Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

thoughts on bruce irvin from WVU as an OLB

rayzor

By rayzor,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

rayzor Grand Master

rayzor

Posted
Posted

i'm not talking as a 1st rounder, btw.

he lines up as a DE at WVU where they run a lot of 3-3-5. the problem with that is he's 6'3 235 lbs. in 2010 he was pretty much unstoppable there, but this year where he is lining up has been an issue.

he is a pass rush specialist and people are listing him as a 3-4 OLB.

i know that we aren't going to be moving to a base 3-4, but we should be seeing a lot more of it.

imo, he's got a good story behind him. academically ineligible in highschool to play where he was lining up as a WR. he dropped out, got in trouble and wound up in juvie for a little while and hung out on the streets. he got tired of that and decided to make something of himself. he got his GED and decided to go college and play football.

he went the JUCO route and played safety for a year then got moved to DE. he transferred to WVU where they have kept him at as a DE. in '09 he had 72 tackles, 21 for loss, and 16 sacks.

last year he was behind only dequan bowers in sacks. he had 18 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks. this year his sack number was cut in half, but he's had more tackles and just about the same TFLs as last year.

i've seen some criticize his pass coverage skills, but he doesn't have a whole lot of experience in that regard and how many 3-4 DEs who are mainly considered pass rush specialists are asked to drop back? that is something he should improve at. the major issue i see is that he isn't as strong against the run, but he is new at playing D. he didn't start playing it until he went to JUCO and from what i have hear he seems to be pretty coachable and has a solid work ethic.

one of the concerns is that last year he was primarily asked to play just on 3rd downs and passing situations. this year he was asked to be an every down DE and his production dropped. of course you'd expect him to do better when limited in PT as he'd be coming in fresh each time.

most of the profiles about him are pretty comparable to this one from cbs sports

Analysis Read & React: Has natural instincts for defense despite his lack of experience, though he is obviously still learning. Finds the ball regularly and has the change of direction ability to get to it.

Run defense: Gives some effort to chase down running backs. Miscast as a hand-down player and played mostly in passing situations, but has some fair strength for his size and does not break down easily against the run. Should have no problems getting off tight end blocks at linebacker to contain against the run.

Pass defense: Limited experience dropping into coverage, primarily used as a pass rush specialist. Has change of direction skills and hustle to track down ballcarriers in the open field, but will need to learn how to handle coverage responsibilities.

Tackling: Strong wrap tackler who can dislodge the ball with power and goes for the strip if his target is holding the ball low or loose. Brings down quarterbacks much bigger than he is. Very good motor, regularly chases down plays from behind. Used on special teams coverage units because of his tenacity and speed.

Pass Rush/Blitz: Best attribute. Extreme quickness off the edge, has flexibility to turn the corner. Shows toughness to get under the pads of tackles to bull them, club them upfield to get the inside lane, or fight through blocks to for secondary rush when passer steps up. Keeps feet moving after initial contact. Jumps inside as a counter to typical rush, but needs to show a larger variety of moves. Gets pressures on inside stunts, too explosive for college guards to handle.

Intangibles: Tough player, gets up from being planted and comes hard on the next play. Comes from rough background, almost threw away talent but earned GED, walked onto junior college team and continues to work hard towards his goal of playing in the NFL.

--Chad Reuter

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1779111

i've really only seen one negative comment and it seems to be a legit concern.
NFL evaluator: “(West Virginia DE) Bruce Irvin is a one-trick pony. He’s a speed-edge rusher or nothing. I don’t see any instincts or football smarts. He could be drafted to bring speed on third downs, but I saw him as a developmental backup — and I don’t know how much he’ll be able to develop. I have concerns.”

http://www.profootballweekly.com/prospects/player/bruce-irvin-11/

highlights:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Lout Newbie

Lout

Posted
Posted

Sounds like a very good pass rusher.. but I would not trust him in coverage.. therefore, he would only be a situational pass rusher, or 3rd and long player... would not get our bang for our buck. He is a project player, and should not be taken before the 3rd round. Considering we do not have a 3rd round pick.. I don't think he will be on our draft board.

I'd much rather take Ronnell Lewis from OU in the 2nd round. The guy played OLB his freshman year, and played DE his Soph/Junior years.. so he is great at rushing the passer, and very good in coverage as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 5 weeks later...
rayzor Grand Master

rayzor

Posted
  • Author
Posted

from his coach...

His coach, Bill Kirelawich, has seen plenty of pro players during his 30 plus years at West Virginia, and he sees Bruce headed down that path. "When I think of Bruce, the guy I think of is the kid from Texas A&M who was the second pick this year (Von Miller) ... I see Bruce as being a faster, more physical version of him – and a stronger kid. Bruce has exceptional, exceptional strength; a guy that big shouldn’t be as strong as he is." Despite giving up 40 to 50 pounds to opposing blockers, Irvin says it won’t be a issue this season.

Full Article

Link to comment
Share on other sites
rayzor Grand Master

rayzor

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I wouldn't take him with our 2nd by any means...but if he were to be there with our 4th, I'd love it. Late round picks IMO are for nothing but depth or trying to get a steal and he could be both.

i've seen several mocks that have him going in the first. most in the second though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CarolinaNCSU Proficient

CarolinaNCSU

Posted
Posted

Just watchin a bit of the NCSU game. He gets swallowed up by tackles a lot.

He for sure has athletic ability.

That's where my memories of him come from. By me saying I wouldn't use our 2nd on him, it's probably my own ignorance on him because I haven't seen much of him outside of the State game.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Waldo
      Clowney released

      By Waldo · Posted

      Even limited as he was I still don't think they have replaced his production, and not just the sack stats. The games Clowney missed it was very obvious what his value still was. Risky move but whatever. They only had 32 sacks last year and if that drops then it's going to get ugly. I see the improvement in run stopping but not in pass protect in any way.  
    • pantherclaw
      Houston Texans... You Suck!!!

      By pantherclaw · Posted

      I have zero issues with this.  
    • MHS831
      Panthers start making cuts to roster

      By MHS831 · Posted

      Sorta related.  I just looked up a stat:  Success rates for NFL draft's second rounders.  I was surprised that it is 49%.  The success rate for first rounders is 58%.   Here success does not mean those that did not bust, it means that roughly half of the players selected in the second round become full-time starters at some point in their careers.  Busts do that too.  However, considering the fact that a first round talent is worth up to 1800 points (first overall pick) more than the first pick of the second round and as low as 350 points (last pick in first round) higher than the last pick in round 2, it seems there could be cases in which it would be to your advantage to trade out of round 1 and draft two or three second rounders for the value.  Of course, the elite players are likely to be gone, and some positions overwhelmingly suck after round 1 (traditionally, like QB or LT, for example), but if you need to find starters at positions like DT, G, LB, S, C, TE, RB, etc, there could be a time when you trade back for more starters.  I was surprised that the margin between rounds 1 and 2 was only 9%.    While I realize that some of you sofa scholars are thinking, "Well duh?  Trading back gives you more players." as you wipe the Cheetos off your shirt.  Not the point.  The point is you have to consider the draft,the needs (and the number of them), and you need to scout the second and third rounds like you do the first, the cap, and the long-term impact.  If you can find 2 players with a 49% chance of becoming a starter, are you better off than drafting one player who has a 58% chance in the long term? So if I traded away my first rounder for two second rounders (a trade most teams would make) regularly, when I got 10 second rounders (by trading 5 first rounders), 5 would be starters.  If I did not trade and kept my 5 first rounders, 3 would be starters.  Furthermore, their rookie contracts would be much cheaper than the 5 first rounders. 
×
×
  • Create New...