Could Manny Lawson be an ILB next to Willis?

No

No, Manny cant take on blocks like that every play. Its actually the complete opposite of what he does well.

I'm very disapointed with Manny's performance this year.

No way!!

He is solid against the tall TE's and Tackles trying to block him on runs but he will lose all leverage against the shorter Guards and FBs he tries to take on.

Originally posted by jreff22:
No

Originally posted by PatrickWillisHOF:
I'm very disapointed with Manny's performance this year.

im very disappointed in his whole career so far, i don't see him being resigned after next year unless he willing to play for little.

Sure, it happens all the time on 3-4 defenses. All 4 LBers in the 3-4 should be interchangeable, just like the two safety positions and CB's. The issue is that we don't run a real 3-4 defense. We use the TED position as a "defensive fullback" so that Willis is free to roam.

Lawson's weakness, despite the obvious, in the pass rush, is shedding blockers though he has played much better up at the LOS this year. Pass rushing isn't much different in that you must be able read and react, shed blockers and explode. If you want to watch something comical, go back and watch Manny against Philly. I don't think he got within 15 feet of the QB the whole game. Playing inside, he'd have to crash the FB, TE, guards, throw them to the side and fill gaps and at 6'6", he is just too tall to take advantage of the low-man-wins fact. He isn't very quick either so straight up, he's going to get owned.

That said, his strengths do include lateral speed and coverage "could" be a strength of his IF that becomes his FT focus as an ILB. He would be ideal in covering TE's & RB's exclusively off the LOS instead of having to use a CB.

Originally posted by PatrickWillisHOF:
I'm very disapointed with Manny's performance this year.

Did you watch the game yesterday? It was classic Manny, blowing up blockers, holding his edge, getting into the backfield. He has developed into an excellent run stopper. There's more the playing 3-4 OLB than sacks.

That being said, NO to ILB.

Originally posted by Joecool:
No way!!

He is solid against the tall TE's and Tackles trying to block him on runs but he will lose all leverage against the shorter Guards and FBs he tries to take on.

this.

full backs are as tall as 6'1" manny is 6'5". he will get blown up every play. we have spikes doing the dirty work.

Originally posted by PatrickWillisHOF:
I'm very disapointed with Manny's performance this year.

wtf?? why?

http://www.profootballfocus.com/by_position.php?tab=by_position&season=2009&pos=OLB4&stype=r&runpass=&teamid=-1&numsnaps=25&numgames=1

9th best among 3-4 OLB's this season. above average in pass rushing, coverage, run stuffing, 0 penalties, 4th in stops, 6th in QB hits, 6th in tackles, 10th in pressures, 11th in sacks. hes having a great season...

his only downside this year has been missed tackles, which hes had 5.

Originally posted by PRIMETIME21:

Originally posted by PatrickWillisHOF:
I'm very disapointed with Manny's performance this year.

im very disappointed in his whole career so far, i don't see him being resigned after next year unless he willing to play for little.

Yes he has been a bust. He would probably be good OLB in a 4-3 defense.

He will get cut block like crazy, so the answer is no.

he had some major set backs, I think next year he will produce even more than he has lately!!