These players are usually found in the Defensive End class of the upcoming draft.
The optimum size for a Defensive End today is 6’5” 280 lbs. A lot of these guys aren’t blessed with the size or the strength to be a Base End in a 4-3 defense. This year’s Defensive End class is as strong as any position in the draft, due in large part, to a very strong junior class.
These guys are players who played Defensive End in college, but for various reasons, are being projected as Rush Outside Linebackers in the NFL, typically in a 3-4 scheme.
Some have even called this an Elephant position. Several of these juniors saw the opportunity being presented to them and jumped at the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing football in the NFL.
Every year, these are the guys that grab lots of headlines going into the draft and have a phenomenal showing at the NFL Combines and Pro Day workouts.
The most Desirable traits NFL teams seek in OLB prospects...
Instincts: The ability to find the ball, read play-action and mis-direction, and quickly recognize whether to play the run or drop into coverage.
Range: Outside linebackers operate in space and must be able to get depth in their drops and cover backs—sometimes even receivers—in the slot. They must have enough speed and range to flow to the ball and chase down backs from sideline to sideline.
Athletic Ability:The weak-side linebacker is expected to be the most productive player on the field by design and generally has the most opportunities to make plays. He must be fluid, flexible, and athletic enough to do everything well. He must serve as a jack-of-all trades—rushing the passer, blitzing, slipping and taking on blocks, playing man and zone coverage.
Some of the best in the business are Julian Peterson, Keith Bullock and Ernie Sims.
But the Big difference is a Rush Linebacker in a 3-4 must be a more accomplished pass rusher, a player able to come off the ball low to the ground, and bend.
This position was made famous by the legendary Lawrence Taylor, but today’s prototypes have to be Shawne Merriman and DeMarcus Ware.
In this draft, here are the best Outside Rush Linebackers who are rare, physical specimen who have demonstrated the ability to dominate :
1) Vernon Gholston-DE/OLB Ohio State 6’4” 265 lbs.
2) Chris Long- DE/OLB Virginia 6'3” 274 lbs.
3) Derrick Harvey-DE/OLB Florida 6’4” 260 lbs.
4) Phillip Merling-DE/OLB Clemson 6’5” 270 lbs.
5) Lawrence Jackson-DE/OLB USC 6’4” 261 lbs.
6) Quentin Groves-DE/OLB Auburn 6’3” 249 lbs.
7) Brian Johnston-DE/OLB Gardner-Webb 6’5” 276 lbs
8). Jeremy Geathers-DE/OLB UNLV 6’2” 248 lbs.
9). Jeremy Thompson-DE/OLB Wake Forest 6’5” 264 lbs
10) Jason Jones-DE/OLB Eastern Michigan 6’5” 272 lbs.
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5 months ago
Good Article, maybe if you wanted to continue this string you could outline the player evaluation differences differences between the DE/OLB Conversion style LB and the standard 4-3 type OLB and the variations in play style. It could help some of the fans out there see who fits their system best.
Also I like to see Jeremy Gathers get some positive press, I though he played well this year and showed some real promise to slide to LB on the strong side of a 4-3 set in the NFL.
Either way. Good read.
from 5 months ago
Thx for the comments Casey I will kick the idea around.
4 months ago
Good breakdown, although I don't see Merling playing LB he is a true DE who will be picked up by a team in need of D-line help. perhaps the Broncos as Merling has been compared to Trevor Pryce
from 4 months ago
Thanks for the comments, you could be true Max but he is undersized and that was the reason for him being included.
4 months ago
I would also add my kudos for some good analysis. In particular, I wanted to comment on Gholston and Long, which are a good case study of the 3-4 OLB vs. the 4-3 DE. I think Gholston is appropriately ranked on this list, since he does indeed fit the mold of the Ware/Merriman-type athletic freak that can attack the edge. Long is more of a 4-3 DE from what I've been able to see, though he could certainly take his hand off the ground in certain pass rush sets, and may actually live up to the rankings of most who have him graded out higher than Gholston.
Understanding the difference between the two is important when prepping a mock draft, as many I've seen seem to have these and other players going to teams for which they would not be well-suited. While I love Long, for instance, I can't help but think his BEST value will come as a standard 4-3 DE and not as a stand-up OLB. So seeing him mocked up to go to the Dolphins #1 doesn't make as much sense to me (assuming they go 3-4, as it seems they may be). To me, he would be a much better fit to the Raiders at #4.
Final note here...it will be interesting to see where Long and Gholston go and how they are used. Both are likely to be productive players right away, but the potential for Gholston to rack up sacks may be increased and he may be grabbing the headlines at mid-season, while an equally "productive" Long might not.
from 4 months ago
Thanks for the comments and feedback, I wanted to go further in depth on the two but due to a bit of a time constraint I have yet to really address the issue. I still might revisit the issue. I like your takes as well.
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