Yes Clowney is taller. I've asked this before and I haven't gotten a response but I'll ask it again. How many great OLB's that have been 6'6-6'7...??? I know there have been some great tall DE's but most of the great OLB's I can think of are/was 6-5 and under.
Ted Hendricks of the Steelers was a monster off the edge He was 6'7 Aldon Smith is 6'4 I think its better with Clowney's hand in the dirt though
With the way the league is these days, they'll be in a 4 man front in sub packages WAY more often than in base packages so he'd line up as a DE a lot more often than as a pass rushing OLB, but his ability to do both is what makes him such a great pick
Ted Hendricks. Anyway who cares? the distincition between LB and DE isn't the same as it was given the way teams play now. The better question to ask is how many sucessful tall outside pass rushers are there? The asnwer is a lot.
Ted Hendricks who played 100 years ago... But that is one. Anymore...??? Because if not _ there is more of a history of good "small" QB's (like Johnny and Teddy) than there is of "Tall" OLB's (like Clowney). And I think he should be a hand in the dirt DE but the Texans run a 3-4.
THIS. So many negative things said against him.....all proven to be pure crap. I'm fine with Manziel, Clowney, or a trade down. Since....I'm a fan and not a GM I'd trust whatever they do... But I can't help but be a fan of this kid. So much hate thrown his way.
Anyone who cares about what the Texans do with the #1 pick. And one tall OLB who played in the 70's isn't showing a great track record.
For reals.... I also agree with your previous post on Manziel....although most see him as a potential home run....not guaranteed.
Not everyone realizes that there isn't much distinction between a DE and a pass rushing OLB in a 3-4, and even fewer realize that most of the game is spent in sub packages with a 4 man front......and some are just contrarians trolling internet threads.
Not everyone realizes that not all DE's who spent practically all their life playing with there hand in the dirt make a smooth transition to being able to stand up and play OLB... We have two on the team now with Mercilus and Reed.
If our team drafts Clowney to play OLB then we have the dumbest coaching staff in the league. Most teams are usually in Nickel and Dime packages nowadays so Clowney will have his hand in the dirt most of the time. Anyone that thinks Clowney will primarily be an OLB doesn't know the current and past coaching staffs.
Exactly, he would be drafted to play multiple positions, he'd be a pass rushing OLB in base packages and a DE in sub packages....sub packages being more often. The fact that he has the versatility to play both is a huge bonus as opposed to a guy like Mack who could only be an OLB.
Hope I'm not sidestepping your question, ha. Ideal, perfect world: trade back (specifically with Cleveland for at minimum four & twenty-six.) The furthest I'd trade back to is six with Atlanta. Trading back seems unlikely but then again, who knows. If I can't trade back... I picked Manziel in the latest poll. BIG, BIG risk at one but one you could also be rewarded with. Most polarizing player out there. He's obviously not for everyone. Not flawless by any means either. There are concerns that are real. Clowney - I think he's overhyped, overrated. Not the once in a generation prospect, rare, elite talent people like to say. Make all the excuses/reasons you want: saving himself, motor runs hot and cold, tripled team, ran away from him, blah blah blah, 3 sacks is 3 sacks. Yeah, sacks aren't everything but spin it anyway you want. (But as Josh Norris from Rotoworld would say, disruption is production). Obviously a top prospect, if not number one, coming out of HS but really, really burst onto the scene after that hit in the bowl game. High expectations were placed on him coming into this season and had a "disappointing" season. Probably a good to very good player. Not my first choice (or maybe second choice either) but don't think I'd have a problem taking him, if it happens. Bridgewater - Was never really high on him but I am open to it. Weird/funny how this guy is slipping big time. #1 QB (prospect) leading into this year and during the year. Now come draft time, he's slipped for no real reason? He's slipping for reasons other than his play on the field. Worried about his size/frame? Let me defend Teddy for a second, where are those same concerns about Manziel? Not mentioned nearly the same as it is for Bridgewater. It's not as if he was injury prone in college. (NFL different from college blah blah blah). Not as if he plays a reckless style of football (like say a Johnny Manziel). Why such a big deal about his size/frame/weight? Worried that he wears gloves? Talk about overblown. Bortles - Do.Not.Want. Heh. Every Texans fan is unanimous with that. Maybe'll he'll prove everyone wrong but I don't really care for him (at one). Seems the ones that are hyping him up, love him, and have him as the #1 QB are the old-school NFL folks who love the pocket passer and ones with "prototypical" NFL size. He has size, cool? Does that mean he's going to be more successful (and is less injury-prone)? They say he's the #1 QB but at the same time, should have stayed in school another year or needs to sit out at least his rookie year? 6'5 with what they're saying an average at best arm(right now) and can run a little I guess, if necessary. Sorry, not sold. Not at number one anyways. All in all: I think they should take a shot on one of the two QBs(Manziel or Bridgewater). I get it, everyone isn't sold and reaching on one of these guys is a mistake and will set you back and your coach and GM will be fired. I'm not really sold on any of the other QBs (outside of the "big two/three"). Again, maybe I'll be wrong. So you take Clowney, which again I don't really have a problem with, but then what at QB? Not that I expect this team to contend this season or maybe not even next but Ryan Fitzpatrick? For a year? Two? And I'm not a believer in "next year's class is better". Sure, next year's class is alllwwaaayyys better! As I previously said: Again, Teddy was the top QB coming into the year and during the year, now all the sudden he's dropping like a rock? And Blake Bortles comes out of nowhere (late in the season)? But sure, we'll just get a QB later, whenever.
Nickel and Dime formations don't necessarily have to mean "4 men down." I think it has more to do with taking out a LB and putting in a DB. Just the same _ that all depends on which team you are playing. And also you're only assuming the Texans will be playing with a lead and teams are trying to throw to get back in the game.
Teams nowadays throw all the time...and yea they don't always mean 4 men down but when extra secondary is out there anyone who thinks Clowney will be playing anything other than DE opposite of Watt in those formations (other than the occasional misdirection when he would drop into a zone on a blitz) is making quite the assumption.
