Mario Williams Switched To Outside Linebacker

[Blick]

4-3 ends are always switched to OLB's by 3-4 teams. This is no big deal and Williams will flourish.

His abilities would be wasted as a 3-4 end. He's a pass rusher, not a space eating run stopper.

I also don't think we should get hung up on his size. He obviously has unique athleticism for a 295 pounder, and that's because he's spreading it out on a 6'6" frame. It's not like he's 6'2".

If you're looking for a player who recently made a similar transition, look at Tamba Hali. He's less athletic than Williams, and not a small player himself at 6'3" 275, and in only his 2nd year in a 3-4, he led the AFC in sacks last year.

[FUSE]

I dont think he'll have that hard of transition from de to olb. Elvis Dumervil did it flawlessly in his first season at OLB in 2009. Led the league in sacks. Probably would have had a bunch this season if he didnt get hurt in training camp.

[longhornfan]

Mario will get his numbers

The rest of that defensive is medicore IMO

[s@ppisgod]

I dont think he'll have that hard of transition from de to olb. Elvis Dumervil did it flawlessly in his first season at OLB in 2009. Led the league in sacks. Probably would have had a bunch this season if he didnt get hurt in training camp.

Did this place get dumber over my break from it? Dumervil was a tweener to begin with. It's not that hard. 260 and change guys can go any which ways. But 295 guys, not as ordinary. Even the ones with athleticism. Look at Luis Castillo. Have the Chargers ever put him in Merriman's spot? Not really....
SAMSUNG-SGH-A887/A887UCIJ1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.5 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.1 configuration/CLDC-1.1

[BigBucs]

You will week 10 when he comes after that fruit cake you love.

[Tengo Juego]

Aaron Kampman says: Good luck.

[Blick]

Did this place get dumber over my break from it? Dumervil was a tweener to begin with. It's not that hard. 260 and change guys can go any which ways. But 295 guys, not as ordinary. Even the ones with athleticism. Look at Luis Castillo. Have the Chargers ever put him in Merriman's spot? Not really....
SAMSUNG-SGH-A887/A887UCIJ1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.5 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.1 configuration/CLDC-1.1

Did you get dumber between this post and your last one?

LOL at mentioning Castillo like he's anywhere near Williams athletically.

[FUSE]

Did this place get dumber over my break from it? Dumervil was a tweener to begin with. It's not that hard. 260 and change guys can go any which ways. But 295 guys, not as ordinary. Even the ones with athleticism. Look at Luis Castillo. Have the Chargers ever put him in Merriman's spot? Not really....
SAMSUNG-SGH-A887/A887UCIJ1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.5 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.1 configuration/CLDC-1.1

No shit he is a tweener, but its just an example of a de switching to OLB. Besides Mario Williams is good enough that I believe he can make the transition without much of a problem

[s@ppisgod]

No shit he is a tweener, but its just an example of a de switching to OLB. Besides Mario Williams is good enough that I believe he can make the transition without much of a problem

There are 100 guys who make the switch from 4-3 edge rusher to 3-4 OLB like Woodley, Ware, Merriman, Dumervil, Wimbley, Lawson, Harlason, Suggs, Wake, etc etc. The list of those transitions of guys over 290 will be one Mario Williams long if this lasts. As you can see, it's not the simplest of lines drawn.
SAMSUNG-SGH-A887/A887UCIJ1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.5 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.1 configuration/CLDC-1.1

[s@ppisgod]

Did you get dumber between this post and your last one?

LOL at mentioning Castillo like he's anywhere near Williams athletically.

Blick, you've been known around these parts for years and the next good post you make will be your first.

Obviously I wans't comparing Castillo and Williams directly, but they're similar in that they're completely different from the 3-4 stand-up guys that people want to cite for Williams. Go ahead and name all the 280+ guys with success at the position, with or without ungodly athleticism. Don't worry, I'll wait...
SAMSUNG-SGH-A887/A887UCIJ1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.5 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.1 configuration/CLDC-1.1

[Blick]

Blick, you've been known around these parts for years and the next good post you make will be your first.

Obviously I wans't comparing Castillo and Williams directly, but they're similar in that they're completely different from the 3-4 stand-up guys that people want to cite for Williams. Go ahead and name all the 280+ guys with success at the position, with or without ungodly athleticism. Don't worry, I'll wait...
SAMSUNG-SGH-A887/A887UCIJ1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.5 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.1 configuration/CLDC-1.1

You are like the bitchy wife who nags her husband about something he said YEARS ago. Good one...

