Positionless Football Players

[CanadianCat]

Matt Rhule has expressed his desire to have positionless football players, athletes. This approach helped him turn around both of his college programs. However does this work in the NFL? 

I remember what happened with Armani Edwards, Shaq and more recently Curtis Samuel. Armani never turned into anything, Shaq is good but not great and yet to 'earn' his extension and the jury is still out of former 2nd round pick Samuel. 

With us picking at 7 and the chance to land Simmons, although I really like his upside I also see him as a clone of Shaq (look at both scouting reports). 

My concern is that a 'jack of all trades' is also a master of none. We HAVE to nail this pick. We cannot draft a guy at 7 who is not an immediate impact player.

 

Is the all around potential of Simmons greater than the known specialist like Brown worth it?

[Madwolf]

You're reading into "coach speak" and trying to correlate into useful information.

This is always a bad idea.

Whatever coaches say, you basically just ignore it. Watch what they do.

[LinvilleGorge]

When it works out, they're "versatile". When it doesn't, they were "tweeners".

[Madwolf]

I see Simmons as more of a Thomas Davis than a Shaq Thompson.

[Daddy_Uncle]

I never have been a fan of saying a playing is strictly this or that. They are football players. Put them on the field. I think that's all that means. The ability to play multiple positions isn't a negative thing. Especially when the player is at the talent level of Simmons. He is not a clone of Shaq. I think he is a freak athlete that would be a big time play maker on our defense and the perfect guy to replace Luke

[45catfan]

Positionless players are more about projection on the next level.  Marty is bad at this.  Most GMs see a project and a gamble, Marty sees a diamond in the rough and the steal of the draft.

[BrianS]

1 minute ago, Madwolf said:

I see Simmons as more of a Thomas Davis than a Shaq Thompson.

I don't disagree with this at all . . . but the real question becomes is that worthy of a #7 pick.  I'd say no. 

I feel like there is more to be gained for us by addressing one of the lines, and I think 7 is too high to pick a guard and tackle is too crowded to spend a pick on.  Probably too high for a Center, and we're already spending a ton there.  Really just leave DL.

 

[45catfan]

7 minutes ago, Madwolf said:

I see Simmons as more of a Thomas Davis than a Shaq Thompson.

Yep and for those who have been fans long enough remember, TD struggled to become a true LB for a couple of seasons.  We weren't playing him in a ton of these exotic looks.  Likewise, outside of a few packages for him, Simmons is going to have to play a traditional 4-3 LB.  Can he be effective lining up and playing old fashion football without all the disguises? 

[saX man]

I think Simmons will be quite successful but don't think people should expect him to be more than an athletic OLB at first. 

My concerns there is more along the lines of being a jack of all trades and master of none which these athletic linebackers have been much of the time.  Curry, Ogletree, Reddick, Barr...it's a mixed bag. 

I mean, if he produces like Barr but with even better coverage skills then that's fantastic but he's been super hyped given his play in the playoffs and this whole pre-draft build up process. 

[CanadianCat]

I was listening to Greg Cosell and he said that Simmons is a more natural fit at safety than LB. If that is the case than Reid was that player already. 

[CanadianCat]

1 hour ago, Rogue Panther said:

Shaq is an OLB. Samuel is a WR. 

Armani is questionable. Imo, he could have played 3 positions, maybe 4. QB, CB, WR and maybe FS. 

Simmons is either an LB or a S. 

Shaq was a RB, SS and LB in college

Samuel was both a RB and WR in college.

Armani was QB, CB, WR and FS like you mentioned. 

 

This is what I am talking about. All those guys have a ton of talent but because they are a 'master of none' then it takes very specific or creative coaching to use them right. If not then the player is wasted. 

[CanadianCat]

51 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

Yep and for those who have been fans long enough remember, TD struggled to become a true LB for a couple of seasons.  We weren't playing him in a ton of these exotic looks.  Likewise, outside of a few packages for him, Simmons is going to have to play a traditional 4-3 LB.  Can he be effective lining up and playing old fashion football without all the disguises? 

The knock on Simmons is that he is not overly physical. Despite his size, he is more of a cover guy than a thumper. So his most natural position might be at safety not LB. If thats true then taking him at 7 is too high. IMO.. 

[stbugs]

30 minutes ago, CanadianCat said:

I was listening to Greg Cosell and he said that Simmons is a more natural fit at safety than LB. If that is the case than Reid was that player already. 

What? First, Simmons is way more athletic than Shaq and Reid couldn’t cover a cold and is very slow at this point. No idea if he’ll work out because there are no guarantees but he is got way better skill than either of them and a poo load more potential.

I honestly don’t care who we pick because at 7, it’s likely who’s left. If Detroit goes Brown and Giants go Simmons then we likely go Okudah. I’m still worried about the potential reach if somehow all 3 are gone. I think that’s unlikely unless Miami isn’t really a QB team. I think SD is going OT if they don’t go QB.

[Smithers]

Simmons is a play maker, bottom line.  He makes the kinds of impact plays that change games - sacks, interceptions, FF, etc.  he’s effective in coverage and also while blitzing.  That adds a ton of value.

that being said, I like Brown a lot.  His name won’t get called a ton, but most DTs don’t.  They simply do their job and impact the game Quietly when they do.