Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

[BillsImpossible]

According to the Bills website, Bradham and Brown are expected to play at ILB.

I'd expect Bradham to play weak side, and Brown will be the, "Mike," at strong side ILB.

Jerry Hughes is the primary pass rusher at outside linebacker. He's the, "Jack."

The other OLB in a 3-4 defense is supposed to be able to cover, blitz, and play the run.

Brandon Spikes can blitz and play the run, but he's a liability against the pass.

Who fits in as the Bills 4th linebacker?

Ty Powell? 6'2 249 lbs
Jimmy Gaines? 6'3 240 lbs
Bryan Johnson? 6'4 250 lbs
Randell Johnson? 6'4 245 lbs
Manny Lawson? 6'5 240 lbs (turns 31 in July).

Possible 2nd or 3rd round Outside Linebackers in the 2015 NFL Draft:

Nate Orchard, 6'3 250 lbs.
Owa Odighizuwa, 6'3 267 lbs.
Lorenzo Mauldin, 6'4 259 lbs.
Hau'Oli Kikaha, 6'2 253 lbs.

[YardRat]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

Mario Williams.

[BillsImpossible]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

Mario Williams.

He's 6'8, 292 lbs and 31 years old. The Bills need him at DE more than they need him at OLB.

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

He's 6'8, 292 lbs and 31 years old. The Bills need him at DE more than they need him at OLB.

No

[YardRat]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

He's 6'8, 292 lbs and 31 years old. The Bills need him at DE more than they need him at OLB.

Switching Mario back to OLB in a '43 under' from DE in a wide 9 is going from good to bad. Putting him at a 5tech is going from bad to worse.

[BillsImpossible]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

No

Sure, let's just hope and pray Stefan Charles can produce at least 14.5 sacks next year while Mario Williams plays OLB.

I'm not against Mario playing OLB, I'm against vacating the DE position in this 3-4 defense.

If Kyle Williams plays nose again like he did under Pettine, Dareus and Williams should be playing next to him.

[YardRat]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

The DE position was already vacated with the switch, so somebody from Bryant, Charles, another FA or draft pick is going to have to step up. Unless they draft/sign a true NT and try KW there.

[BillsImpossible]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

The DE position was already vacated with the switch, so somebody from Bryant, Charles, another FA or draft pick is going to have to step up. Unless they draft/sign a true NT and try KW there.

Can Mario Williams cover a tight end or running back at this point in his career?

If Williams does go back to linebacker, I want him to be the guy covering Gronk.

[BillsImpossible]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

How's this for an idea?

Leave Mario at DE where he belongs, and fill in the 4th linebacker position with this guy:

Hau'Oli Kikaha led the nation in 2014 with 19 sacks.

Holy kaka.

[Mace]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

Meh. I just don't understand why people keep falling back into thinking it's Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4.

It's not. They need an "end" who is not really an end and might be Lawson, a pick or one of the reserves.

But it's just not a Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4 where you're going to see more than short coverage zone from a lineman playing LB. That's why Ryan is nuts about his DB's dancing up and back (46 defense is 46 all about a safety). There is going to be a hitter DB on the TE depending on how far he makes it.

I think they'll get gashed more by short slot throws and TE's too, but people are overly consumed about lb's and dl's being what they seem to be in a Ryan defense, which just isn't what it presents itself to be to begin with in 75% of the plays it faces, 25% being even remotely lining up and staying Fairbanks-Bullough 3/4.

[Ginger Vitis]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

How's this for an idea?

Leave Mario at DE where he belongs, and fill in the 4th linebacker position with this guy:

Hau'Oli Kikaha led the nation in 2014 with 19 sacks.

Holy kaka.

And I bet you want the Bills to draft that guy with their 2nd round pick lol

[BillsImpossible]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

And I bet you want the Bills to draft that guy with their 2nd round pick lol

My latest crush, yes.

[BillsImpossible]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

Meh. I just don't understand why people keep falling back into thinking it's Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4.

It's not. They need an "end" who is not really an end and might be Lawson, a pick or one of the reserves.

But it's just not a Fairbanks-Bullough 3-4 where you're going to see more than short coverage zone from a lineman playing LB. That's why Ryan is nuts about his DB's dancing up and back (46 defense is 46 all about a safety). There is going to be a hitter DB on the TE depending on how far he makes it.

I think they'll get gashed more by short slot throws and TE's too, but people are overly consumed about lb's and dl's being what they seem to be in a Ryan defense, which just isn't what it presents itself to be to begin with in 75% of the plays it faces, 25% being even remotely lining up and staying Fairbanks-Bullough 3/4.

Ryan already has a big hitter in Aaron Williams at safety. Corey Graham? Duke Williams? Kenny Ladler? Deon Broomfield? Bacarri Rambo?

That's a lot of safeties.

Lawson could get cut. $3.1 million cap hit in 2015.

[gonzo1105]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

From Rotoworld:

At his pro day, Washington edge rusher Hau'oli Kikaha's "lack of speed confirmed a lot of fears, and I've been told since the combine, a number of teams have removed him from their boards over medical concerns," reports TFY Draft Insider's Tony Pauline.
Kikaha had a poor showing at the showcase, running forties timed between the high 4.8s and mid 4.9s. Kikaha weighed in at 243 pounds, 10 less than at the combine, but Pauline reported his 40 time at 4.97 seconds anyway. We would strongly suggest to NFL franchises that they should stop Kikaha's tumble if that's what happens later this month. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Kikaha is hyper productive, posting 19 sacks, 73 tackles and two forced fumbles in 2014.

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: Bradham, Brown, Hughes and ? Who's The 4th Linebacker?

Lake titty kaka