I traditionally don't like converting 4-3 DEs to OLBs in a 3-4 (Gholston), which is why I don't want Mercilus or Coples. I like the fact that Bama runs a 3-4 and thus their players are versed in that system. Everything I've heard on Upshaw is he doesn't excel at any position in the 3-4 to be an impact player on an NFL team. He doesn't cover well enough to play LOLB and he doesn't explode enough to the QB to play the ROLB. He's also way too small to play DE in the 3-4. To me, he will be Bryan Thomas at best and never make a Pro Bowl. Not what you want at 16. If he's there at 16, I hope we go elsewhere. Hell, I'd rather take Hightower at 16 than Upshaw.
I just dont think the raw tools are there. Hes a good technician and heads up. I think a 4-3 team would be wise to give him a look
I really think his upside is in the middle. Its been tossed around here some, but his skill set is more fit for an ILB in a 3-4 IMO. I think his ceiling is somewhat limited on the outside due to his lack of agility, explosiveness and raw athleticism. And I would rather Hightower than Upshaw too, I think he does everything Upshaw does, but possesses more upside, instincts and athleticism. He could play OLB for us day 1 and be a vast improvement from what is currently on the roster. But I will say this, Upshaw will be a very good pro. He may not have the elite potential and athleticism, but he does know how to play football and is very good at it. Im pretty sure something like 1/3 of all of his tackles were behind the LOS, and that is very impressive and shows he does make impact plays. There might be other players I prefer at 16, but I would be more than content with Upshaw.
I couldn't disagree more. Upshaw is a football player, it amazes me how much people stray away from a player after the scouting combine. Just watch him play, he wasn't one dimensional on that defense by any means. I do not see a Bryan Thomas when I watch Upshaw play. The only thing I did agree with in your post is you would prefer Hightower. I have him rated very high, much higher than a lot of people and I truly believe he will be the best defensive player from that Bama defense.
If Hightower is who we have rankerd higher, that's who we should take. I mean, everyone said the Pats reached on Mayo...look how that one turned out.
This is exactly it. People watched the combine and say he's not fluid enough for the position, but when you watch the games he looks every bit the part of the perfect fit for a 34 defense. I think at worst his floor is that of Bryan Thomas, who is a beast against the run and good against the pass. I think he has better burst off the line than most give him credit for wehn pass rushing and uses his hands very well for a guy coming out of NCAA ball. He will be a good player for whom ever lands him.
Hightower was the playmaker on that Alabama defense. I think both of them are going to play inside in the NFL although it may take Upshaw a year or two to get there. Given that Hightower already knows the role and is very good at it I'd rather have him than Upshaw. I'd much rather the Jets traded down a bit and got Hightower than selecting Upshaw on the 16. I'd live with the Upshaw pick if they made it because he is going to be a good player but I'd rather have the guy who looks like he will be great inside.
I want a pass rusher, not an ILB. I agree with most people. I think Courtney Upshaw is a great football player, but his ceiling as an OLB will be Calvin Pace. He would benefit from being moved inside. Trade down and take Mercilus, Branch, or Hightower. I didn't realize how good that Bama defense was last year. They're looking at maybe 5 first rounders this year. That's very impressive.
I dont know enough about football to really go against the "experts", but its odd just how much (mildly) negative press there has been about upshaw of late, mostly around him looking too stiff
I'm getting nervous on Upshaw, his pro day is this week so maybe he look better. I thinks he was a dominant college player on one of the greatest defenses of all time. I don't like his body type. He is thick, very thick and he doesn't look very flexible. He is built exactly like the Pittsburgh OLB's,but they both are explosive. I heard Casserly, again yesterday, say he is a man without a position. For me, at this point, Mercilus, Barron, Floyd and DeCastro are above Upshaw. Keep in mind, this is "lying season" so who knows.
I am not a fan of Upshaw either. I 100% believe that he will have a good career in the NFL, but I don't see him as an impact OLB. He doesn't have the pass rushing ability to get 10 sacks a year, while our defense needs a guy that can get 10+ sacks every year from the OLB position. Upshaw isn't that guy, which is why we shouldn't be drafting him. Ingram is a guy that would be able to give the Jets 10+ sacks per season, and Coples and Mercilus could be those guys also, although they could be huge busts, but we need to take a chance on a guy that has big potential rather than going with a guy like Upshaw who you know will be a solid OLB in the NFL, but he won't be an impact player. We need an impact player at OLB.
I hate this. Not only do they have completely different body styles, Pace wasted away in a 43 for several years. Would our opinion of him be different if he had spent all those years in a 34? Because if the Jets draft Upshaw, he's coming from a 34 to a 34. He won't be spending all of his rookie contract on a 43 team.
I was thinking more in terms of rushing the passer, not body styles. Maybe Pace would have benefitted from playing in a 34 to start his career, but he didn't. I didn't say anything about that. All I'm saying is that Upshaw will not be that great of an OLB. As an ILB, there is no doubt in my mind that he will be a pro-bowl caliber player, but he is not good enough at rushing the passer to be an OLB in a 34. This team needs a pass rusher much more than it needs an ILB. I like Ingram, Mercilus, or Branch much more for this team. Mercilus the most, because he will bring the best pass rush and could develop into an all down player.
Look, I get it. We get caught up in the combine numbers. Watch the tape though. Do you see a great football player with a strong upper body? Did you see a man who played with both his hand in the dirt and standing up? Did you see a man who can drop back in coverage? Did you see a man who can get to the RB and blowup plays? Did you see a man who can disrupt and hurry a qb even if he doesn't get a sack? The answer to all these questions from the tape I've seen is yes. The man plays with violent hands and passion. He's hungry and a pro.
That's not the way great organizations operate. They get the best value possible out of their early picks because that's where most of the value entering the NFL comes from. If you keep compromising on overall value at the top of the draft you wind up in the middle of the pack talent-wise and well below the elite teams that just will not compromise from year to year. The team that shall not be named loved Casey Hampton in 2001. They just didn't love him as the 16 pick so they started looking for trades down and found one.
He didn't have a good day at the Combine and then he chose not to run the 40. If he'd run a slow time there he'd probably have dropped all the way to the bottom third of the round. I think people are taking a hard look at what the Alabama defense did and coming to the conclusion that a few great players tied it all together and Upshaw was down the list some from Hightower and Barron in that regard.
Upshaw will be a productive NFL starter, but I don't see a first rounder.Late first round at best. All of those Bama guys worry me. Are they a product of Sabine's system and one another?Or can they make plays in any situation? Upshaw looked mighty ordinary at the senior bowl both in drills & on gameday.
