if Franklin returns, what does our d-line look like?

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by Joecool:

But honestly, how important is a 3-4 OLB's coverage ability? I think that's the last level of priority in a 3-4 OLB.

Well think about it. If your 3-4 OLBs are 1 dimensional (meaning say good rushers but lousy in coverage), then offenses can simply gameplan around the full assumption that the LB is coming in on each play. And we all know the point of the 3-4 is "where is the extra rusher coming from?" So, if your OLBs offer no threat in coverage, then it sure can take the mystery out of the scheme.

(ultimately, yes though... you want their primary strength to be in rushing QBs)

Originally posted by Joecool:

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by Joecool:

But honestly, how important is a 3-4 OLB's coverage ability? I think that's the last level of priority in a 3-4 OLB.

Well think about it. If your 3-4 OLBs are 1 dimensional (meaning say good rushers but lousy in coverage), then offenses can simply gameplan around the full assumption that the LB is coming in on each play. And we all know the point of the 3-4 is "where is the extra rusher coming from?" So, if your OLBs offer no threat in coverage, then it sure can take the mystery out of the scheme.

(ultimately, yes though... you want their primary strength to be in rushing QBs)

Yes but there's a difference between no threat in coverage and putting them in position to have minimal responsibility when they do cover. Brooks has shown he's adequate enough to cover and Aldon Smith appears just as athletic.

Originally posted by Joecool:

Manny Lawson and Julian Peterson were shut down coverage OLB's but virtually posed zero threat in rushing the QB. I would rather prefer two effective pass rushers who can drop back and handle some space over guys like Lawson.

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
Can't they just rotate Soap between NT and DE...?

Originally posted by MadDog49er:

Originally posted by oldman9er:

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by pd24:
For the 4-3

McDonald- Soap- Franklin- Smith

Brooks- Willis- Smith

Spencer- Smith/Mays- Goldson/Mays- Brown/Culiver

Neither Brooks nor Aldon have the coverage skills to play OLB, nor has either been proven to be able to play the run well from there.

Franklin is a one gap guy who has never played 4-3. So while he MIGHT be able to play DT in a 4-3,

I would help to bring back Lawson as he would be ideal at OLB 4-3 but I have heard nothing about him coming back.

Agree that we should prefer to keep Aldon Smith and Brooks as down lineman attacking the QB.

We can use both our DTs as 1 gap attackers. Not a big change for Franklin, and he would get subbed out often for Ray anyway.

Yep, if we got Manny back, we'd be all the wiser to put him at SLB and go 4-3.

J. Smith----McDonald----Franklin/Sopoaga---A.Smith
------Lawson---------Willis------------Bowman/Haralson

Not a bad front seven anymore. A lot of guys playing their natural positions, and guys like Brooks coming in fresh to play DE.

Originally posted by andes14:

Originally posted by 1Crabtree5:

Originally posted by andes14:

what happened i thought franklin was coming to sf for a visit?





?

Originally posted by 9erred:
Most DL rotate to keep the linemen fresh. I think that ideally I would like the following.



DE - Justin Smith

NT Franklin

DE Ray McDonald

Back up NT Ian Willaims, hope he makes the squad.

Back up DE Sopoaga and Ricky Jean Fancoise

Originally posted by mayo49:
I'd just say no to Franklin and save the money to sign Goldston.

Originally posted by andes14:

Originally posted by mayo49:
I'd just say no to Franklin and save the money to sign Goldston.

I don't usually give a s**t about typos, lol, but I can't believe how many niner fans throw that "t" in there...it's GOLDSON.