Solomon Thomas--Stanford

Originally posted by StubbyNBY:

Sounds great, but guys that don't really have one position tend to be tweeners and really never pan out.

Well that's not true

Dave Razzano, Bleacher Report on aldon smith...

(he rated Smith as second most overrated player behind Cam Newton): "To me this is a tweener type player. Meaning he lacks strength to play on the line or movement in space. Underwhelming as a pass rusher as well. The question remains where do you play this guy?"

Joey bosa was looked at as a tweener as well...how's that working?

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by StubbyNBY:
Sounds great, but guys that don't really have one position tend to be tweeners and really never pan out.

Well that's not true

Dave Razzano, Bleacher Report on aldon smith...

(he rated Smith as second most overrated player behind Cam Newton): "To me this is a tweener type player. Meaning he lacks strength to play on the line or movement in space. Underwhelming as a pass rusher as well. The question remains where do you play this guy?"

Joey bosa was looked at as a tweener as well...how's that working?

B.Young was a tweener, came out of college at 276. Difference is S.Thomas is a better athlete at this point in their careers.

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by StubbyNBY:

Sounds great, but guys that don't really have one position tend to be tweeners and really never pan out.

Well that's not true

Dave Razzano, Bleacher Report on aldon smith...

(he rated Smith as second most overrated player behind Cam Newton): "To me this is a tweener type player. Meaning he lacks strength to play on the line or movement in space. Underwhelming as a pass rusher as well. The question remains where do you play this guy?"

Joey bosa was looked at as a tweener as well...how's that working?

B.Young was a tweener, came out of college at 276. Difference is S.Thomas is a better athlete at this point in their careers.

Agreed...dude is a football player and we need guys like him on this team.

What team is the best fit for Solomon Thomas regardless of draft position?

Originally posted by ChaunceyGardner:

What team is the best fit for Solomon Thomas regardless of draft position?

Pretty much any team running a 4-3.

For those of you that don't think he can be successful as an EDGE player

https://twitter.com/djdurkin/status/842769163856859136

Anyone want to bring up any other reasons why we shouldn't draft him? Because there is not a single reason he can't be an EDGE in the 4-3 defense in the NFL.

Watching his game for Kansas St., they lined up Thomas everywhere on the D-line, from edge to 3-tech to 0-tech. Honestly, Thomas looks a lot better on the edge, I personally wouldn't have lined him up all over the creation. If the 49ers drafted him, I'd like to see Saleh keep him on the edge maybe losing 10 pounds for added speed. JMO

Originally posted by LilLeeroy:

For those of you that don't think he can be successful as an EDGE player

https://twitter.com/djdurkin/status/842769163856859136

Anyone want to bring up any other reasons why we shouldn't draft him? Because there is not a single reason he can't be an EDGE in the 4-3 defense in the NFL.

you want to place a bet on him playing Leo?

Originally posted by LilLeeroy:
For those of you that don't think he can be successful as an EDGE player

https://twitter.com/djdurkin/status/842769163856859136

Anyone want to bring up any other reasons why we shouldn't draft him? Because there is not a single reason he can't be an EDGE in the 4-3 defense in the NFL.

A 3 tech is not an edge rusher so the guy's tweet contradicts the edge statement. They line on the outside of the guard's shoulder. A 9 tech is where the Leo plays in the 4-3 under base and they align as far off the tackle as possible and speed rush. Someone like Dwight Freeney is what you're looking for.

Originally posted by tjd808185:
A 3 tech is not an edge rusher so the guy's tweet contradicts the edge statement. They line on the outside of the guard's shoulder. A 9 tech is where the Leo plays in the 4-3 under base and they align as far off the tackle as possible and speed rush. Someone like Dwight Freeney is what you're looking for.

The 3 "edge techniques" mentioned in the article and the tweet is referring to when he was lined up as a 4-3 DE (7T and 9T). Maybe it was kind of hard to tell that just from the tweet though.

