Solomon Thomas--Stanford

Originally posted by NYniner85:
Wrong, clowney plays DE an Solomon is currently a DE as well....

http://gridironnow.com/gamecocks-clowney-new-houston-role/

"Clowney played defensive end while with the Gamecocks, but while that position has the same name in Houston, the responsibilities are very different. South Carolina played a 4-3 defense, in contrast to the 3-4 favored by the Texans.

"It's all new to me," Clowney said. "I'm just trying to learn and do what they ask me. I'm getting better."

It's a different role that means a lot more matchups with interior linemen and a lot less open space to explode toward the passer. Clowney felt the difference.

"I could tell I played on the inside," he said about being sore after the game. "I was beat. I could tell I was back in the trenches."

The reason for the switch?

By posting Clowney on the end of the defensive line in a 3-4, the Texans can get more pass rushers on the field at linebacker and perhaps make life a bit easier for the superstar end on the opposite side, J.J. Watt.

In his previous experience at defensive end, at South Carolian, Clowney enjoyed excellent results: he won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award as a sophomore, recording 13 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss."

Why cant we still draft a pass rusher like Harris who might be sitting there at 34? Avril was a 3rd round pick Bruce Irvin was draft bottom of the first. You draft the best player at two if you can't trade down and right now that's Solomon. He makes our pass rush and run D much better.

Well let's see how that works out for them esp when Clowney's contract comes up. Houston has the #1 d but it has little to do with the combo of Clowney/ Watt since they've barely been healthy together. One could already argue they should of looked elsewhere for an upgrade granted injuries can kill any plan. Just their d really didn't need the attempted steroid boost.

Originally posted by tjd808185:

Well let's see how that works out for them esp when Clowney's contract comes up. Detroit drafted Suh and Fairley did it work. Nope. Houston has the #1 d but it has little to do with the combo of Clowney/ Watt since they've never been healthy together.

Fairly didn't deserve a contract extension in Detroit that had nothing to do with picking him or Suh. The lions had a ton of money tied up in qb and Calvin Johnson, Suh never wanted to go back to the lions as well

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/03/12/detroit-lions-ndamukong-suh-miami-dolphins-shawn-windsor/70194824/


I'll add teryl Austin has been part of 3-4 defenses until he got to Detroit. They ran a base 4-3 but that s**t got moved around a lot much like very defense...there isn't really a base. When you can find players that can play all over the place on a defense that's what you want. Thomas and buck can do that.

Worrying about if you can pay a player 5 yrs from now is silly

For all those saying would suck as a 4-3 DE

Daniel Jeremiah - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000792654/article/daniel-jeremiahs-top-50-prospects-for-2017-nfl-draft-30

... He is much better on the edge on run downs than he is playing inside. ... Overall, Thomas could excel as a base end on run downs with the ability to kick inside and terrorize guards on passing downs.

Lance Zierlein - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000791512/article/lance-zierlein-big-board-top-32-players-for-2017-nfl-draft

... Has the hands and feet to be a quick-win specialist and the size to fit as a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive end who can reduce inside for pass-rush downs. ...

Matt Miller - https://twitter.com/nfldraftscout/status/842068391779282946

Thomas would play DE and could play some DT like a Michael Bennett type in that defense.

On where Solomon Thomas would play in SF defense.

Have there been any real reports on Niners wanting Solomon? Lately he's been popping up in almost every mock draft going to us. But that's all I can find.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
I think its a mistake to assume that the 49ers will try to match the personnel structure exactly the way those other teams have done.

Teams desperately looking for the "next Richard Sherman" is exactly how a whole bunch of busts happened.

The 49ers arent just going to mimic personnel from another team. They will pursue similar players but that doesnt mean that everyone will be an exact or even close replica of players on the other team. There is absolutely nothing about the scheme which prohibits a team from acquiring dominant interior players.

You build your roster based on the opportunity that is in front of you and by taking the best players available to you. If the 49ers and Seahawks swapped picks for some reason I have little doubt that they would give serious consideration to drafting Thomas or Allen.

In between the last ten or so soiled pages of frivolous back and forth between posters arguing over what position Solomon Thomas plays or if he's a fit in our scheme, Phoenix blessed this thread and snuck in this gem of a post.

Originally posted by GhostOfBaalke:
Have there been any real reports on Niners wanting Solomon? Lately he's been popping up in almost every mock draft going to us. But that's all I can find.

A bit too early for that, but its a logical destination given the need for a quality edge player and Thomas is arguably the 2nd best player in this drat behind Garrett. His combine performance pretty much sealed it imo. If the 49ers don't go QB at #2, chances are very good they pick Thomas.

Originally posted by joaosoarrs99:

For all those saying would suck as a 4-3 DE

Daniel Jeremiah - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000792654/article/daniel-jeremiahs-top-50-prospects-for-2017-nfl-draft-30

... He is much better on the edge on run downs than he is playing inside. ... Overall, Thomas could excel as a base end on run downs with the ability to kick inside and terrorize guards on passing downs.

