Futures: Isaiah Simmons (LB, Clemson) – Football Outsiders

[kerouac9]

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/futures/2020/futures-clemson-lb-isaiah-simmons

This is one of my favorite offseason series. Posted without reading.

 

[Reddog]

I love Simmons but my immediate impression after watching this is that he is too small to play inside against the run. Might be a great safety ala Adub but I don't see him playing a huge every-down run stopping role inside the box or setting the edge.

 

[BigRedRage]

I love Simmons but my immediate impression after watching this is that he is too small to play inside against the run. Might be a great safety ala Adub but I don't see him playing a huge every-down run stopping role inside the box or setting the edge.

Him and hicks combined would be okay I would think. Id rather have a guy like this than a mediocre josh bynes type.

 

[juza76]

Him and hicks combined would be okay I would think. Id rather have a guy like this than a mediocre josh bynes type.

Bynes is a better player then what we had recently, that's why is one of the best rated ILB free agents

 

[BigRedRage]

Bynes is a better player then what we had recently, that's why is one of the best rated ILB free agents

for sure.

But to discount simmons who should be better than bynes, we would have killed to have bynes last year.

 

[slanidrac16]

I actually can picture Simmons as a beast at OLB.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Great article and I agree whole heartedly you run to the podium if he is there. Sadly I think he is a lock for #7

 

[Dr. Jones]

I love Simmons but my immediate impression after watching this is that he is too small to play inside against the run. Might be a great safety ala Adub but I don't see him playing a huge every-down run stopping role inside the box or setting the edge.

Simmons: 6'4" 229lbs

Hicks: 6'1" 236lbs
Bobby Wagner: 6'1" 241lbs
Kuechly: 6'3" 235lbs
Pat Willis: 6'1" 240lbs

With his versatility..... Do we care if he will never be an enforcer? I haven't seen anything regarding missed tackles as an issue, and I sure never saw him miss one when I was watching.

With that being said, it's not like the guy is small for a WILB in a 3-4 scheme. He's probably got another 5 to 10lbs to gain as he matures anyways.

 

[unseenaz]

Simmons: 6'4" 229lbs

Hicks: 6'1" 236lbs
Bobby Wagner: 6'1" 241lbs
Kuechly: 6'3" 235lbs
Pat Willis: 6'1" 240lbs

With his versatility..... Do we care if he will never be an enforcer? I haven't seen anything regarding missed tackles as an issue, and I sure never saw him miss one when I was watching.

With that being said, it's not like the guy is small for a WILB in a 3-4 scheme. He's probably got another 5 to 10lbs to gain as he matures anyways.

Daryl Washington 6'2" 226
Luke Kuechly 6'3" 238
Roquan Smith 6'1" 223


Don't see size being an issue, he'll put on muscle in the NFL too, everyone does

 

[Finito]

I love Simmons but my immediate impression after watching this is that he is too small to play inside against the run. Might be a great safety ala Adub but I don't see him playing a huge every-down run stopping role inside the box or setting the edge.

you think he’s to small? He’s huge. 6’4 230lbs and hasn’t got in an NFL weight room yet.

that’s why people think he’s so special

 

[Chopper0080]

Tremaine Edmunds is 6'5 250. 1 inch taller and 20 lbs heavier.

Urlacher was over 250.

VanderEsch 256 at the combine at the same height.

I'm not saying it can't work, but tall and lean LBs who do not have LB instincts rarely translate to the NFL level.

 

[Chopper0080]

Simmons: 6'4" 229lbs

Hicks: 6'1" 236lbs
Bobby Wagner: 6'1" 241lbs
Kuechly: 6'3" 235lbs
Pat Willis: 6'1" 240lbs

With his versatility..... Do we care if he will never be an enforcer? I haven't seen anything regarding missed tackles as an issue, and I sure never saw him miss one when I was watching.

With that being said, it's not like the guy is small for a WILB in a 3-4 scheme. He's probably got another 5 to 10lbs to gain as he matures anyways.

All of those guys have years of LB instincts to mitigate their size...Simmons doesn't. And don't get me wrong, I have posts on here during last draft's prep that I loved him.

Simmons is an awesome chess piece but teams will target him vs the run and he will struggle. His lack of run pursuit instincts will be targeted by OCs. If you stick him as a base LB, you will be playing to his worst traits.

