Originally posted by NCommand:Originally posted by NJNiner:We did not address OLB in the draft and now that Aaron Lynch is suspended four games we need a more reliable OLB, a stud who we can make a trade for before the regular season starts.
What matters most is HOW O'Neil is going to scheme. If he views the SAM position in a more traditional sense, your SAM will only rack up 40-50 tackles, have around 6-7 sacks and have a number of pressures. This is b/c the SAM's role is to play on the strong side so really, the pass rush is secondary to getting up field, setting the edge and funneling RB's back into the defense and not give the edge...THEN, if it's a pass and the TE and RB stay in, they will pass rush. In Fangio's scheme, this is how he used Brooks and he used the WILL, Aldon/Skuta's role to be a pass rusher first and everything else, second.
With Brooks at SAM, if O'Neil plays this more traditional, you're not going to lose much for the first 4 games with Lynch out. However, if O'Neil is big on disguise and moving players around and utilizing both his OLB's more in pass rushing FIRST, you're going to see a number of combinations with guys like Carradine/Harold/Hodges/Brooks/Bowman/Tartt, etc. all rushing from both the SAM and WILL spots.
That might be another way to make up for the loss of Lynch for the first 4 games.
This is the perfect time for Lemonier, Harold, and/or Carradine to step up and prove themselves with this opportunity.
If none of them can contribute somewhat effectively, then that better put Baalke's a$$ on the hot seat.
