Can Vonnie or Matt convert to OLB?

[dolphinator86]

Until Vonnie hurt his hamstring he was working at OLB some and so has Matt Roth. Vonnie seemed to like the role Matt still looks like he needs to adjust some but finally seems to have some drive behind what he is doing.

So do you guys think one of these two can move from DE to OLB and be successful mayb not great but successful?

And if one of them can what does that mean for our two rookies. Langford and Merling are apparently impressing with their physical skills and ability and will be the DE's of the future but where do they fit in. Whatever happens i think our defense will be very much improved.

and BIG Ferguson is pluggin up the middle well should be a good NT but we need depth maybe he can mentor Paul.

So what do you guys think?

 

[X-Pacolypse]

If Matt drops a few pounds, yes he can easily convert to OLB. I can't envision Vonnie as a LB.

 

[ckparrothead]

Not only can they, but they will. Vonnie not as full time as Roth.

In the end, what people are really underrating is how well Matt Roth showed up in this game as a LOLB in run defense. No, he doesn't have a full array of pass rush moves and he's got to work on that, but he's strong, uses his hands excellently, moves a lot more fluidly in pass coverage than Vonnie, and his play at LOLB was one of the reasons the first string Bucs offense was held to 14 yards on 7 carries in their first three drives.

We lost JT. Why assume that Charlie Anderson or Quentin Moses automatically get to step into those gigantic shoes from their humble pedigrees? Joey Porter played ROLB for the Steelers for a decade before coming to Miami and switching to LOLB. If, in the end, the way you KNOW you can set the edge and stop the run in run defense, is with a 3-4 that has J-Peazy playing JT's old spot, and Matt Roth playing LOLB...guess what, that's what you're going to see. Kendall Langford needs to see the field and that's a perfect way to ensure he does it while still getting solid contributions from everyone.

When we need an extra edge in pass rush from the 3-4, that's when you could see Peazy switch back over to Roth's spot, Vonnie Holliday pull out to ROLB, and Phil Merling come up into RDE. I'd experiment with those packages a couple of times during the game to see which one is giving you an extra edge in pass rush, should you need it.

 

[Ferretsquig]

Unfortunately a team doesn't attempt to run the ball every time they line up in base formation. If they try to play Roth at OLB teams are going to try to get him matched up against a RB or TE as often as they can. Somehow I don't see Roth chasing down Watson on a quick out.

If you put Roth at OLB hes basically just a DE standing up. The opposition knows hes not going to be dropping back into coverage.

 

[Namor]

Just develope some zone blitz packages for him.

 

[BillParFan]

The opposition knows hes not going to be dropping back into coverage.

If Tony intends to play him as a lber, I GUARANTEE he WILL learn to cover.

 

[ckparrothead]

Unfortunately a team doesn't attempt to run the ball every time they line up in base formation. If they try to play Roth at OLB teams are going to try to get him matched up against a RB or TE as often as they can. Somehow I don't see Roth chasing down Watson on a quick out.

If you put Roth at OLB hes basically just a DE standing up. The opposition knows hes not going to be dropping back into coverage.

Like they do with Greg Ellis? How come that works and this wouldn't?

I can see why Vonnie would be a stretch but Roth moves a lot more fluidly than Vonnie.

 

[Ferretsquig]

Like they do with Greg Ellis? How come that works and this wouldn't?

Because Greg Ellis can get to the QB? There are plenty of one dimensional OLBs out there.....Merriman is also horrible in coverage. But somehow I don't see Roth getting 10+ sacks coming around the edge with that blazing speed of his.

 

[ckparrothead]

Because Greg Ellis can get to the QB? There are plenty of one dimensional OLBs out there.....Merriman is also horrible in coverage. But somehow I don't see Roth getting 10+ sacks coming around the edge with that blazing speed of his.

It still shows that they can't necessarily pick on him in pass coverage unless we decide to put him in pass coverage.

 

[Awsi Dooger]

You'll never go broke under valuing Matt Roth.

I didn't see the game. I don't need to see the game. I've seen plenty of Matt Roth. Mandich and Rose got it right early in the broadcast when both of them instantly dismissed Roth as a successful OLB. The guy has trouble with quickness and athletic ability and now you want to move him to a position where more of that is required, not less?

At some point we've got to stop being Dolphin fans and embrace reality.

A lot of this is not case by case. Step back and look at the big picture. Plenty of history as a guide. QBs don't successfully change their mechanics. You don't win by throwing underneath. Slow DEs don't become fast OLBs.

It reminds me of some of the political forums I post on, where fellow Democrats always to pretend we'll win Georgia. This year it's Alaska.

 

[ZachThomas76]

If Matt drops a few pounds, yes he can easily convert to OLB. I can't envision Vonnie as a LB.

I disagree. Matt Roth is beyond a liability in coverage, and in terms of pass rush, all he has is a bull rush. The guy is not athletic enough to be a 3-4 olb, thats pretty obvious to me after watching the game the other night, although I was already of that opinion prior to that. I also dont think the word "fluid" is a word I would use to describe Matt Roth. Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me.

 

[Ferretsquig]

It still shows that they can't necessarily pick on him in pass coverage unless we decide to put him in pass coverage.

You can still pick on a player in the passing game even if that player never covers a soul. The point is that if a OLB can't cover anyone and can't pressure the QB, hes pretty much useless in passing situations.

I really do like Roth, but hes never going to be more than he is today. Moses, Merling, or Anderson may not develop into anything either, but at least the potential is there.

 

[GoonBoss]

I have difficulty believeing Roth can compete in space. I hope he can and, yay if he can......

If Matt Roth can be a starting OLB for a team that's over 500.......Well....Dang. I'll be shocked :)

 

[SCLSU Mud Dogs]

You'll never go broke under valuing Matt Roth.

I didn't see the game. I don't need to see the game. I've seen plenty of Matt Roth. Mandich and Rose got it right early in the broadcast when both of them instantly dismissed Roth as a successful OLB. The guy has trouble with quickness and athletic ability and now you want to move him to a position where more of that is required, not less?

At some point we've got to stop being Dolphin fans and embrace reality.

A lot of this is not case by case. Step back and look at the big picture. Plenty of history as a guide. QBs don't successfully change their mechanics. You don't win by throwing underneath. Slow DEs don't become fast OLBs.

It reminds me of some of the political forums I post on, where fellow Democrats always to pretend we'll win Georgia. This year it's Alaska.

You have seen enough of matt roth? I don't think you can make that prediction without watching the game or from seeing "enough" of matt roth. Obviously the guy is doing something right if they are willing to line him up at OLB. call it desperation if you want to but he wasn't a second round pick for nothing. Unless your a team scout or coach then you have not seen enough of matt roth. you don't know his work ethic. You don't know his athletic ability. You don't know his improvements. What you have is an assumption. And you said Mandich and Rose "got it right, instantly dismissing him", You don't instantly dismiss somebody and "get it right". Sure he might have seemed lost, but it was his first game playing the position. So before you make an *** of your self by making ***umptions, do a little research. I promise it won't hurt.

 

[GoonBoss]

You can still pick on a player in the passing game even if that player never covers a soul. The point is that if a OLB can't cover anyone and can't pressure the QB, hes pretty much useless in passing situations.

I really do like Roth, but hes never going to be more than he is today. Moses, Merling, or Anderson may not develop into anything either, but at least the potential is there.

This.