Greg Rousseau - OLB

[Jester]

I didn't see this anywhere yet.  Groot's being converted to an OLB.  

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/bills-fans-get-important-greg-rousseau-update-and-no-one-should-be-surprised/ar-AA20TZ8s?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69dfcdb1c54049aba3e2fbe6102553df&ei=11

[Allen2D̶i̶g̶g̶s̶TBD]

I'm assuming the same for Javon Solomon and Landon Jackson unless he adds weight and stays at DE.

[PoundingDog]

That's old news. I believe more than a month ago Greg switched Jersey number to linebacker range. 

 

He had a couple of recent interviews that revealed something we don't know before. I knew he played WR before, but he also played safety in high school so maybe coverage is not super unnatural to him. 

2 minutes ago, Allen2D̶i̶g̶g̶s̶TBD said:

I'm assuming the same for Javon Solomon and Landon Jackson unless he adds weight and stays at DE.

Landon Jackson's best fit in 3-4 DE. Long limbs, supposed to be strong at POA but stiff. He can easily put on more weight.

[BigAl2526]

I have assumed all along that Rousseau would move to OLB in Leonhard's 3-4 system.  A 3-4 outside linebacker is nothing like a 4-3 outside linebacker.  I think the defensive ends for Leonhard will include Ed Oliver ((a bit squat but has the appropriate mass and is quick) and TJ Sanders. There are some others whose role is uncertain.  Dewayne Carter started out as 3 tech prospect.  Injuries and some disappointing play made the Bills consider moving him to nose even though he's a bit undersized for that. I could see Leonhard trying him a DE easier than I can see nose.  I think Walker will move around like he did at UK, lining up at nose sometimes and as a DE at other times.   

 

Of course, Chubb is going to play OLB along with Rousseau.  Solomon will compete there too.  If and when Michael Hoecht is recovered from his achilles surgery, he will certainly be a major factor at OLB.  Landon Jackson is still listed at DE.  I don't think the Bills have decided yet what's going to happen. He needs to prove he belongs in the NFL before anything else happens.  

[PoundingDog]

OLB wise, we have Chubb, Rousseau, Hoecht and Solomon. When you don't have a superstar who can beat whoever in front of him, you need some matchup pieces. Chubb and Rousseau are power/size based guys. Hoecht can be versatile but may not be 100% for most of the season. Solomon is supposed to be the "bendy" pass rusher but still in potential stage. It's given they have to find a "bendy" one in this draft, relatively high.

 

DE wise, you have Oliver, Sanders, Walker, Jackson, reasonable mixture of established good+ vet, budding star, potential guys. 

 

NT, you have Carter, Walker, Mathis. Not a single one for ideal match of the position. I also expect they draft one  relatively or otherwise sign a vet post draft 

[BuffaloBill]

I suspect in three years time the current defensive roster will be flipped 

[Gregg]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/bills-roster-shakeup-offers-hint-at-what-defense-will-look-like-under-jim-leonhard-as-new-direction-becomes-clearer/ar-AA20YzUU?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=69dff583c21e486c92ca6b6f6106b75d&ei=16

[OldTimer1960]

2 hours ago, Allen2D̶i̶g̶g̶s̶TBD said:

I'm assuming the same for Javon Solomon and Landon Jackson unless he adds weight and stays at DE.

I think Jackson is staying at DE in the 3-4.  He had some power too him coming out, think it could be his best fit. 

[Pecker]

3 hours ago, PoundingDog said:

That's old news. I believe more than a month ago Greg switched Jersey number to linebacker range. 

 

He had a couple of recent interviews that revealed something we don't know before. I knew he played WR before, but he also played safety in high school so maybe coverage is not super unnatural to him. 

Landon Jackson's best fit in 3-4 DE. Long limbs, supposed to be strong at POA but stiff. He can easily put on more weight.

You could just as easily be talking about Rousseau there.  

 

I personally don’t see this working out at all.  Rousseau has his strengths and his weaknesses.  He won’t be able to make the most of his strengths at OLB, and leave him exposed to his weaknesses.  
 

I feel the total opposite would have been true as a 3-4 end 

[st pete gogolak]

3 minutes ago, ***** said:

You could just as easily be talking about Rousseau there.  

 

I personally don’t see this working out at all.  Rousseau has his strengths and his weaknesses.  He won’t be able to make the most of his strengths at OLB, and leave him exposed to his weaknesses.  
 

I feel the total opposite would have been true as a 3-4 end 

I agree with this.  I think Rousseau is a very good player and was a solid pick for his draft slot.  I just don’t see him as a 3-4 OLB.  A 3-4 DE yes.  I’m having Chris Kelsey flashbacks.  One way or the other, we’re going to find out right quick.

[Mikie2times]

It's not hard to see this thing being a complete ***** show for the first few weeks until these guys get more adjusted. The McD truthers will be joyfully dunking. I do expect things to be just fine and far better off, but it's not going to happen right away on the defensive side. 

[Augie]

3 hours ago, PoundingDog said:

That's old news. I believe more than a month ago Greg switched Jersey number to linebacker range. 

 

He had a couple of recent interviews that revealed something we don't know before. I knew he played WR before, but he also played safety in high school so maybe coverage is not super unnatural to him. 

