OLB / Pass rushers in the draft

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Laz

Graham is best pass rusher as ROLB in a 3-4
Jerry Hughes would be a good LOLB in a 3-4

Hughes still has some work to do in pass coverage but he has the speed and quickness imo. He's very strong at the POA and can beat most RT's without needing to commit to the outside which still allows him to hold contain strong side.


if we get graham then Hali would move to the left side and replace Vrabel. If we get Hughes then Hali would stay on the right and Hughes would take Vrabel's place. Just imo.

Flip that and you are correct...

Graham is more likely to play LOLB if we drafted him (ala Lamarr Woodley)... Hughes is more of a toss up.

Either way, they are both fantastic upgrades to either spot.

[Ralphy Boy]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Either way, they are both fantastic upgrades to either spot.

So you think both are an upgrade over Tamba?

[Ralphy Boy]

OLB ranking, again from DraftDog:
1. Navorro Bowman, Penn State (JR)
2. Pat Angerer, Iowa
3. Rennie Curran, Georgia (JR)
4. Rico McCoy, Tennessee
5. Clinton Snyder, Stanford
6. Dakota Watson, FSU
7. Keenan Clayton, Oklahoma
8. Thadeus Gibson, Ohio State (JR)
9. A.J. Edds, Iowa
10. Reggie Carter, UCLA
11. Elijah Hodge, Wisconsin
12. Kyle Bosworth, UCLA
13. Mike Mayberry, Indiana
14. Jason Beauchamp, UNLV
15. Patrick Lavine, Olahoma State
16. Cam Martin, Virginia Tech
17. Phillip Dillard, Nebraska
18. Will Patterson, Indiana
19. Daryl Washington, TCU
20. Kavell Conner, Clemson

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Flip that and you are correct...

Graham is more likely to play LOLB if we drafted him (ala Lamarr Woodley)... Hughes is more of a toss up.

Either way, they are both fantastic upgrades to either spot.

are you looking from the offensive side (right/life) or the defense?

right now Tamba Hali plays ROLB

Graham would play that position to speed rush the blind side of the QB

Jerry Hughes would play LOLB beside Tyson Jackson ... the tradition strong side of the offense. He would Power rush the QB on that side.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Laz

are you looking from the offensive side (right/life) or the defense?

right now Tamba Hali plays ROLB

Graham would play that position to speed rush the blind side of the QB

Jerry Hughes would play LOLB beside Tyson Jackson ... the tradition strong side of the offense. He would Power rush the QB on that side.

I think you have the two players confused in your head.. Graham is much stronger than Hughes and much much better vs the run... like Woodley, he is a perfect fit on the LOLB spot replacing Vrabel... Hughes is more of a speed guy and is often compared to a Suggs type ROLB.

BUT as I said.. either is an upgrade playing at either spot...

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

I think you have the two players confused in your head.. Graham is much stronger than Hughes and much much better vs the run... like Woodley, he is a perfect fit on the LOLB spot replacing Vrabel... Hughes is more of a speed guy and is often compared to a Suggs type ROLB.

BUT as I said.. either is an upgrade playing at either spot...

dude ... we have the exact opposite idea of these guys.

Jerry Hughes has played over the offense right tackle all year and he is pretty much a power guy although he has some quickness too. Kinda like Suggs a little bit only with more power imo ... actually more quickness too.

Brandon Graham plays over the offensive left tackle and it more of a Dwight Freeney type guy.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Laz

dude ... we have the exact opposite idea of these guys.

Jerry Hughes has played over the offense right tackle all year and he is pretty much a power guy although he has some quickness too. Kinda like Suggs a little bit only with more power imo ... actually more quickness too.

Brandon Graham plays over the offensive left tackle and it more of a Dwight Freeney type guy.

I respectfully disagree.. although you are right on where they have been played in college... neither is projected on those sides in the NFL.

Graham is NOT a Freeney type at all, he excels versus the run and is much more powerful...

Hughes is alot like Suggs but with more speed... and Suggs plays ROLB

There are 3 (projected) OLBs that I have watched all of their games and it's Graham(I am a U-M fan), Kindle (I live in Austin) and Hughes(my stepdad is a season ticket holder for TCU and I have had a soft spot for them since 7th grade... long story)

Hughes and Kindle are much more speed guys than someone like Graham... but hell, I could be wrong... I just know what I think I saw and what I think is their best fits at the next level.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

I respectfully disagree..

it's cool ... be nothing talk about if we all agreed on everything.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

BUT as I said.. either is an upgrade playing at either spot...

i would take both

that would be quite a 2nd round imo

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Laz

i would take both

that would be quite a 2nd round imo

I would as well but it would take an act of God for both to fall that far....

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

I would as well but it would take an act of God for both to fall that far....

yep ... i think Graham ends up going in the 1st but Hughes will probably fall. Of course it depends on the combine too.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Laz

are you looking from the offensive side (right/life) or the defense?

right now Tamba Hali plays ROLB

Graham would play that position to speed rush the blind side of the QB

Jerry Hughes would play LOLB beside Tyson Jackson ... the tradition strong side of the offense. He would Power rush the QB on that side.

Not really his strength, that is more something Graham fits for and since he is more of a natural LB... he can be asked to do more from that spot where Hughes or someone like Kindle can concentrate of rushing the passer. Hughes is a converted RB... making him a true LB is more of a chore than it is for someone like Graham.