[I bleed Sooner red]

I don't see it in Carriker. He was missing in a lot of Nebraska games. Sure he has a great motor, but where was he the entire season prior to the Senior Bowl and the Combine. I see workout warrior-esque in Carriker personally...At least Willis has proven he belongs.

And *******, Smith brings that LB corps to average. If we get Willis, it will be potentially a top 5 LB corps.

[jackass]

How often does one rookie linebacker bring a linebacker corps from average to great, once in a great while. It is not llike Smith is a bad linebacker, he is not a solid tackler but he is usually in teh right place, does his job. He has veteran leadership and veteran experience. Also, an offensive line is to a running back as a defensive line is to a linebacker. We could have the linebacker corps of the chicago bears but they wouldnt be able to do anything if the linemen in front of them are getting pusshed back. Blitzes are designed for holes to open up for the linebackers, but when the defensive line is getting pushed around, as ours usually is, the linebackers have nowhere to blitz through. Yeah Carriker ma not all of a sudden push the entire offensive line back, but he is a true 3-4 end, he has power, he has played the position for his college career. how would provideo ur defensive line with a solid push from his spot, everything starts with the line. How was Carriker non-existant throughout the season. His presence was felt all year, he provided a solid rush and put pressure on passers all year, he forced interceptions all year. He was in running backs faces all year. Even when he wasnt making the tackle himself he was making the play because of his presence.

[I bleed Sooner red]

what can I say...I <3 PWilly

[jackass]

Well its better to love PWilly than the Willy. I have no problem with Willis, I just think we areb etter off filling a bigger need. We have no 3-4 d-end and it is rare for a guy to come through the draft that has every quality you want in a 3-04 end and has a lot of experience at playing the position. A lot of guys drafted for a 3-4 are tackles that are converted to ends, but Carriker is already experienced making him more productive faster. And as i stated, the best linebacker corps in teh world is nothing if the linemen in front of them do not get a push. Take a look at every great linebacker in the past, then look at who was in front of him.

[I bleed Sooner red]

Well I'm sure I could find some examples, but I understand your point. I suppose I also like the depth on the defensive line A LOT more than I do amongst the LB fit for the 3-4. Sure we could get say a Buster Davis in the 3rd-4th round after drafting Carriker...but I feel it is around the same difficulty for a later round LB or DL to make an immediate impact.

[DHNF]

*******... Smith is a terrible linebacker. Ulbrich isn't much better. We are really hurting right there for a good player.

I think Derek Smith might be the most overrated LB in the history of the NFL.

[JCizzle]

The way I understood 3-4 DE's is that they're just supposed to be converted 4-3 DTs that eat up blockers. Am I off on that?

[VDavis85n'ufsaid]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(******* @ Apr 8th ) [snapback]1958172[/snapback]</div>

I like Willis, he is a good linebacker. However I do not think we should draft him with the number 11 overall pick. Our linebacker corps is set as this right now- Banta-cain Smith Moore Lawson. That is a decently solid lb corps with Harylson(didnt get to see him last year, has the qualities to be great) and Ulbrich backing them up. We have solidified our secondary but a secondary is nothing without a pass rush. without a solid push from your line a linebacker is nothing because he cannot blitz. It is rare to come across a player that is already experienced at 3-4 DE and has all the qualities you want from that position. We should take Carriker that is a bigger need, our line proivides no push, and we are missing a true 3-4 end. You cant get any more true than Carriker. If you really want to go and help our linebacker corps howabout David Harris from Michigan in teh second. Personally I would like Carriker then Jason Hill in the second, but David Harris will be a great linebacker- I see Ian Gold. I wouldnt be mad if we took Willis, i just think there are better picks for us if we choose not to.
[/b]

We need a genius icon.
I feel getting Willis, he'd help out Manny Lawson.
No way Carriker falls in the second. THat's where we need the WR if we take Willis, or Carriker, but we can't have both unless there's that genius double 1st round where we could take both Willis/Carriker, then get our WR in the 2nd, but that's if we don't give up our 2nd round pick to get the second 1st round pick.

[VDavis85n'ufsaid]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DHNF @ Apr 8th ) [snapback]1958281[/snapback]</div>

*******... Smith is a terrible linebacker. Ulbrich isn't much better. We are really hurting right there for a good player.

I think Derek Smith might be the most overrated LB in the history of the NFL.
[/b]

Then why was the priority to resign him and let J Peterson go? NObody ever addressed that, other then he had a bad agent bleeding the team, yet we kept Smith that's done really nothing for us. That's not priority to keep the bad player over the good.

[JCizzle]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VDavis85n'ufsaid @ Apr 8th ) [snapback]1958314[/snapback]</div>

Then why was the priority to resign him and let J Peterson go? NObody ever addressed that, other then he had a bad agent bleeding the team, yet we kept Smith that's done really nothing for us. That's not priority to keep the bad player over the good.
[/b]

Because at the time we really didn't have the money to resign JP. Letting him walk gave us a 3rd this year and was what really allowed us to go on our spending spree. I don't think Nolan was a big fan of his injury history either.