Simmons is a safety, not a linebacker

[BritCard]

And that's fine.

Because he can be a Woodson or Polamalu level strong safety. The trend in the modern game is to move guys around more like we did with Badger (as have the Chiefs) , and we will do the same with Simmons. But his base position will be SS.

Playing 120 snaps at Linebacker in college in no way qualifies you to play that position in the NFL. When he played LB in college he wasn't being asked to diagnose the play and come downhill and fill gaps and when he did he wasn't great at it.

As we learned with Reddick it's very difficult to learn the mental side. It takes 1000s of snaps.

Also you want your MLB to be a stalwart of the defense. You don't want to be moving them around and subbing in other linebackers.

Much easier to move him around from SS.

SS in base. Slot in Nickel. And he'll be great at it.

 

[TJ]

Simmons is not Reddick and that’s a good thing.

 

[GuernseyCard]

He's a unicorn without a set position.

Quit trying to pigeon hole him, he'll be all over the place.

 

[Minski]

I reckon he’ll be a LB

 

[BigRedRage]

You will have to define a position if you want any chance of slotting his second contract.

 

[Finito]

And that's fine.

Because he can be a Woodson or Polamalu level strong safety. The trend in the modern game is to move guys around more like we did with Badger (as have the Chiefs) , and we will do the same with Simmons. But his base position will be SS.

Playing 120 snaps at Linebacker in college in no way qualifies you to play that position in the NFL. When he played LB in college he wasn't being asked to diagnose the play and come downhill and fill gaps and when he did he wasn't great at it.

As we learned with Reddick it's very difficult to learn the mental side. It takes 1000s of snaps.

Also you want your MLB to be a stalwart of the defense. You don't want to be moving them around and subbing in other linebackers.

Much easier to move him around from SS.

SS in base. Slot in Nickel. And he'll be great at it.

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116 snaps at OLB and 299 at ILB.

And won the Butkus award for best linebacker in the country.

Dude just stop

 

[football karma]

on Simmons:

most annoying draft analysis I heard repeatedly on the pick:

"...he is a super versatile, hybrid player. You know, the Cardinals drafted another hybrid LB named Hasaan Reddick...….."

 

[Finito]

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Looks like his instincts are pretty damn good to me

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Really unfortunate that he won’t get as many on field practice reps this offseason as in a typical offseason (most likely), as he would benefit more than most given his likely role diversity.

I imagine Vance has already talked with Venables quite a bit, and is planning to use Simmons in a similarly versatile role for us.

I think he will rush the QB a fair amount on 3rd down, and otherwise play in space a ton on early downs. I don’t really like the idea of having him man mark receivers or tight ends.

 

[Jetstream Green]

And that's fine.

Because he can be a Woodson or Polamalu level strong safety. The trend in the modern game is to move guys around more like we did with Badger (as have the Chiefs) , and we will do the same with Simmons. But his base position will be SS.

Playing 120 snaps at Linebacker in college in no way qualifies you to play that position in the NFL. When he played LB in college he wasn't being asked to diagnose the play and come downhill and fill gaps and when he did he wasn't great at it.

As we learned with Reddick it's very difficult to learn the mental side. It takes 1000s of snaps.

Also you want your MLB to be a stalwart of the defense. You don't want to be moving them around and subbing in other linebackers.

Much easier to move him around from SS.

SS in base. Slot in Nickel. And he'll be great at it.

He 'can' be a safety but that's his allure and why you select him in the top ten... he's a Butkus award winner which his validation as a LB

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

I do agree with the general comparison between Reddick and Simmons: they are much better off in space than in close quarters dealing with offensive linemen and all that trash.

Simmons is obviously a much better processor, much better at covering, and a better and bigger athlete.

Whatever his listed “position” his actual role will be dictated by offensive personnel as well as down/distance/situation.

 

[Zeno]

Keim already said ILB but mentioned he can be used in multiple positions. Dabo Sweeney also said likely his best position in the NFL will be ILB too.

 

[az jam]

Darren Urban
@Cardschatter

#AZCardinals DC Vance Joseph said Isaiah Simmons will be a linebacker, but bigger picture he will be a "problem-solver" for the defense. He will be moved around. Joseph said he expects Simmons to have a similar role in Arizona that he had at Clemson.

 

[Zeno]

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116 snaps at OLB and 299 at ILB.

And won the Butkus award for best linebacker in the country.

Dude just stop

So he played more downs at ILB than Free Safety and Strong Safety COMBINED.

 

[Solar7]

Yeah, he's a linebacker by position name, but will be all over the field.

 

[TheCardFan]

Playing 120 snaps at Linebacker in college in no way qualifies you to play that position in the NFL.

C'mon man. You have said this 3 or 4 times and people have corrected you each time.

This is simply not true.

 

[Jetstream Green]

C'mon man. You have said this 3 or 4 times and people have corrected you each time.

This is simply not true.

Plus the kid is not going to stay at his current weight which is still close to 240... I think you will be looking at a LB in his prime about 250 which still has the jets for his position

 

[az jam]

He also is a LB by size 6'4" 240 lbs.

 

[Jake6233]

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Uh

 

[Jetstream Green]

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Uh

It will be much like Clemson but as many stated, you need to give the kid a define position as a starting point or it's simply too much no matter how football savvy he might be... he will be a LB which will expand his joker's wild ability as he learns the defense

 

[Mainstreet]

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Uh

Everyone has a starting point. That said, I think the Cardinals will move him around once he gains experience.

 

[BritCard]

He's a unicorn without a set position.

Quit trying to pigeon hole him, he'll be all over the place.

Who's ever been successful in the NFL without a set position where they play the majority of snaps?

The NFL isn't college. There are much larger, more complicated playbooks and no player can remember several full positions.

He will play 90% of snaps at one position and have a set of subpackages where he moves around.

 

[BritCard]

C'mon man. You have said this 3 or 4 times and people have corrected you each time.

This is simply not true.

Actually I said 74 and someone corrected me to 120, but makes little difference. Most NFL linebackers have played 1500 to 2500 snaps at LB in college. Maybe more.

74, 120, 220. Same either way. Not enough.

 

[Finito]

Actually I said 74 and someone corrected me to 120, but makes little difference. Most NFL linebackers have played 1500 to 2500 snaps at LB in college. Maybe more.

74, 120, 220. Same either way. Not enough.

lmao just stop

 

[Finito]

C'mon man. You have said this 3 or 4 times and people have corrected you each time.

This is simply not true.

It’s one thing to have a stance it’s another to just flat out spit BS over and over when you’ve been corrected time and time again