 

[Chopper0080]

Kam Chancelor was 6'3 230. Hopefully that helps frame his size with a recent NFL body. Best thing you can do with Simmons is have him as a base S and sub package LB.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Tremaine Edmunds is 6'5 250. 1 inch taller and 20 lbs heavier.

Urlacher was over 250.

VanderEsch 256 at the combine at the same height.

I'm not saying it can't work, but tall and lean LBs who do not have LB instincts rarely translate to the NFL level.

3-4 ILB's.

think Derrick Johnson (6'3" 242lbs) or Sean Lee (6'2" 229lbs).

 

[DVontel]

I’d compare Simmons frame to someone like Fred Warner.

Same weight, but Simmons is just an inch taller(unofficial)

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Summons is an excellent football player and fills a big need. Don’t nitpick to talk yourself out drafting him.

every prospect has question marks.

 

[Solar7]

I have no arguments against this guy. I know I'm famous for saying everything is a bad idea, but he just seems to be able to do so much. We can find a way to get him on the field almost regardless of what we do in free agency.

 

[WildBB]

Kam Chancelor was 6'3 230. Hopefully that helps frame his size with a recent NFL body. Best thing you can do with Simmons is have him as a base S and sub package LB.

Definately take that. He can get home either way, and you know that his best trait will be 3rd downs! We could be looking at running a 3-3-5 base and 3-2-6 sub packages.

 

[JeffGollin]

We need a greater tackling force at one of the two safety positions, and Simmons could fill that need.

Whether or not he'd fit at any of the LB positions depends on how we scheme defensively

 

[Veer]

This swiff knive thing often gets out of control because it makes for a nice story. See Reddick, Haason. Bucannon, Deone. Reddick should've been an edge rusher all along that can do some other things like occasionally drop into coverage. Buc should've been a SS who can come into the box. Instead, both were played out of position and never found consistency aside from a few splash plays. Simmons is a LB period. To be more precise he is a prototype 4-3 SLB that can cover but also blitz if needed. In a 3-4 this role is somewhere between OLB and ILB. He won't ever play in the slot or cover anybody from a traditional safety alignment. He would get roasted by slot WRs or really any type of WR.

 

[cardpa]

SO if both Simmons and Lamb are sitting there at #8 who do you take? I personally would take Simmons every time.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I actually can picture Simmons as a beast at OLB.

He would get us killed in the run game. He’s nowhere remotely close to being stout enough to hold the edge and he is not good yet at shedding tackles.

 

[kerouac9]

The argument about Simmons as a pro prospect that I've found fairly persuasive is that he's such a unique talent that you have to design your defense with him as the centerpiece. I think that this is a major reason why Hasson Reddick has failed. You can direct your other players to support a unique talent, but that unique talent quickly becomes a square peg in a round hole when asked to support others.

IMO, both Reddick and Bucannon were fine when directed to shoot a gap that is opened for them by play from the defensive lines in front of them. They struggled when asked to cover a gap or read and react or anticipate a route combination.

If you select Simmons, you're probably diminishing the ability of someone like Budda Baker to make instinctive plays to promote Simmons'. Does that make you better? I don't know. I've said it before: I think this front office thinks a lot more of Baker than I do.

 

[football karma]

Corey Chavous made the point that Brent Venables, Clemsons D coordinator designed the D around him

so watching him play all these positions and do it well sets the imagination running

but i think any team that takes him has to decide:

is he a safety with great size who can help vs the run

or is he a 3 down LB who can really cover without being a liability vs the run

 

[pinetopred]

Corey Chavous made the point that Brent Venables, Clemsons D coordinator designed the D around him

so watching him play all these positions and do it well sets the imagination running

but i think any team that takes him has to decide:

is he a safety with great size who can help vs the run

or is he a 3 down LB who can really cover without being a liability vs the run

He can't be a 3 down ILB at this point in his career IMO he doesn't have the instincts near line of scrimmage against the run good at blitzing good in coverage, but doesn't have feel in run game. I've had this opinion for awhile watched more tape and still feel this way he is a player you have to design a scheme for his abilities. I would rather sign Littleton and know you are getting a ILB to play ILB