ILB Draft Questions...

Yeah that's why I had him last. Personally I'd rather see him at OLB but I've heard rumblings here on SR and seen some rumors on Twitter and whatnot about him moving to ILB in the 3-4 so I'm just acknowledging the possibility by doing that.

My dream LB corps for us would be something like this. Obviously it's a pipe dream but I think it could be a really productive group. Note that I'm by no means a defensive guru so some guys may be out of possession. Italics are players drafted, underlined are free agents signed.

SAM: Anthony Spencer (S), Barkevious Mingo, Junior Galette.
MIKE: Curtis Lofton (S), Jonathan Vilma, Cornelius Washington
MOE: David Hawthorne (S), Larry Grant, Chris Chamberlain.
WILL: Martez Wilson (S), Will Herring, Jonathan Casillas.

This way we'd have good depth at all positions. If he can stay healthy (which shouldn't be a problem) Chris Chamberlain would be a great plug-and-play guy at any position because he has experience with all of them from his time with the Seahawks. I think Mingo is a little raw which is why I'd have us bring in Spencer to start at SAM with Mingo rotating in as a pass rushing specialist to get experience and learn from a really good OLB veteran. Larry Grant would be a relatively cheap pick up to be a veteran presence with 3-4 experience to help the younger guys learn on the job while also playing in a rotating role when needed. Vilma would be the nucleus of leadership while working on passing the torch to Lofton. Tez has all the pieces to be a fantastic outer linebacker.

Spencer would be a heck of pickup, but I dont think we can afford him. Butler played behind him, so he knows RRs system, and he's younger and probably cheaper.

And I'd rather Junior over Tez at WILL. This will be Tez's 3rd DC and WILL would be his 3rd position. I just think Junior is the better football player right now. He has more experience, a higher motor, is more physical, and has better passrush skills. He has improved as an every down DE on the weak side. So hopefully, going to WILL backer wont be as big a transition for him.

Base 3-4 starters (going into TC): Butler, C Lo, DH, Junior. And IF we get that OLB at 15, we'll let him and Tez compete for the SAM and WILL spots.

No matter who starts, I think RR will be more "player friendly"
and mix/match and move his LBs around esp. against the pass, to allow them to do what they do best.