Landon Jackson's best fit in 3-4 DE. Long limbs, supposed to be strong at POA but stiff. He can easily put on more weight.

 

Thanks. I would not have guessed that, but it makes me more curious to see what he looks like in different kinds of roles. More curious than optimistic, if I’m honest, but I’ll have to just trust them to put together the best fits they can. 

[Mr. WEO]

hey why not Safety??

[3rdand12]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBill said:

I suspect in three years time the current defensive roster will be flipped 

I suspect  near halfway through this season they will know how much turnover is needed.

Then Beane will have to study contracts as hard as he should next years Draft and potential FA.

 It certainly could be a massive overhaul over next two years.

And next season we draft our franchise WR

 Be vewwy Careful Beanes.

Hopeful it does not turn into a major defensive  reset. Bills will have other needs soon enough

 

46 minutes ago, ***** said:

You could just as easily be talking about Rousseau there.  

 

I personally don’t see this working out at all.  Rousseau has his strengths and his weaknesses.  He won’t be able to make the most of his strengths at OLB, and leave him exposed to his weaknesses.  
 

I feel the total opposite would have been true as a 3-4 end 

Maybe don't take the current roster too literally just yet. We still don't know what this Thing looks like till its born and on the Field

42 minutes ago, st pete gogolak said:

I agree with this.  I think Rousseau is a very good player and was a solid pick for his draft slot.  I just don’t see him as a 3-4 OLB.  A 3-4 DE yes.  I’m having Chris Kelsey flashbacks.  One way or the other, we’re going to find out right quick.

 

[BillsFanForever19]

10 hours ago, Jester said:

I didn't see this anywhere yet.  Groot's being converted to an OLB.  

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/bills-fans-get-important-greg-rousseau-update-and-no-one-should-be-surprised/ar-AA20TZ8s?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69dfcdb1c54049aba3e2fbe6102553df&ei=11

 

This isn't exactly breaking news.

 

If our base is a 3-4, as it seems Leonhard utilizes - your 4-3 Edge Rushers go from rushing from the line with their hand in the ground as Defensive Ends to rushing standing up as Outside Linebackers, away from the line.

 

Your Defensive Line in a 3-4 becomes 3 Defensive Tackles So like Rousseau becoming an OLB - two of our Tackles will be classified as Defensive Ends.

Edited April 16 by BillsFanForever19

[JohnNord]

2 hours ago, BigAl2526 said:

I have assumed all along that Rousseau would move to OLB in Leonhard's 3-4 system.  A 3-4 outside linebacker is nothing like a 4-3 outside linebacker.  I think the defensive ends for Leonhard will include Ed Oliver ((a bit squat but has the appropriate mass and is quick) and TJ Sanders. There are some others whose role is uncertain.  Dewayne Carter started out as 3 tech prospect.  Injuries and some disappointing play made the Bills consider moving him to nose even though he's a bit undersized for that. I could see Leonhard trying him a DE easier than I can see nose.  I think Walker will move around like he did at UK, lining up at nose sometimes and as a DE at other times.   

 

Of course, Chubb is going to play OLB along with Rousseau.  Solomon will compete there too.  If and when Michael Hoecht is recovered from his achilles surgery, he will certainly be a major factor at OLB.  Landon Jackson is still listed at DE.  I don't think the Bills have decided yet what's going to happen. He needs to prove he belongs in the NFL before anything else happens.  

I think Sanders, Carter, and Jackson aren’t great fits in a 3-4 - (based on their play, they aren’t great fits in any defense!?    

I believe that Beane is keeping them around because they are high draft picks and he is stubborn.  I think there’s a decent chance they draft a DT which means one or two of these players don’t make the 53.

 

 

[Mikey152]

Meh, most teams these days play nickel on 50%+ of snaps.  That means likely 2 DL, 2 olb and 2 Ilb most of the time. Basically the same as the old nickel personel wise. They might just play different gaps and coverages sometimes

[T.E.]

1 hour ago, Mikie2times said:

It's not hard to see this thing being a complete ***** show for the first few weeks until these guys get more adjusted. The McD truthers will be joyfully dunking. I do expect things to be just fine and far better off, but it's not going to happen right away on the defensive side. 

We won't be able to truly judge the defense until Leonard can fully bring in his own players. A lot of these McDermott guys are absolute stiffs who aren't going to jump off the screen in any system.

Edited April 15 by T.E.

[Snappysnackcakes]

5 hours ago, Jester said:

I didn't see this anywhere yet.  Groot's being converted to an OLB.  

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/bills-fans-get-important-greg-rousseau-update-and-no-one-should-be-surprised/ar-AA20TZ8s?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69dfcdb1c54049aba3e2fbe6102553df&ei=11

Modern NFL term is edge defender. Very extremely occasionally will drop into a zone (which I think he’d surprise people in that role). And I wish they could bring AJE back for this role, too. Even as #4 on the depth chart. 

[hondo in seattle]

Interesting but my understanding is while Leonhard might be a 3-4 kind of guy, he runs a 4-2-5 nickel 60-65% of the time which means Groot will mostly line up where he's always lined up.  

 

If I'm wrong, let me know.  

Edited April 16 by hondo in seattle