He's too slow to play linebacker. He played DT in college, that's where he absolutely dominated. As a senior he was moved to DE and then people were questioning his motor and why he's not the same force he was before. He's a DT, maybe a DE. Certainly not a LB. And as far as his motor, Wilkerson had the same red flags.
It's pretty well known Rex loved having the pressure come from up the gut, aka, the gameplan to shut down a Brady, but most these guys now at QB can escape pressure the Jets use to bring. Just up the gut. It's why it's good and key that Mauldin is becoming a good pass rusher from the outside. I think Coples was drafted to play inside and outside on the line but when Sheldon came, they figured he would be a good OLB and athletic enough to make the transition. I think he's athletic enough, he's just not made to play LB. his skill set is a DT/DE bringing inside pressure.
What is his natural position? 4-3 end, hand in the dirt? Ok we've done that plenty of times, and he has no ability to get the quarterback especially on passing down. OLB in rush scenarios? No he sucks there too. He's too small to play Tackle, too fat to play end, and too slow to play OLB, and can't cover. He has no motor, and will be out of football with Gholston next year. What blows my mind is how the Jets brass can miss twice on Defensive ends with that high of pick. Picks like that set back a franchise.
He's a pure lineman like the guys mentioned, move any of those guys to LB and you'll see very similar results. Picks like that don't set the franchise back, it's not playing them at their natural position that does. You don't draft a DT in the 1st round and then move him to LB, that's just moronic and you're just setting him up for failure.
he was a dt in college, he is not big enough or strong enough to play it in the nfl at this point. granted had he put on 20 lbs instead of taking off weight he might have a shot. im going to go out on a limb and say he will stick next year and if he has a motor that he will be a decent player. not a 1st round type guy that they hoped for coming out of college but not vernon gholston either.
he doesn't have a 'natural position'. people keep using that excuse around here, but no one can define what that position actually is. over the last few years, we've played plenty of 0, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 techniques in our fronts. he hasn't made an impact at any of them. he's not absolutely terrible either though. i can see him hanging around the league for a few more years, maybe even finding a niche subpackage interior pass rushing role. that's his ceiling imo.
Why do you continue to bring up this nonsense? I just gave you his numbers that are identical of those from other All Pro type linemen. And not every DL you draft is ONE thing and ONE thing only. What is Sheldon's natural position? LB? 4-3 DT? 3-4 DE? OLB? What is Mo's natural position? It's the same exact thing. Coples' natural position is either 4-3 DT or 4-3 DE, period. That's what got him on everybody's radar, that's what made him a 1st round prospect, that's where he dominated. That's usually a good way to figure out what a players natural position is. The position he played in college that made you draft him that early. You don't draft somebody early and then ask him to do something he's never done.
