Quote:
Originally Posted by Chiefnj2
You think there is a correlation between 40 speed and how a OLB/DE tweener will do in the NFL?
Cushing ran a 4.79, Matthews a 4.67 and Everette Brown a 4.73 last year. Suggs ran a disappointing 40 from what I recall as well. Ware ran a 4.65 at the combine.
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It's not a perfect predictor, but a 3-4 OLB is responsible for covering a lot of ground in the outside run game and they have to have the fluid hips to do well in coverage assignments, particularly in guarding the flats. So yes, it's a very, very nice luxury to have a guy who can absolutely fly.
Especially in a Crennel 3-4, where your DE isn't asked to make plays and depends on your LB to be the main guardian of the outside shit, speed is a really nice thing to have. Your other examples are different. In Baltimore and especially Dallas, D-linemen are allowed to do more to assist the OLB.