We drafted him in the first round a couple of years back and never really got his chance to start. Do you think he can start over Kimo or will he ride the bench again? He is pretty good at run stopping and with abraham in atlanta will Thomas fit well in the 3-4. What do you guys think he can do for us this year?
He is presently the only starter we have at OLB with Hobson and Chatham competing for the other starting OLB position.
Why can't Kassell play LB? Kassell/Barton/Hobson/Chatham can all play OLB, and all can play ILB, for the most part, as well. I guess it depends on which defense set they're using.
Taking over for Kimo will never happen because he's about 30 pounds too small to play DE in the 3-4, but he should fit well as a 3-4 OLB if he can learn to cover a little and will create havoc coming off the corner. The only pass-rushing specialist we have at LB so he'll likely start because of it.
I can't recall a time but since they did not draft a 3-4 OLB in the draft, traded down with the chance of getting Chris Gocong, and since there's no way Bryan Thomas can play anywhere else in the 3-4 I'm sure he will.
It really doesn't look like they're building a 3-4 defense based on the draft and FA so far. We didn't pickup OLB's or a 3-4 NT. If they are planning on using the 3-4 a lot I hope they have something up their sleeves.
You'll need to read Buttle's entire post to put mine in context. I'll grant you this much - it's certainly not as troubling if we aren't planning to run much 3-4. Seems clearer every day that we just don't have anywhere NEAR the personnel for it.
The players we have can run a capable 3-4. What everyone needs to remember is that we are running a hybrid defense. The base defense will be the 3-4, but the 4-3, nickle, dime, and whatever else Mangini & Co. can come up with will be used extensively. This is to create mismatches, and confuse opposing offenses. The key to making this work is to have depth. It also greatly helps if you have hybrid-type players. That is probably where the Thomas talk comes in. If they can get him to speed rush from the OLB spot, and fill in at DE on some 4-3 situations, and do it at a competent level, he is a weapon. Even if he never reaches his potential, if he can be average at both positions, he becomes a big depth weapon. Potentially our front 7 is a depth beast. Ellis, DRob, Pouha, Kimo, Thomas, Vilma, Hobson, Barton, Chatham, Shlegel (I need to learn this guy's name already.) I think there are a couple of guys I'm forgetting too, correct me if I'm wrong. That's a TON of depth, and some really freakish packages can be created. Let's not forget that it looks like they are working on depth in the secondary too. We may not see the same formation twice on the same possession this year. I don't see any of the above guys getting cut this year. With the growing pains we are sure to see this year, it is a big chance for all of these guys to earn a spot on the '07 roster. If nothing else, it will be interesting.
Our base D should be the Nickel 1-5-5 Prowl from Madden. seriously though - I understand the hybrid bit and sure the depth is very nice but it doesn't look like we really have a STARTING 3-4 lineup. Does this mean when we do happen to go into a 3-4 we have a bunch of backups on the field??
:lol: Yeah, it does sound like that doesn't it? Yeah, unfortunately, it doesn't appear that we have the necessary components of a true 3-4. Then again, I have yet to actually hear Mangini say publicly that they wanted to run a pure 3-4. Every time I hear him talk about defense, he stresses that he wants to do what I just talked about. He wants to mix it up, and create the best mismatches with the players we have. So far, my belief is that this is the way he wants to run this team. Personally, I like the idea. I am not a big fan of the 3-4 to begin with. If we mix it up, it will make it that much harder for teams to plan against us. That's a huge advantage.
Thomas is one of our OLB's right now. Yeah we all think he stinks. But he is in his contract year so this is the year to perform watch a Farior type performace....I wish... Plus he fits well as the LB edge rusher. He never started due to Ellis and Abe ahead of him, But he might suprise us, I guess we took the best available player that draft.(wooops Reed, that Philly corner) Remember it was the same year they were thinking Ellis at DT. When Thomas played he was so-so... he didnt look like a 1st rnd pick but this is yr 5 so if he might be a decent starter in for the OLB position I will take it. But I predict this he will do well but when we dont sign him and someone signs him to a deal with an 8 mil SB we will go WTF. This happens with alot of guys they never fill the potential with the team they were originaly drafted by. In other words he is the player that we drafted but does well for another team.
It's wishful thinking at this point to guess that Bryan Thomas can play OlB in a 3-4. That would mean he would have to on any play either rush the passer, drop into coverage or take on blockers against the run. So far the only one of those he's good at is taking on blockers. I hope that they can coach him up, but it doesn't look good.
If I am wrong you can correct me. But didnt he play OLB in college(yes it was the 4-3) I should have said this he will stink in coverage, but will he be a 3 down player? He will be good on pass rush, decent agianst the run but agianst the pass.... I guess they can sub him or blitz him. I dont see him playing in pass coverage if he does he could be adequate.
