Ansah Prediction

[RobBase]

I just stated my opinion on why I think many fans could be disappointed in Ansah based on their predictions, as he is an extremely raw player and will take time to develop.

Two sides to that coin. Is he an extremely raw player and will take time to develop or is he a physical freak who has picked up the game of football faster than any college athlete in the world?

I find it strange that some fans are predicting that a kid who turned himself into a top 5 pick out of nowhere is all of a sudden a slow developer.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

I like how you ask questions Mike. But never answer any.

What question didn't I answer? I've explained myself thoroughly on why I believe many are asking too much out of Ansah as a rookie.

 

[tpaulus_2]

I'm not saying it to make it sound "impressive" -- I'm saying it because it is a FACT. I will be waiting for you to give me the season where 10 sacks wasn't in the top 20.

Oh snap! It's a FACT! BSlegend in da house!!!

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

Two sides to that coin. Is he an extremely raw player and will take time to develop or is he a physical freak who has picked up the game of football faster than any college athlete in the world?

I find it strange that some fans are predicting that a kid who turned himself into a top 5 pick out of nowhere is all of a sudden a slow developer.

Rob -- he has played the game for 3 years total and has never played one full season at DE. All I have said is -- give him time to develop. Do I think he has the potential to be in the top 20 in the NFL in sacks? Absolutely, just not in his rookie season. I think he will struggle, like many rookies struggle.

His athleticism will shorten his learning curve, but it doesn't change the fact, he is still going to need time to grow and develop. I think he will be a tremendous player for the Lions, but I'm going to put him in the elite category before he even steps on the field.

 

[tpaulus_2]

You call top 20 elite? I'd call top 5 or so elite... that's a pretty generous group of elite players you'd have by that metric...

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

Oh snap! It's a FACT!

I only said it is a fact, because it is a...............what for it.................FACT. As I said -- feel free to show me the season where 10 sacks ranks you outside the top 20 in the NFL.

I'll give you a hint -- the closest you will find is a tie for 17th.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

You call top 20 elite? I'd call top 5 or so elite... that's a pretty generous group of elite players you'd have by that metric...

to me -- if a player finishes with double digit sacks in a season -- they were one of the elite pass rushers that year.

 

[RobBase]

Rob -- he has played the game for 3 years total and has never played one full season at DE. All I have said is -- give him time to develop. Do I think he has the potential to be in the top 20 in the NFL in sacks? Absolutely, just not in his rookie season. I think he will struggle, like many rookies struggle.

His athleticism will shorten his learning curve, but it doesn't change the fact, he is still going to need time to grow and develop. I think he will be a tremendous player for the Lions, but I'm going to put him in the elite category before he even steps on the field.

Which is cool. But dude, it's the off season. Let us Lions fan dream until week 1 comes. IMO he doesn't need to be elite to get 10-12 sacks playing next to Suh and Fairley. Avril wasn't.

 

[RobBase]

to me -- if a player finishes with double digit sacks in a season -- they were one of the elite pass rushers that year.

Avril was never elite no matter how many sacks he got, and the proof is that no one was willing to pay him elite DE money.

 

[tpaulus_2]

So you're saying that there's at least 20 elite pass rushers every year then?

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

So you're saying that there's at least 20 elite pass rushers every year then?

no -- because there isn't 20 pass rushers every season that get double digit sacks. from what i've seen, there has only been 2 years in NFL history where 20 players finished with at least 10 sacks (2012 and 2010) most years it is in the 12-18 range. only recently with the NFL becoming more of a pass first league has the sack numbers crept up for more players.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

Avril was never elite no matter how many sacks he got, and the proof is that no one was willing to pay him elite DE money.

You can say he wasn't elite, but he has been one of top 10-15 most productive DE's over the last 3 years. A lot of people feel it is because of the Lions scheme he was so successful, so I'm sure it scared a lot of people off. Couple that with the fact -- roughly half the team play a 3-4, which Avril hasn't played in the NFL and it narrows down the teams available to sign him.

As I said though -- I'm not even Avril fan. It didn't bother me one bit to see him sign elsewhere, as I didn't want the Lions to throw big money at him, as they already had too much tied up in the middle of the DL.

I am just having a very hard time seeing an inexperienced player with 4.5 sacks in his college career, step onto the field in the NFL and put up anywhere near double digit sacks. Maybe Ansah is the one player in the history of the NFL to do so. I've been wrong before. I just think he is going to have some growing pains as a rookie, even if he is a physical freak, because he is extremely raw and lacks general pass rushing moves and technique.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

Which is cool. But dude, it's the off season. Let us Lions fan dream until week 1 comes. IMO he doesn't need to be elite to get 10-12 sacks playing next to Suh and Fairley. Avril wasn't.

