Time for the young Texas LBs to rise up...

[Jetstream Green]

Injury and such but these two guys from Texas where stud players for the Longhorns while not having much of a supporting group around them in college... it is time for them to rise up and be just that for the Cardinals. I wanted Dansby to stay, but the Cardinals for the most part satisfied me with what they offered and I cannot blame LOS for taking a generous offer from the Browns, but the emphasis should not just be at the inside LB position with the brunt of the weight on Minter to perform. The outside LBs, those young Texas guys need to be what we drafted them for. Some tough love here, because this Texas EX knows they are better than average. Tiger, Longhorns, oh my, time to go see the Wizard and get some initiative lol

 

[Duckjake]

Injury and such but these two guys from Texas where stud players for the Longhorns while not having much of a supporting group around them in college... it is time for them to rise up and be just that for the Cardinals. I wanted Dansby to stay, but the Cardinals for the most part satisfied me with what they offered and I cannot blame LOS for taking a generous offer from the Browns, but the emphasis should not just be at the inside LB position with the brunt of the weight on Minter to perform. The outside LBs, those young Texas guys need to be what we drafted them for. Some tough love here, because this Texas EX knows they are better than average. Tiger, Longhorns, oh my, time to go see the Wizard and get some initiative lol

Acho's average numbers based on play so far for one season:

7 sacks, 1 interception, 4 FF, and 53 Tackles.

(#/28 starts x 16)

That's not too shabby.... If he's the SOLB. Which is where I've thought he would be best used since the day he was drafted.

Good situation for Bowles in that Acho, Okafor, and Shaughnessey all have experience at both OLB and DE.

 

[BigRedRage]

Acho's average numbers based on play so far for one season:

7 sacks, 1 interception, 4 FF, and 53 Tackles.

(#/28 starts x 16)

That's not too shabby.... If he's the SOLB. Which is where I've thought he would be best used since the day he was drafted.

Good situation for Bowles in that Acho, Okafor, and Shaughnessey all have experience at both OLB and DE.

I feel like they are all the same player while abraham is the only guy who can play the other side.

 

[Duckjake]

I feel like they are all the same player while abraham is the only guy who can play the other side.

On the other hand Acho played the other side on two very good Arizona defenses but doesn't bring the pressure a guy like Abraham does.

Also makes me wonder why the Cards drafted Okafor when they already had Acho and had signed Shaughnessey. I guess that at the time they thought of Matt as a DE to rotate with Dockett and not a SOLB.

 

[Dougmo]

Yeah, I think pre-injury Acho was ok at SOLB.
It's the WOLB that we need someone to show something (besides Abraham).
This is one of the biggest needs for a talent infusion IMO.

 

[oaken1]

been putting a lot of thought into this and everyone seems to be obsessed with the LB positions on this team....... but Cardinals history has shown us that our LB position does not kill us as we can scheme for pressure off the edge.

What kills us so often over the years is getting our opponent in third and long, then not being able to pressure the passer with a four man front.

I would be happy if we drafted a badass linebacker,...truly,...but I would be far happier to see us go in to a nickel formation, drop the backers into coverage, and get consistent sacks from a DE or DT in our four man front.

 

[Duckjake]

been putting a lot of thought into this and everyone seems to be obsessed with the LB positions on this team....... but Cardinals history has shown us that our LB position does not kill us as we can scheme for pressure off the edge.

What kills us so often over the years is getting our opponent in third and long, then not being able to pressure the passer with a four man front.

I would be happy if we drafted a badass linebacker,...truly,...but I would be far happier to see us go in to a nickel formation, drop the backers into coverage, and get consistent sacks from a DE or DT in our four man front.

Well one reason is that is the one position that most needs spots filled or talent upgraded. Especially the OLB which, since the Cards supposedly run a 3-4 not a 4-3, is where the pass rush is supposed to generate. In addition we only have Kenny Demens to back up DWash and Minter at ILB at this time.

One thing about the 3-4 I've never understood is that I had heard that part of the reason for going to a 3-4 was to make it harder for offenses to tell where the 4th pass rusher was going to be. ROLB or LOLB. But it seems like the ROLB for most teams is the main pass rusher. I think k9 explained this to me once but I'm old and disremember.

