th down tackles

I kind of hope he starts in place of Haralson, I mean he got beat up by vernon and delaine.

Originally posted by deep2crab:
I kind of hope he starts in place of Haralson, I mean he got beat up by vernon and delaine.

This

Manny Lawson is a better LB.

Originally posted by Chief:
Manny Lawson is a better LB.

Lawson is a good LB but I don't think his play is as good as people think it is. There were a few games last year where we lost because of a TD or FG that somehow was tied to his poor coverage of a TE or HB.

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by Chief:
Manny Lawson is a better LB.

Lawson is a good LB but I don't think his play is as good as people think it is. There were a few games last year where we lost because of a TD or FG that somehow was tied to his poor coverage of a TE or HB.

we lost jsut as many or more because of haralson missing tackles or not containing the run.

Originally posted by unst4bl3:

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by Chief:
Manny Lawson is a better LB.

Lawson is a good LB but I don't think his play is as good as people think it is. There were a few games last year where we lost because of a TD or FG that somehow was tied to his poor coverage of a TE or HB.

we lost jsut as many or more because of haralson missing tackles or not containing the run.

Yes, I agree. Haralson's seat is the hottest right now. Manuski wants mirror image players for his defense, and I think both Brooks's and Lawson's speeds are similar. And then you can have the best run blocking OLB and the best pass rushing OLB on the field for the majority of the snaps.

Brooks is not the brightest puppy in the litter. When he learns his reads and knows the position really well then he will start.

Ahmad Brooks is an interesting player. I remember when the draft guru's on this site were hyping him up big time. I recall talk about him being a top 10 pick. He was an elite prospect as a college sophmore.

Then his Junior year everything fell apart. So its nice to see he is finally working his way back to where he belongs (an NFL starter). He has travelled a pretty odd road for a top prospect.