Originally posted by jreff22:
you want to place a bet on him playing Leo?

I don't really think a bet is necessary. Historically the best predicators of success at the EDGE are weight and 3 cone time, and Solomon Thomas has a freakish combination of the two so I personally believe there is a high probability of it happening eventually. I think Stanford had him playing out of position and he will find his natural position in the NFL.

Originally posted by LilLeeroy:

Originally posted by jreff22:
you want to place a bet on him playing Leo?

I don't really think a bet is necessary. Historically the best predicators of success at the EDGE are weight and 3 cone time, and Solomon Thomas has a freakish combination of the two so I personally believe there is a high probability of it happening eventually. I think Stanford had him playing out of position and he will find his natural position in the NFL.

agreed when evaluating pass rushers personally I think the most important things to look at are the broad jump (explosion), 3 cone (quickness), and the 20 yard shuttle (short area quickness), and bench (power)....and guess what he killed all of those (top 5). Just for good measure he was under a 4.7 and was top 5 in vert.

I seem to remember everyone in here poo pooing on the idea of Bosa playing OLB lol...how's that going? His combine numbers are right on par with Solomon.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
agreed when evaluating pass rushers personally I think the most important things to look at are the broad jump (explosion), 3 cone (quickness), and the 20 yard shuttle (short area quickness), and bench (power)....and guess what he killed all of those (top 5). Just for good measure he was under a 4.7 and was top 5 in vert.

I seem to remember everyone in here poo pooing on the idea of Bosa playing OLB lol...how's that going? His combine numbers are right on par with Solomon.

Bosa was also the #1 ranked edge rusher in 2015, #2 in 2014. He worked primarily against right tackles even though they moved him around. Outside of the coverage aspects being an olb is his natural fit. Thomas did most of his damage as a 3 tech and to flip him to Leo at least would be a pretty risk. I have no question about his ability to play strong side end though.

Originally posted by tjd808185:

Originally posted by NYniner85:
agreed when evaluating pass rushers personally I think the most important things to look at are the broad jump (explosion), 3 cone (quickness), and the 20 yard shuttle (short area quickness), and bench (power)....and guess what he killed all of those (top 5). Just for good measure he was under a 4.7 and was top 5 in vert.

I seem to remember everyone in here poo pooing on the idea of Bosa playing OLB lol...how's that going? His combine numbers are right on par with Solomon.

Bosa was also the #1 ranked edge rusher in 2015, #2 in 2014. He worked primarily against right tackles even though they moved him around. Outside of the coverage aspects being an olb is his natural fit. Thomas did most of his damage as a 3 tech and to flip him to Leo at least would be a pretty risk. I have no question about his ability to play strong side end though.

So why not have him as a 3-tech WHO CAN play the edge in certain packages. then go after someone like Bowser in the second? He would greatly improve the run D improve our pass rush which in turn would help the secondary.

IMO I don't see why he can't play the edge anyway...he's got the speed and flexibility just doesn't have the overall length. I see him getting compared to Everson Griffen a lot lately who plays off the edge.

Originally posted by NYniner85:
So why not have him as a 3-tech WHO CAN play the edge in certain packages. then go after someone like Bowser in the second? He would greatly improve the run D improve our pass rush which in turn would help the secondary.

IMO I don't see why he can't play the edge anyway...he's got the speed and flexibility just doesn't have the overall length. I see him getting compared to Everson Griffen a lot lately who plays off the edge.

People don't see him doing it in college and just can't fathom someone doing something different than he did in college even though we've seen countless prospects transition to different roles in the NFL.

Question always is can they handle the mental part of the transition and do they have the physical/athletic ability to make the transition.

Thomas does. Once again Leo isn't the optimal position for him but if we have to play him there for the time being if we cannot get a better fit at Leo then he'll do just fine.

Kid can be special and is a great person to have on the roster in terms of leadership and passion for the game. Bring him in and don't look back.