Alex Carrington learning linebacker role with Buffalo Bills

[justasportsfan]

"They didn't tell me anything about it beforehand, they just told me I was going to move to 'backer the next day and I had to roll with it," said Carrington, a third-round draft pick in 2010 out of Arkansas State who the Bills believe can make a real impact this season in sub packages.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110831/SPORTS03/108310312/

[cpearl]

Re: Alex Carrington learning linebacker role with Buffalo Bills

I like the fact that the coaching staff is trying to put him at a position to contribute, but I still think he is a DE in the NFL.

[better days]

Re: Alex Carrington learning linebacker role with Buffalo Bills

I like what I have seen of Carrington at LB.

[kingJofNYC]

Re: Alex Carrington learning linebacker role with Buffalo Bills

I think it's basically Kelsay's DE/OLB spot, which isn't really a coverage OLB. Dude will be rushing the QB.

[Philagape]

Re: Alex Carrington learning linebacker role with Buffalo Bills

He was almost exclusively on all fours on Saturday. He's not a LB, at least not in the traditional sense. In the same way, the Bills are not 3-4.

[X-Era]

Re: Alex Carrington learning linebacker role with Buffalo Bills

I think it's basically Kelsay's DE/OLB spot, which isn't really a coverage OLB. Dude will be rushing the QB.

I think it's a way to get him on the field with Dareus, Williams, and Edwards being the DL starters. At that point, put him in for Kelsay in a rushing down.

Dareus, Williams, Edwards, Merriman, Barnett, Davis/Moats/Morrison, Carrington is actually a decent looking front 7.

[Night Train]

Re: Alex Carrington learning linebacker role with Buffalo Bills

He was almost exclusively on all fours on Saturday. He's not a LB, at least not in the traditional sense. In the same way, the Bills are not 3-4.

I was crushed for posting this during the off-season. And yet, here's the 4-3 most snaps. Just like most plays during the 2nd half of 2010.

[Buddo]

Re: Alex Carrington learning linebacker role with Buffalo Bills

I was crushed for posting this during the off-season. And yet, here's the 4-3 most snaps. Just like most plays during the 2nd half of 2010.

It's as much a personnel issue as anything else though, even now.
We have just one true OLB in Merriman, so that kind of dictates things, unless Batten or someone else, really steps up.
Using Carrington the way they are, seems to me to be all about stopping the run, but his athleticism, will still give him an occasional shot at the QB.
I think it's interesting, and it could prove to be tough to handle for the opposition.

[YardRat]

Re: Alex Carrington learning linebacker role with Buffalo Bills

I don't like the big guys on the outside at the second level. If he continues to play with his hand on the ground like he did against Jax, that's one thing, but he really shouldn't be standing up in space too often at the snap. Maybe popping up and dropping back into a short zone on some blitz packages...