G. Host
02-28-2005, 04:23 PM
It isn't happenstance that 20 players at the combine are auditioning for league scouts at two different positions. Or that 18 of the 20 are either ends or linebackers who will work out at both defensive spots.
For years, when he was the Steelers' director of football operations, Buffalo Bills general manager Tom Donahoe analyzed undersized defensive ends by projecting how they might play as outside linebackers in Pittsburgh's 3-4 front. His uncanny ability to identify such hybrid players produced a string of Pro Bowl performers such as Greg Lloyd, Jason Gildon and Joey Porter.
"Clearly, with so many more teams playing the 3-4 now, it puts a bigger premium on those types of players," Donahoe acknowledged. "It upgrades good players who, maybe because of size or speed issues, couldn't really be pigeonholed into one [position]. I think you can see here [at the combine] that some of that is going on."
Prospects who have the ability to make an impact as combination defenders not only are embracing the concept of contributing at two spots but also are being embraced by the franchises anxious to fill the dual roles. more (ESPN) (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft05/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2001800)
I know Len and Donahoe are friends but maybe the defense coaching staff ought to be looking at more 3-4 formations where Donahoe's ability to pick out LBs can help. I dislke the fact that all of our starting LBs are not draftees and we have to invest so much money into position rather than using draft picks as Bills used to be able to.
For years, when he was the Steelers' director of football operations, Buffalo Bills general manager Tom Donahoe analyzed undersized defensive ends by projecting how they might play as outside linebackers in Pittsburgh's 3-4 front. His uncanny ability to identify such hybrid players produced a string of Pro Bowl performers such as Greg Lloyd, Jason Gildon and Joey Porter.
"Clearly, with so many more teams playing the 3-4 now, it puts a bigger premium on those types of players," Donahoe acknowledged. "It upgrades good players who, maybe because of size or speed issues, couldn't really be pigeonholed into one [position]. I think you can see here [at the combine] that some of that is going on."
Prospects who have the ability to make an impact as combination defenders not only are embracing the concept of contributing at two spots but also are being embraced by the franchises anxious to fill the dual roles. more (ESPN) (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft05/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2001800)
I know Len and Donahoe are friends but maybe the defense coaching staff ought to be looking at more 3-4 formations where Donahoe's ability to pick out LBs can help. I dislke the fact that all of our starting LBs are not draftees and we have to invest so much money into position rather than using draft picks as Bills used to be able to.