(12-11-2018 11:24 AM)7 Wrote:  

(12-09-2018 10:22 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Sutton can fit either OLB or ILB. Those traditional positions have evolved greatly. Here’s bleachers report on both for 4-3 defenses.


on OLB
“So, today's 4-3 outside linebackers aren't really outside linebackers in the traditional sense. More often, they are asked to take care of their half of the field from the line of scrimmage to cornerback depth, as well as to blitz from the line of scrimmage and run delayed blitzes from linebacker depth. And just as is the case for every linebacker in the league now, they must take running backs through curl/flat coverage and tight ends up the seam.

Agility has always been a need at the position, but the modern 4-3 linebacker looks more like a strong safety a lot of the time—weighing in at 220-230 pounds, and racing all over the field with those multiple responsibilities. As the line between inside and outside linebacker blurs in any four-man front defense, the standout outside players make their presence known with their ability and willingness to take on a whole new level of athletic responsibility.“

on ILB
“With that in mind, inside linebackers are lighter and faster and more agile than ever before.

San Francisco's Reuben Foster, the consensus top inside linebacker in the 2017 draft, weighed in at the scouting combine at 229 pounds. Luke Kuechly and Bobby Wagner, known to most as the gold-standard players at the position, weigh in at about 240.”



So Forget D-end. There are no 6’ ends. He’s a LB. maybe Inside, maybe outside. The real question is - can he learn that position? He’s more than athletic enough, but what round are teams willing to take the chance of him transitioning successfully.

He would go undrafted as an ILB. His best skill is rushing the passer, why would you play him inside? He’s going to be a 3-4 outside linebacker.

What is the point here? You don’t declare a position for the draft, you get drafted based your abilities and how those abilities fit into a scheme. The NFL is paying far less attention to the cookie cutter profiles the defined each position. Leonard Floyd is 230lbs with weights in his pocket. SS has unique skills and abilities which will get him drafted. Today’s NFL is filled with creative coaches looking to challenge conventional approaches to both sides of the ball. This means opportunity for Sutton.