Lance Zierlein - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000791512/article/lance-zierlein-big-board-top-32-players-for-2017-nfl-draft

... Has the hands and feet to be a quick-win specialist and the size to fit as a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive end who can reduce inside for pass-rush downs. ...

Matt Miller - https://twitter.com/nfldraftscout/status/842068391779282946

Thomas would play DE and could play some DT like a Michael Bennett type in that defense.

On where Solomon Thomas would play in SF defense.

We've said he would play outside and then kick inside on passing downs . That's literally what the argument has been about.

Originally posted by joaosoarrs99:
For all those saying would suck as a 4-3 DE

Daniel Jeremiah - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000792654/article/daniel-jeremiahs-top-50-prospects-for-2017-nfl-draft-30

... He is much better on the edge on run downs than he is playing inside. ... Overall, Thomas could excel as a base end on run downs with the ability to kick inside and terrorize guards on passing downs.

Lance Zierlein - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000791512/article/lance-zierlein-big-board-top-32-players-for-2017-nfl-draft

... Has the hands and feet to be a quick-win specialist and the size to fit as a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive end who can reduce inside for pass-rush downs. ...

Matt Miller - https://twitter.com/nfldraftscout/status/842068391779282946

Thomas would play DE and could play some DT like a Michael Bennett type in that defense.

On where Solomon Thomas would play in SF defense.

Yup, exactly how I see him playing in this defense. Strong side end on base downs, kick inside on passing downs.

It's not the sexy "LEO" role people want, but its still an important role and Thomas is the superior prospect at 2nd overall.

Originally posted by jreff22:
We've said he would play outside and then kick inside on passing downs . That's literally what the argument has been about.

Some have defended this point but I have seen lots of guys here saying he would play inside on every play

Not that it matters, but could he look any more like Russel Wilson?

Originally posted by joaosoarrs99:
Some have defended this point but I have seen lots of guys here saying he would play inside on every play

He'd play like Bennett and that's strongside end that kicks inward on nickel situations. Part of the issue is the Leo plays wide on the 9 technique and that's what we're arguing is not ideal for him. Of course we may or may not need a a strongside end pending where we play Buckner.

Originally posted by SofaKing:
A bit too early for that, but its a logical destination given the need for a quality edge player and Thomas is arguably the 2nd best player in this drat behind Garrett. His combine performance pretty much sealed it imo. If the 49ers don't go QB at #2, chances are very good they pick Thomas.

Ideally they would acquire Thomas and an edge guy like Charles Harris, spend the rest of the draft on the offense. Thomas and Harris would go a long ways towards improving the pass rush and making this a more sound, talented defense overall.

Originally posted by joaosoarrs99:

Originally posted by jreff22:

We've said he would play outside and then kick inside on passing downs . That's literally what the argument has been about.

Some have defended this point but I have seen lots of guys here saying he would play inside on every play

No. He's at strong side DE in run downs, would kick inside on passing downs. My argument is that, that's what he should do. Attempting to play him at Leo would be wasting his talents. Some think he can play Leo based off combine numbers and a handful of plays in college. I disagree about even attempting to use him in that capacity. Whoever we find to be the Leo will be cemented at that position.

Originally posted by SofaKing:

Originally posted by GhostOfBaalke:

Have there been any real reports on Niners wanting Solomon? Lately he's been popping up in almost every mock draft going to us. But that's all I can find.

A bit too early for that, but its a logical destination given the need for a quality edge player and Thomas is arguably the 2nd best player in this drat behind Garrett. His combine performance pretty much sealed it imo. If the 49ers don't go QB at #2, chances are very good they pick Thomas.

Yea, some could argue that there are safeties or a CB who is the second best player. But this is a total rebuild and there's no way Shanny/Lynch are content with just patching up the worst run d in history. They know they gotta do something big. And of course the Stanford connection. Solomon has perfect behavior and leadership, total Lynch guy.

Originally posted by GhostOfBaalke:

Originally posted by SofaKing:

Originally posted by GhostOfBaalke:

Have there been any real reports on Niners wanting Solomon? Lately he's been popping up in almost every mock draft going to us. But that's all I can find.

A bit too early for that, but its a logical destination given the need for a quality edge player and Thomas is arguably the 2nd best player in this drat behind Garrett. His combine performance pretty much sealed it imo. If the 49ers don't go QB at #2, chances are very good they pick Thomas.

Yea, some could argue that there are safeties or a CB who is the second best player. But this is a total rebuild and there's no way Shanny/Lynch are content with just patching up the worst run d in history. They know they gotta do something big. And of course the Stanford connection. Solomon has perfect behavior and leadership, total Lynch guy.

Part of the whole bad run D was having Bow and Armstrong out. If Bow is back to 100% we aren't getting run over like last year.