 

[Finito]

Yeah Acho is a very solid football player. He gives you everything he has. Okafor was a stud at Texas I think in this boards mock draft we took him in round 2 he was a steal that late. Def looking forward to seeing what he can do. I loved the pick at the time

 

[Chopper0080]

I was surprised how much better Shaughnessy showed to be outside than Acho. I also think Shaughnessy in 2013 is what the Cardinals are hoping for from Okafor.

Either way, none of these guys are the answer as a rush LB because they all lack burst and suddenness.

Shaughnessy, Acho, Okafor adn Alexander are all pretty much the same player in my eyes, with Shuaghnessy doing it best so far.

 

[Chopper0080]

Well one reason is that is the one position that most needs spots filled or talent upgraded. Especially the OLB which, since the Cards supposedly run a 3-4 not a 4-3, is where the pass rush is supposed to generate. In addition we only have Kenny Demens to back up DWash and Minter at ILB at this time.

One thing about the 3-4 I've never understood is that I had heard that part of the reason for going to a 3-4 was to make it harder for offenses to tell where the 4th pass rusher was going to be. ROLB or LOLB. But it seems like the ROLB for most teams is the main pass rusher. I think k9 explained this to me once but I'm old and disremember.

OLB/DE stunt out of a 3-4 is easier and more effective than a DT/DE stunt in a 4-3. Also, OLB can reach more gaps than a DE which can be deceptive for offensive linemen. Out of a 3-4 you can have DE push C gap, ILB shoot B gap, OLB stunt to A gap and NT push opposite A gap. Makes it very tough to pick up and easy to overload one side.

 

[Duckjake]

OLB/DE stunt out of a 3-4 is easier and more effective than a DT/DE stunt in a 4-3. Also, OLB can reach more gaps than a DE which can be deceptive for offensive linemen. Out of a 3-4 you can have DE push C gap, ILB shoot B gap, OLB stunt to A gap and NT push opposite A gap. Makes it very tough to pick up and easy to overload one side.

That sounds great but I still don't understand why the ROLB is usually the premier pass rusher in 3-4 defenses, where teams put their best pass rushing OLBs.

Of course now Defenses move guys all over the field so maybe my question is irrelevant now.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I don't expect Okafor, Acho, etc. to really ever been impact players. I think one season of Shaughnessy exposed just how average to below average Acho is.

 

[GuernseyCard]

I don't expect Okafor, Acho, etc. to really ever been impact players. I think one season of Shaughnessy exposed just how average to below average Acho is.

Leave Acho on the strong side for a year and then we will know.

 

[Chopper0080]

That sounds great but I still don't understand why the ROLB is usually the premier pass rusher in 3-4 defenses, where teams put their best pass rushing OLBs.

Of course now Defenses move guys all over the field so maybe my question is irrelevant now.

Normally no TE on the left side of the line. Puts your best pass rusher in a one on one matchup with the LT. Help has to come from RB who is smaller and who also has to check inside pressure before heading out into the route.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Leave Acho on the strong side for a year and then we will know.

They should be impact players... they were not just the best defensive players for the Longhorns while attending, but if the state of Texas had a college all star team in their respective year, they would have both been starters. Acho showed a lot of promise and dropped off, he needs to pick it up again

 

[Duckjake]

I don't expect Okafor, Acho, etc. to really ever been impact players. I think one season of Shaughnessy exposed just how average to below average Acho is.

It will be interesting to see what the Cards do with their surplus of OLBs. However, it looks like Matt may be gone though. I'm also interested in how Bowles will use Acho and Okafor since we've only seen a combined total of 4 games with them with Bowles.

I don't get the love for Shaughnessey either. He only had 2 more sacks than Acho did and Sam only played in 3 games and MS overall stats were very average. I guess I need to look at some film from last year and see if I can tell where Matt made a difference in the overall defense that doesn't show up on the stat sheet..

 

[Vermont Maverick]

If Acho, Okafor and Shaughnessey were the same player, we wouldn't have re-signed Shaughnessey. They are either different and they don't trust Acho and/or Okafor, or they think Acho and/or Okafor can play Abraham's side as well.

 

[GuernseyCard]

If Acho, Okafor and Shaughnessey were the same player, we wouldn't have re-signed Shaughnessey. They are either different and they don't trust Acho and/or Okafor, or they think Acho and/or Okafor can play Abraham's side as well.

Abraham took a lot of snaps last season. I could see Acho helping out on that side.