If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

[Shawn]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

Chadman would be very happy with Sean Weatherspoon. People make too much of this 'thumper' tag we give LB's. Farrior is smaller than Weatherspoon- Weatherspoon just happens to be faster & more athletic to go with it.

there are several ways to build a strong defense.

One is through power- where a true 'thumper' is useful.

Another is through speed & explosiveness- this appears to be the direction Tomlin wants this defense to go.

yes, i first noticed this fact when Tomlin/Colbert chose Lawrence Timmons to be the LB of the future. with NFL teams passing more and more you better make sure your "Thumper" is equally adept in pass coverage because if he isn't NFL teams today will find him and attempt to intentionally isolate one of their quicker players against him. Other teams this past season were targeting Farrior whenever they caught him in pass coverage, this was the first time that i ever noticed how Farrior had lost a step and a half...

Sean Weatherspoon is very good in coverage, I don't find anything wrong with both starting ILBs being able to cover proficiently. Spoon is also a vocal leader, I think he could make a big contribution immediately replacing Farrior on obvious passing downs and being the eventual heir to Farrior's ILB position and role as a team leader for our Steelers.

Add in Fox who I really like and next year's ILB position will be a team strength, not the potential weakness it is being viewed as right now.

You know...I'm a bit confused. I have read so much on the 3-4 and alot of it has contradicted itself. Traditionally you would be correct...the Buck is obviously strong...off the TE. He has gap responsibility and needs to be able to take on blocker...FB, G whatever.

But, the way the Steelers play the 3-4 has me scratching my head. In our buck...our strongest pass supporter has generally played there. Farrior was better than Bell and Foote in pass coverage. Bell was our big stout run supporter. Timmons play suffered because Farrior didn't play all the well. Farrior needs to swallow a blocker and allow Timmons to make the play. Farrior looked like an old man this season. So, maybe the Steelers do run with a more tradional Buck...keep Timmons in place in the mack. With that said, Fox can play both...not to mention he can cover.

And I believe someone mentioned Fox not getting alot of PT at KC. Well that's why KC is KC. Fox is a very good linebacker...make no mistake he made plays when in the game.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

Steelers | Making good progress on new deal with Hampton

Wed, 24 Feb 2010

Jason La Canfora, of NFL.com, reports the Pittsburgh Steelers are making good progress on a new deal with impending free-agent DT Casey Hampton. The team may be able to avoid using their franchise tag if they can agree to a deal with Hampton.

[Chadman]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

Chadman would be very happy with Sean Weatherspoon. People make too much of this 'thumper' tag we give LB's. Farrior is smaller than Weatherspoon- Weatherspoon just happens to be faster & more athletic to go with it.

there are several ways to build a strong defense.

One is through power- where a true 'thumper' is useful.

Another is through speed & explosiveness- this appears to be the direction Tomlin wants this defense to go.

yes, i first noticed this fact when Tomlin/Colbert chose Lawrence Timmons to be the LB of the future. with NFL teams passing more and more you better make sure your "Thumper" is equally adept in pass coverage because if he isn't NFL teams today will find him and attempt to intentionally isolate one of their quicker players against him. Other teams this past season were targeting Farrior whenever they caught him in pass coverage, this was the first time that i ever noticed how Farrior had lost a step and a half...

Sean Weatherspoon is very good in coverage, I don't find anything wrong with both starting ILBs being able to cover proficiently. Spoon is also a vocal leader, I think he could make a big contribution immediately replacing Farrior on obvious passing downs and being the eventual heir to Farrior's ILB position and role as a team leader for our Steelers.

Add in Fox who I really like and next year's ILB position will be a team strength, not the potential weakness it is being viewed as right now.

You know...I'm a bit confused. I have read so much on the 3-4 and alot of it has contradicted itself. Traditionally you would be correct...the Buck is obviously strong...off the TE. He has gap responsibility and needs to be able to take on blocker...FB, G whatever.

But, the way the Steelers play the 3-4 has me scratching my head. In our buck...our strongest pass supporter has generally played there. Farrior was better than Bell and Foote in pass coverage. Bell was our big stout run supporter. Timmons play suffered because Farrior didn't play all the well. Farrior needs to swallow a blocker and allow Timmons to make the play. Farrior looked like an old man this season. So, maybe the Steelers do run with a more tradional Buck...keep Timmons in place in the mack. With that said, Fox can play both...not to mention he can cover.

And I believe someone mentioned Fox not getting alot of PT at KC. Well that's why KC is KC. Fox is a very good linebacker...make no mistake he made plays when in the game.

Fox is actually smaller than Timmons & Farrior. Can he hold up for a whole season as a 'Thumper'?

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

NFL Draft Spotlight: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama
February 25, 2010



Perhaps the best linebacker prospect in the 2010 NFL Draft, Alabama junior Rolando McClain chose to make the jump after dominant career for the Crimson Tide. His final season solidified his place among the nation's elite: 105 total stops, 4.0 sacks, one forced fumble and two interceptions.

Strengths

Intelligent and instinctual: McClain identifies plays quickly and makes savvy reads.
Prototypical size: 6-foot-4, 256 pounds
A terror against the run - sheds blocks and sifts through the debris to find the ball carrier
Determined, dedicated and competitive: a filmaholic and an on-field leader
Durable - never missed a game at Alabama
Tackling machine
Capable blitzer
Understands pass defense roles and is serviceable in coverage
Versatile: McClain can play in both the 4-3 and 3-4 alignments.
Unusually long arms help in tackling and pass defense
Excellent closing speed


Weaknesses

Pass-rushing skills are just OK. He doesn't disengage very well, and his moves are limited.
Needs to improve his fluidity in man coverage
Could move better laterally
OK speed - won't time very well but plays a little faster
Questionable upside despite being only 20 years old


Expected draft placement

McClain is a surefire first-round pick. He possesses just about every skill and intangible that teams look for. He probably fits inside linebacker in a 3-4 better than middle 'backer in a 4-3, but we think he can play both. McClain reminds us somewhat of Patrick Willis, but we question how much having the mountain that is Terrence Cody in front of him at Alabama factored into his high level of production. Nevertheless, McClain is a very promising prospect.