Why Chris Long can play DE in a 3-4 (IMO)

[RickyWilliams]

Chris Long at the combine was 6'4" @ 275lbs. The main thing I hear, is that he can not play a DE becuase of his size. Take a look at who led the defensive lineman in tackles this past year in the NFL. His name is Kenyon Coleman, probably not the biggest name in the NFL, but this guy gets the job done. 83 tackles, 55 solo. Played at UCLA at 6'5" 276 his senior year. Two years in the NFL and he was at 295.

Chris Long has the height to play DE, but his current weight doesn't cut it, so many say. Going from a college weight program to an NFL's can't be compared, and gaining 10-15 lbs of muscle and size in your first year is very realistic. Kenyon still plays at 295 today and does everything you want in a 3-4 DE. The kicker is that Chris Long has an amazing talent to cause disruption and even in a 3-4 I believe will get into the backfield more often then most 3-4 DE's. We are not turing this franchise into a superbowl contender next year, and that's what the NFL is all about. So after his rookie season you have a DE that is 6'4", 290lb, will bring the heart of the great Zach Thomas, and probably be one of the more dominant DE's in the game. Just the heart this guy brings alone is old school, which is so rare in todays game is saddening. This is why I believe he should be our #1 pick and can play the 3-4 DE position.

Some may argue that Kenyon has been in the league longer, which is true, but Chris Long comes pre-stacked with the talent to be a dominant force starting day 1 in his NFL career.

 

[Parcel's_Cartel]

Indeed!
:beer1:

 

[like2god]

I don't think the argument is that he can't play the DE in a 3/4, the argument is that he would quickly tire and become less effective as the game goes on if he were to play DE. He is better suited to play OLB and he'll have a bigger impact at that position, even his college coach said as much.

 

[Dfan06]

I don't think the argument is that he can't play the DE in a 3/4, the argument is that he would quickly tire and become less effective as the game goes on if he were to play DE. He is better suited to play OLB and he'll have a bigger impact at that position, even his college coach said as much.

The argument is always so and so is too small to play 3-4 DE when the guy 6'5 260+. If he is strong enough he can.

 

[3rdandinches]

like2god - why would he quickly tire playing DE ?

 

[RickyWilliams]

I don't think the argument is that he can't play the DE in a 3/4, the argument is that he would quickly tire and become less effective as the game goes on if he were to play DE. He is better suited to play OLB and he'll have a bigger impact at that position, even his college coach said as much.

I don't think Chris Long becoming tired as the game wore on would ever be a concern. The guy has too high powered of a motor, and those are the same people that said Zach would never make it in this league.

I know what his coach said, he also added a few other comments that make me believe Chris Long is the guy we need. Now when moved to the OLB position I don't know enough about the other OLB prospects to say he is by far the best OLB in the draft, as far as their future potential to what kind of NFL players they will be, etc.

 

[Mari0k]

l2g
Tired, as if physically?

 

[RickyWilliams]

The argument is always so and so is too small to play 3-4 DE when the guy 6'5 260+. If he is strong enough he can.

This is what I have heard and read as well. Chris Long tiring as the game goes on, is the first I've heard of that.

 

[Disgustipate]

The guy has physical characteristics nearly identical to Shawne Merriman, why would you want to play him anywhere other than OLB?

Also, there are no starting 2-gap 3-4 DEs under 6'3" or 290 pounds, so he's going to probabaly have to grow in a way that is unlikely. He could probabaly gain weight, but the height and arm length?

 

[RickyWilliams]

I don't think anyone on this planet is predicting he will grow taller or longer arms. Also Shawne Merriman ran a 4.61. When I think OLB, the first thing I look at is speed. Chris Long ran a 4.75, which is even slower then the snail Channing Crowder. I don't want to see Daunte Culpepper out running our OLB ever again.

 

[like2god]

like2god - why would he quickly tire playing DE ?

When you have a guy who is 270 lbs going up against players who are 300-340 pounds on every single play for a full game (sometimes he will draw a double team), he'll tire out and become less effective as the game goes on. Long has the speed and ability to play OLB and he would be most effective there. :)

 

[like2god]

I don't think Chris Long becoming tired as the game wore on would ever be a concern. The guy has too high powered of a motor, and those are the same people that said Zach would never make it in this league.

I know what his coach said, he also added a few other comments that make me believe Chris Long is the guy we need. Now when moved to the OLB position I don't know enough about the other OLB prospects to say he is by far the best OLB in the draft, as far as their future potential to what kind of NFL players they will be, etc.

While Long is known for his motor, he isn't a superhero. He'll wear down just like any player would.

 

[like2god]

I don't think anyone on this planet is predicting he will grow taller or longer arms. Also Shawne Merriman ran a 4.61. When I think OLB, the first thing I look at is speed. Chris Long ran a 4.75, which is even slower then the snail Channing Crowder. I don't want to see Daunte Culpepper out running our OLB ever again.

The 40 time really doesn't mean as much as people think, while it gives you an idea of how fast a guy is, it's also a little misleading. There is "track fast" and then there is "football fast", rarely do players get to run at full speed in a straight line over a 40 yard distance. I would have no problem with Chris Long at LB.

 

[RickyWilliams]

Alright, then I guess I don't understand why you would of pointed out that he will wear down as the game goes on if every player in the NFL does. Also he is not 270, nor would he ever be at any point in his NFL career at DE.

 

[Disgustipate]

I don't think anyone on this planet is predicting he will grow taller or longer arms.

Well, that's a problem, I think. A 2-gap End(Which we will almost certainly be using, as it's a hallmark of Parcells 3-4), requires arm length as his job basically requires him to engage the Tackle on every play.

He has to engage, read the play, and then shed the block as appropriate. When engaged, if he's surrendering a big arm length advantage, which most shorter players do to a tackles his power base is effected.

In a 1-gap system, like most 3-4 defenses play, a short DE is ok. But in Parcells, not so much. In fact, the only one I can think of is Jarvis Green, who isnt even a starter and is more of a guy who is backup and is subbed on passing downs a multitude of positions.