Understandable -- Every one here has the right to predict whatever they'd like for him. I never said anyone was wrong. Just said it was highly unlikely. In the end -- no one is right or wrong -- it is nothing more than opinions.

 

[Microwahevo]

I'm not saying it to make it sound "impressive" -- I'm saying it because it is a FACT. I will be waiting for you to give me the season where 10 sacks wasn't in the top 20.

I don't need for TP to respond, I can do my own research. Maybe you should do yours before spouting off at the mouth. 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993 And I only started with 1983. Care to rethink your "facts"?

One would even think that as the league became more passer-friendly, there would be an increase in players with double-digit sacks. But that isn't the case.

 

[Microwahevo]

no one is right or wrong

Welllllllll......now that isn't exactly accurate.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

I don't need for TP to respond, I can do my own research. Maybe you should do yours before spouting off at the mouth. 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993 And I only started with 1983. Care to rethink your "facts"?

One would even think that as the league became more passer-friendly, there would be an increase in players with double-digit sacks. But that isn't the case.

If that is the case, then I stand corrected. I was only able to find stats in the 15 years. So I will take your word for it. As you said -- I assumed (which I shouldn't have done) that if it hasn't happened in the pass happy NFL over the past couple years, it hadn't happened in years past.

Thank you for correcting me.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

no one is right or wrong
Welllllllll......now that isn't exactly accurate.

if it is a thread based on opinion -- no one can be right or wrong. when i made the statement as fact, i was most definitely wrong, as you said it has happened multiple times in the 80's and 90's.

that will be the last time I make an assumption like that and I apologize to TP for the comment.

 

[broncosmitty]

What question didn't I answer? I've explained myself thoroughly on why I believe many are asking too much out of Ansah as a rookie.

Vader had a bunch. And I have one for the group: How many sacks did Ansah have in the senior bowl? ( I don't actually remember what my prediction was, so I might re-do it, if the answer is 5 or something crazy like that). Here's a quick fact: Cliff Avril blows!

 

[RobBase]

I am just having a very hard time seeing an inexperienced player with 4.5 sacks in his college career, step onto the field in the NFL and put up anywhere near double digit sacks.

He basically got half (1.5 sacks) of his Senior total playing in ONE game under the Lions D.

Over the final nine games of the season Ansah was third on the team in tackles (48), second in sacks (4.5) and first in tackles for loss (13) on the team. Blame BYU for his sack numbers. He will still 2nd on the whole team in only 9 games.

In his very first start in an NFL pro defense he totaled:
* seven tackles (six solo)
* 1.5 sacks (for 13 yards)
* 3.5 tackles for loss (for 24 yards)
* a pass breakup
* and a forced fumble.

In one game. Versus better talent than he ever played at BYU.

And those are just the facts.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

In his very first start in an NFL pro defense he totaled:
* seven tackles (six solo)
* 1.5 sacks (for 13 yards)
* 3.5 tackles for loss (for 24 yards)
* a pass breakup
* and a forced fumble.

I know what he did in one game and it most definitely helped his draft stock immensely. Ansah also struggled during the week of practices for the senior bowl. Maybe he is a gamer, who gets up for the actual games, while using the practices to try out techniques he is trying to learn. I don't know.

I just can't put that much into a single exhibition game, when the OL he is facing has played for a week together and many of the OL are playing positions they didn't even play in college. Did Ansah have a tremendous game? Absolutely. Does it mean he will do the same thing for the Lions in the NFL? You tell me.

If Senior Bowl performances meant success in the NFL -- players like DeMarco Murray, Colin Kaepernick, Andy Dalton just to name a few over the last few years would be terrible in the NFL as they struggled mightily at the Senior Bowl. Players like Melvin Guillard, Leonard Hankerson, Zack Robinson, etc. would be tearing up the NFL, as they had big game offensively in the Senior Bowl.

I think Ansah will have an impact for the Lions as a rookie. I think he will be quite good for us at DE. Personally, I just feel he is going to struggle at the beginning as he gets acclimated to the game and don't believe he will put up sack numbers like some have predicted. It doesn't mean his rookie year isn't a successful one -- I'd be happy if he batted down balls and pressured the QB, while picking up a handful of sacks. He is only going to get better each year he is on the Lions.