I wouldn't totally rule out Upshaw going to a 4-3 team. Last year everyone thought Von Miller would not be able to play in a 4-3 and he proved pretty succesful. Upshaw may go to a team making a transition to a 4-3 and he will ease into a DE or even LB. I may just be trying to not get my hopes up. It is still early, but I would love if Upshaw fell to us at 16.
Id love a Upshaw, Curry tandem. However, with the presence of Upshaw, Pace will become more effective. Teams will have to account for the two at least for one season, i.e. Pace is likely gone sooner than later.
It would be nice to draft a pass rushing OLB with the first round pick instead of taking a college DE and try to convert him.
I stated that point in the initial point and it could happen but I sincerely doubt it. Upshaw is too short compared to the ideal size of a 4-3 DE, also unlike Von who can play multiple positions, Upshaw would be the most effective as an OLB only. He can play DE but it wouldn't be worth to draft him out of position.
I think everyone makes way too big a deal out of the "Upshaw is slow" notion. He seems plenty fast for a linebacker to me. Keep in mind this is against LSU, a pretty fast team overall. [youtube]N2NGJD_naF0[/youtube]
Remember that Terrell Suggs was called slow a lot after a bad 40 time in his draft year. He turned out ok.
I want to see Upshaw disengage blockers better and use his hands better if we drafted him... At the Senior Bowl and his other games, there were a good number of times where he was just locked up by the tackle and he wasnt able to disengage. Maybe our “new” OLB coach can help him with that, because he does have the power to get off of any lineman.
Funny enough that was one of the bigger problems with Suggs coming out. I think he needs to refine his game, like most rookies of course, but in time this defensive staff can do wonders with this kid. Rex has never had his own OLB project (besides Maybin) on this team to teach, id be very excited with what he could do given his history with LBs/DE's.
Awesome news. Most mocks I saw before had Upshaw going 10 to the Bills so this lifts my spirits. He's probably the safest option at OLB, I sincerely hope we pick him if he's available.
Upshaw should be the pick because it's pretty clear that while he's not a great ROLB prospect he would be a great fit at either ILB or LOLB. He's the perfect Steelers pick: best player available and at a position of need. I'm thinking the Jets grab him and play him for a year at ROLB and then figure out where he really fits on the defense. If he comes into the NFL with his ears peeled back and takes the next step as a pass-rusher that's the best outcome. But if not then the Jets put him in Bart Scott or Calvin Pace's spot and they've filled an emerging hole before it opened wide.
What makes Upshaw a great pick is his experience at 3-4 OLB. His presnece with Pace will be felt. Teams will now have to focus on two threats on the outside, not just Pace himself.
That video really wasn't too impressive, he actually did look slow, & not just slow after the play was being run but even slow coming off the ball... on many occasions he seemed to be the last one on the d-line to fire off the ball once it was snapped, I'm not sure if that was by design but it sure as heck didn't look like it.
That comment by you leads me to belive you need to learn alot about the 34 defens and the OLB's job on given plays. You even allude to it in your post and that part is spot on. On obivous passing downs where his job is to get up feild and attack the QB Upshaw comes off the line with good burst. He's Not DeMarcus Ware, but not slow by any means. A lot of the downs where he looks "slow" off the line, he's taking on a blocker and maintaining his edge. It was by design for him to hold his location. On a couple of those plays he does an excelent job disengaging a block, making the QB pitch, and still taking down the running back. All that while showing great closing speed for a 275 pound man. Our D was gashed along the Edge on running plays last season and it was poor OLB play that caused this. With Bryan Thomas looking like he will not be a Jet Upshaw would be a perfect replacement and prehaps much better at the Job.
Thank you man, just thank you. You have no idea how sick and tired I am of hearing that Upshaw is slow and has no "burst" , its a bunch of bullshit.
LOL no problem. People are looking for John Abe speed on the outside and not realizing that he would get destroyed on the edge in this defense. We need a guy with very good power that can rush, not another maybin with blazing speeed that is useless 80% of the time. I watched it again looking specificly at the downs with his hand in the dirt, Nickle package pass rushing type plays. On the majority of thoes he is first off the line and gets up feild with very good speed, when engaged by the tackle his power is evident as he drives them back. There were a couple where he was called on to stunt which he did well, but did not get great penetration as the LSU line swapped blocks well. Only two of the obvious passing dows was he completely shut down at the line that night. Not a bad showing at all.
