Chiefs sign Zach Thomas

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

And you're the moron that thinks that Suggs could play OLB in a 4-3 in Detroit. Tell me how many 260+ pounders are playing OLB in a 4-3.

Ok, please tell me you've never bred, because this type of stupidity should never be passed on. Suggs plays DE in a 4-3, not OLB. Hence the comparison with Jason Taylor, for example.

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

You keep referring to Suggs and Hawk as playing the same position, even though it couldn't be further from the truth. All 3-4 OLBs play the hybrid position. It is what they call a "tweener"--a DE that scouts thought was too small to play DE in a 4-3, but too big to play LB.

Actually, I don't believe that I've ever referred to Suggs and Hawk as playing the same position. Linebacker is a term which covers multiple positions, and those positions are different depending upon how you're running your defense. Again, if you would just take the time to actually read....

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Terrell Suggs is a DE who was asked to play "tweener". As was Merriman, Ware, and every 3-4 OLB/DE "tweener" in the NFL (16 in total)
AJ Hawk is an OLB who was asked to play OLB


And again, you are suggesting that 4-3 LBs and 3-4 LBs are both "linebackers." They're not!

Stupidest line of the day, and that took some doing. Of course they are both linebackers. But, since you seem ready to change the world, start with Bill Belichick, since he's used both converted DEs AND traditional linebackers in his 3-4 systems, both inside and out. Clearly, that guy just doesn't know what the hell he's doing with defenses.

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

3-4 OLBs are asked to take on much more DE responsibility. Therefore, they carry much higher draft value than a LB. DEs are one of the most highly sought after prospects in any given draft. LBs are usually taken toward the middle of the first round. Consistently.

Now, the only reason 3-4 OLBs tend to drop lower in the draft is because only a handful of teams actually run a 3-4 defense (8 teams). So let's sum it up. Patrick Willis fell to #11 because no NFL team wanted to reach for a LB in the top 10. Terrell Suggs dropped to #6 because you have to run a 3-4 to get value from him.

If only any of this had something to do with this thread, I'd pretend to care. But, since it doesn't....