Jason Taylor as a LB?

[SpaceMountain16]

Now i've never been fond of this converting a terrific pass rushing end into a full time outside linebacker. But now it's starting to hit me that converting Taylor to a LB, with his speed, may not only give him an oppertunity to get more sacks, but it may prevent him from the nagging injuries he seems to routinely suffer. The bad back, the foot etc. Not having to go up against two 300lb linemen and a FB on every play. Finding holes in the offensive line and blitzing through them. Converting him may even add years to his career.....

I think i might now be in favor of it. What about you guys? I see a lot of you posting about it, expecting it, but are you in favor of it? I mean certainly if we get a replacement like Chris Long and a sizable force at NT i think it would be an even better move.

 

[Roth's Wrath]

To be honest with you, i'm a little skeptical about the idea, I feel to be a LB you have a lot of responsibilities, you cover speedy backs out of the backfield and teams like to overload one side of the field with recievers and you might on occasion have to pick up a WR , which is a scary thought, but nost of the time in a 3-4 you are rushing the QB, covering a TE or tackling a RB on outside runs. I feel like Taylor at around 245lbs will be lighter on his feet, he won't have those nagging injuries cuz of locking up with as you said 300 plus pound linemen, and he's a 6'6 stork! lots of tip balls!I'm kinda liking it now!

 

[patswho?]

JT still has the speed to do that
plus it allows him to move around, making it nearly impossible to double team him when he comes in on a blitz

 

[patswho?]

and when hes not trying to strip the ball and do it all by himself on a bad defense, he is the most solid tackler we have

 

[Disgustipate]

It wouldnt be a dramatic change, because he essentially already plays like a 3-4 OLB, and has since Saban took over. He's had games where he dropped back into coverage more than rushed the passer, he's had games where he has lined up in a 2-point stance more than a 3-point stance, etc. and so on.

Now i've never been fond of this converting a terrific pass rushing end into a full time outside linebacker.

Why not? That's essentially how you get all of them. The overwhelming bulk of 3-4 OLBs in the league are converted defensive ends, either converting out of college or afterwards. College teams dont often run the 3-4, and those that do dont produce NFL quality OLBs at an astounding rate or anything.

When's the last time you saw a quality pass rushing end fail to play well at OLB?

 

[I am Bane]

Now i've never been fond of this converting a terrific pass rushing end into a full time outside linebacker. But now it's starting to hit me that converting Taylor to a LB, with his speed, may not only give him an oppertunity to get more sacks, but it may prevent him from the nagging injuries he seems to routinely suffer. The bad back, the foot etc. Not having to go up against two 300lb linemen and a FB on every play. Finding holes in the offensive line and blitzing through them. Converting him may even add years to his career.....

I think i might now be in favor of it. What about you guys? I see a lot of you posting about it, expecting it, but are you in favor of it? I mean certainly if we get a replacement like Chris Long and a sizable force at NT i think it would be an even better move.

hasn't he basically been playing a lot of LB??? but anywhoo... he'll be great out there due to the options of how he can attack the QB in the pass rush from the LB position.

 

[dgb11112]

When I first read this post I was thinking oh no! Then I did some research..

Wille McGinnest 6'5 and some change around 260 which is very similar to JT. He has had a very sucessfull career and is one of Parcells first draft picks when with New England. If it prolongs JT's career and keeps him healthier and on the field I would be all for it. I will be happy to pull the satats for WMc.

 

[OriginalFin]

I imagine they will use him like they used Greg Ellis in Dallas, who was a full time DE before Parcells joined the Cowboys

 

[#1dolphinsfan]

i think he would be a good OLB and get alot of Sacks still because if we go to the 3-4 that is pretty much what he would be doing is rushing the passer and if we stay at the 4-3 then he will still be a DE

 

[alen1]

JT still has the speed to do that
plus it allows him to move around, making it nearly impossible to double team him when he comes in on a blitz

I agree that he still has the speed. In the second game vs New England, he was in coverage and he covered Welker and Faulk. He did a pretty good job of it. I would be for moving JT to 'backer.

I am still trying to figure out who's going to be in the middle on the Dline and the linebacking corps. I think we should go after Beau Bell for the MLB and then trade for Rogers.

My only other question is who will be our safeties and other d end? I think Jason Allen will be one of them, but who's the other? I dont like Roth being on the other side, I dont think hes starter material. Just my opinion.

 

[fishypete]

Taylor was a OLB when he played at Akron.

 

[DeDolfan]

Now i've never been fond of this converting a terrific pass rushing end into a full time outside linebacker. But now it's starting to hit me that converting Taylor to a LB, with his speed, may not only give him an oppertunity to get more sacks, but it may prevent him from the nagging injuries he seems to routinely suffer. The bad back, the foot etc. Not having to go up against two 300lb linemen and a FB on every play. Finding holes in the offensive line and blitzing through them. Converting him may even add years to his career.....

I think i might now be in favor of it. What about you guys? I see a lot of you posting about it, expecting it, but are you in favor of it? I mean certainly if we get a replacement like Chris Long and a sizable force at NT i think it would be an even better move.

He's already done that a couple years ago when we ran the 3-4 most of the time. There is not much "converting" him since he's already done it and just happened to win DPOY honors that year.

 

[satz]

He can play a mcginest role [he was not a full time started a bigger OLB in rotation ]
vrabel and colvin on the outside and brushi /johnson inside and willie would come off the bench in down hill pass rush mode with very limited coverage role.