They're not similar at all except for weight. Again, I don't know why you're getting so hung up on size when we're talking about a uniquely gifted player. What's your point with the weight thing anyway? That they're too slow, not as explosive? I just gave you an example of a 275 pound guy with Tamba Hali. He's way slower, less explosive, weaker, less talented, and less productive than Mario Williams, and he made the transition, but Mario Williams can't because he weighs more than 280 pounds? That argument fucking sucks.

[s@ppisgod]

You are like the bitchy wife who nags her husband about something he said YEARS ago. Good one...

They're not similar at all except for weight. Again, I don't know why you're getting so hung up on size when we're talking about a uniquely gifted player. What's your point with the weight thing anyway? That they're too slow, not as explosive? I just gave you an example of a 275 pound guy with Tamba Hali. He's way slower, less explosive, weaker, less talented, and less productive than Mario Williams, and he made the transition, but Mario Williams can't because he weighs more than 280 pounds? That argument fucking sucks.

Just because Hali didn't grade out well at the Combine doesn't make him a different player any more than Williams. I could say Quincy Black has the "athleticism" to play Safety based on measurables. Doesn't make it a good idea. Hali WAS more of an edge guy if you bothered to watch both him and Williams in college. But I guess since Williams runs FORTY yards faster, then I guess he's a better fit at OLB than Hali was. Hell, we still don't know if Mario is going to stick there for more than a handful of snaps. Let him do that, and be the FIRST man of his size to do that, before putting him over guys who will do that successfully for years....
SAMSUNG-SGH-A887/A887UCIJ1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.5 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.1 configuration/CLDC-1.1

[s@ppisgod]

Also, I like that I was defending the Mario pick those years ago because he was this rare Reggie White (who I also shockingly wouldn't put at LB) athlete at DE. And now people want to make it out like I'm throwing him in the same boat as a Chris Hovan or something. There's LESS of a precedent for a man his size to play that position than there is for DEs his size to have that athleticism in the first place. Am I the only one to get that? He's a once a decade athlete who has 0 guys who have been stud OLBs for any number of reps at nearly 300 lbs. 0. Not a couple. Not....almost Tamba Hali. Nobody. Dumervil didn't grade out like crazy either, guess thats a legit connection too.
SAMSUNG-SGH-A887/A887UCIJ1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.5 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.1 configuration/CLDC-1.1

[Blick]

Just because Hali didn't grade out well at the Combine doesn't make him a different player any more than Williams. I could say Quincy Black has the "athleticism" to play Safety based on measurables. Doesn't make it a good idea. Hali WAS more of an edge guy if you bothered to watch both him and Williams in college. But I guess since Williams runs FORTY yards faster, then I guess he's a better fit at OLB than Hali was. Hell, we still don't know if Mario is going to stick there for more than a handful of snaps. Let him do that, and be the FIRST man of his size to do that, before putting him over guys who will do that successfully for years....
SAMSUNG-SGH-A887/A887UCIJ1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.5 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.1 configuration/CLDC-1.1

Hali was a 4-3 end and was never considered anything else until the Chiefs decided to switch defenses 2 years ago. He was never a tweener and never considered a potential 3-4 guy. You should have seen the reaction by Kansas City's own fans at the thought that Hali could play OLB in the 3-4. Almost EVERYBODY thought it was an idiotic move.

Williams is athletically superior to Hali in EVERY way, not just in running 40 yards in a straight line. He has a more impressive skillset, so he shouldn't have a problem making the transition. The fact that he will probably be able to do it as his size is why he was the #1 overall pick. The guy is a freakish athlete.

[Blick]

Also, I like that I was defending the Mario pick those years ago because he was this rare Reggie White (who I also shockingly wouldn't put at LB) athlete at DE. And now people want to make it out like I'm throwing him in the same boat as a Chris Hovan or something. There's LESS of a precedent for a man his size to play that position than there is for DEs his size to have that athleticism in the first place. Am I the only one to get that? He's a once a decade athlete who has 0 guys who have been stud OLBs for any number of reps at nearly 300 lbs. 0. Not a couple. Not....almost Tamba Hali. Nobody. Dumervil didn't grade out like crazy either, guess thats a legit connection too.
SAMSUNG-SGH-A887/A887UCIJ1 SHP/VPP/R5 NetFront/3.5 SMM-MMS/1.2.0 profile/MIDP-2.1 configuration/CLDC-1.1

Yeah, it's going to be weird to see a man of his size playing that position, but he has the skillset to do it, amazingly.

Obviously he has the skillset to be a 3-4 end too....but like I said, I think that would be a waste. I mean, he's probably an 8 sack a year guy playing inside. He's regularly challenging to double that as an outside pass rusher.