Originally posted by JBrack:Originally posted by SmokeCrabtrees:Originally posted by JBrack:Originally posted by JustinNiner:Originally posted by NCommand:Some proof they are looking to AA for "base" Elephant and then sliding him inside.
Lynch said coaches are considering former first-round draft pick Arik Armstead as the "base" Leo, the defensive end who lines up on the weak side of the formation and who usually is the best pass rusher on the squad. "We love his flexibility, the ability to move inside," Lynch said. "With our front, that's kind of the neat thing for us. There's a lot of moving parts, there's a lot of guys who have versatility to their games."
Then the rest of it comes down to who are the best edge rushers on passing downs? Lynch noted these guys: Ahmad Brooks, Eli Harold, Aaron Lynch and rookie Pita Tuamoepenu, who was selected in the sixth round, as others who will be worked into the rotation. The 49ers think Taumoepenu, who wasn't exposed to football until he was 17 years old, is a good fit because he has a relentlessness that is essential to the position.
"That's the beauty of starting anew," Lynch said. "It's kind of like open competition: Let's go see who can do it. (Taumoepenu) will have an opportunity just like everyone else will."
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article152124482.html
pita is just so small for the LEO. I think having him at SAM LB is his future
It has nothing to do with size. Whoever gets after the QB consistently will play the most.
Pita is a pass rushing specialist. He might be able to develop into a Sam but that isn't his strength. His strength is getting up field in a hurry to pressure the QB.
That's what we need. We don't need our pass rushers to be 3 down players.
Yeah exactly, bring in those young fresh legs on 3rd downs and turn him loose.
This defense is very simple. Go hit the QB.
You can be green and still get that done.
Yup. Aldon Smith only played obvious pass downs his rookie year. Shout out to Haralson who held it down as a base OlB.