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[BWS]

Trevor Laws

Trevor Laws has been moving up; many months ago I saw him as far back as the 3rd round. Now I see him listed from the late 1st round to mid 2nd round. I would rather the Saints move up in the 1st round for the cost of a 3rd round pick to select Ellis, rather than move up in the 2nd round or to late 1st round to pick Laws -- for about the same cost.

If the Saints end up with neither (because they went LB, CB, or another direction) in the first two rounds, they may find a nice large Nose Tackle in the 3rd round.

 

[Danneaux]

So will Laws play DE in the 3-4?

He's too small to play NT...

6'-1 304 is too small for a DT? Maybe NT, but he'd play the undertackle in a 4-3.

 

[canuckredux]

6'1 is too short to play end in a 3-4. This is the same reason why it is expected that, if he gets by the Chiefs, Ellis would fall to #9. To play end in a 3-4 well, you would ideally be around 6'5, with long arms. To play nose in a 3-4, you'd ideally be about 6'5, 330 lbs plus.

 

[Arokusaki]

6'1 is too short to play end in a 3-4. This is the same reason why it is expected that, if he gets by the Chiefs, Ellis would fall to #9. To play end in a 3-4 well, you would ideally be around 6'5, with long arms. To play nose in a 3-4, you'd ideally be about 6'5, 330 lbs plus.

and Sam Mills was too short to be a linebacker, and Warrick Dunn was too small to be a feature back, and somebody's hands were too small... sheesh

 

[REBEL_SOUL]

Wasnt that Ricky Williams hands that they said were too small....?
guess thats what roach clips are for?

I dont get the "Tweener" label for Jacob Hester . Who cares if hes a FB or HB ? So hes a versatile situational back in the NFL that can contribute on special teams, a short yardage specialist that RARELY fumbles the ball and that can catch the ball out of the backfield. Cant teach heart and desire.

Tweener for basketball is different because of defensive match-ups.

 

[cruize]

There's not much separating Laws and Sims from Auburn IMO...also Kentawn Balmer could be bait for one of the teams that need DT after the early 1st that may possibly leave Laws for us...that all being said, I want him real bad, but I'd be just as happy with Sims (total Homer bias by the way) WAR EAGLE!!!

Did you see Sims at the combine? He had a chest like Miley Cyrus and a waist line like Butterbean. Plus, he only started one year at Auburn and came out as a Junior.. He would backup the current DT's. Laws will easily start.

 

[canuckredux]

and Sam Mills was too short to be a linebacker, and Warrick Dunn was too small to be a feature back, and somebody's hands were too small... sheesh

Apples and oranges.

First off, arguing with those guys has nothing to do with the point about Laws, but if you must: Warrick Dunn has spent most of his career in a committee. He's always been the lead back, but short yardage and goal line duties have always gone elsewhere. Dunn is also one of the toughest players at his position; he is the exception to the rule. Also, he is a RB, not a DE. You can be a short RB, in fact, if Maurice Drew has proven anything, it's that it can be advantageous, with the lower center of gravity. Darren Sproles is a very underrated football player, too.

Mills, again, different position. Being a short LB can have its advantages: You can get low when hitting someone, for starters. Mills was also an incredibly talented and smart football player, as Mora said, Mills played "As close to his full potential as anyone I ever coached." Again, the exception to a rule that does not apply here.

First off, let's look at the starting DEs in the NFL's 3-4 defenses.

SD:
Luis Castillo: 6'3
Igor Olshansky: 6'6

Dal:

Chris Canty: 6'7
Marcus Spears: 6'4

NE:

Richard Seymour: 6'6
Ty Warren: 6'5

Pit:

Brett Keisel: 6'5
Aaron Smith: 6'5

Cle:

Orpheus Roye: 6'4
Robaire Smith: 6'4

NYJ:

Shaun Ellis: 6'5
Kenyon Coleman: 6'5

SF:

Bryant Young: 6'3
Marques Douglas: 6'2

Bal:

Dwan Edwards: 6'3
Haloti Ngata: 6'4

Mia:

Vonnie Holiday: 6'5
Matt Roth: 6'4

Ari:

Darnell Dockett: 6'4
Antonio Smith: 6'4

Notice a trend here? The typical 3-4 DE is a tall, rangy athlete with long arms that can take on 2 blockers, freeing up the OLBs to rush the passer/ball-carrier. One of those blockers is going to be the OT, who is usually taller and has longer arms than the DE himself. He needs to be able to get inside of the OTs range to hold him up. It's not the same as a DE in a 4-3, where they have an extra DT to swallow up those, shorter interior blockers, giving them one-on-one coverage against the OT to rush the passer.

Laws COULD be good; he could be an exception to the rule, but at this point, it wouldn't seem as though he'd be the right fit for a 3-4 DE. At least he's got experience at the position; ND ran some 3-4 this year, at which he played end, so they've seen him in action there. If they think he's got the tools to play the position, then maybe he does. They seem to know a bit more about this stuff than we do.

 

[Danneaux]

Apples and oranges.

You're right. Laws is a DT, all the guys you mentioned are DE's aren't they?

Laws is going to play DT in the NFL, not DE. And the undertackle (3-tech) to be more specific.

 

[canuckredux]

You're right. Laws is a DT, all the guys you mentioned are DE's aren't they?

Laws is going to play DT in the NFL, not DE. And the undertackle (3-tech) to be more specific.

4-3 DTs often transition to 3-4 DEs, since they're often of the same build. Kentwan Balmer, for example: 6'5, 310 lbs, long arms; he's got all the physical tools to become a pro 3-4 DE. Richard Seymour played DT in college as did Luis Castillo. Most of the guys on that list played DT in college. Laws just seems a bit short to handle that transition. But, whatever. If he can do it, he can do it. He's got the power and athleticism to do it.

 

['79 Saints]

Wasnt that Ricky Williams hands that they said were too small....?
guess thats what roach clips are for?

Ricky's hands were small, but David Kreig had small hands, and still managed a pretty good career as a quarterback in the league...

 

[byudrew]

Laws is a solid dt, but lets get serious, when are some of the better guys taken? looking at last years pro bowl 3 of the 8 dt's in that game were taken after the second round, besides that a lot of these guys can be coached up to be better.

If we don't get laws in round 2 its not the end of the world.

 

[brandonmr117]

I just really have a feeling he will be off the board when we pick.

Falcons need a DT, and likely will take Dorsey, but if they go in another direction, surely they will take Laws in the second.

Ravens could take a DT in the first or second

If ellis does not make it to the bengals at 9, they would certainly take laws at 39

I could see Denver move ahead of cinci in the second to take laws

Jax could reach for him at 26 (doubtful but possible)

I think we need an impact DT in the first two rounds, If we dont move up to get ellis, I think we may have to move up to the top of round 2 to get laws.

Thoughts?

dont we pick before the benglas because of both teams having 7-9 record

 

[Danneaux]

Most of the guys on that list played DT in college. Laws just seems a bit short to handle that transition. But, whatever. If he can do it, he can do it. He's got the power and athleticism to do it.

Has anyone ever projected Laws as a DE? I thought from day 1 he was a DT prospect.