Grant and Willis

[optimist4720]

Hypotheticals: Projections for Willis to move to Vacant OLB from ILB with Grant to move into his spot. Just wondering how this projects? Willis has a lot of raw speed and I was wondering if this can be done. I noticed Grant did a good job when Willis was injured. Can Willis make the transition and rush the passer..? I know this is a bit crazy but he is a rare sort of hybrid LB (faster than most ILBs and as fast as most olbs) so he has the speed to do either. I know I'ver read that they plan to have Pays takeover the De/olb for the 1st 2 downs and pickup a rush specialist for 3rd down but I was just wondering with a bit of a switch we can accomplish this with this shuffle with current personel. OK now shoot this down..fire away..

 

[Flyingiguana]

willis is much better in the middle. i'd rather get an actual olb

 

[CalamityX11]

Willis impact in the game comes from where he's playing which is inside, ILB/MLB..... move to the outside as an OLB you take him away from making plays IMO. He's not a pass rusher to have from the outside on every down.

 

[Ray_Dogg]

He'd be lost trying to use an array of moves to beat an OT. ILB is his HOF position. They can go ahead and start making his bust.

 

[threelittleturds]

Which vacant OLB position? Aldon Smith is going to be an every down player next season. So, the team has Smith, Willis, Bowman and Haralson. Would I prefer Smith, Willis, Bowman, Brooks?? Yes, but the team will be more than OK without Brooks.

More importantly, Grant provides a higher value as depth for ILB, since Willis has been injured the last two years.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Why would we mess with Willis when he's the best in the league at what he does? To replace him with a middle-of-the-road talent? We'd see a major drop-off at both positions IMO. If we were a 4-3 and you suggested moving Willis to WLB, I'd absolutely consider it if we had a Bowman-caliber talent at ILB who was sitting on the bench (or possibly even a Grant in that case). But that's not the situation. I think this is an appallingly bad idea. Sorry to be harsh.

 

[NinerSickness]

It's an interesting idea, but ILB has mroe to do with quickly reacting to the play and quickly getting to the ball whereas OLB has more to do with contain & point of attack. I think Willis COULD play OLB, but he's much better at ILB.

 

[CalamityX11]

Why would we mess with Willis when he's the best in the league at what he does? To replace him with a middle-of-the-road talent? We'd see a major drop-off at both positions IMO. If we were a 4-3 and you suggested moving Willis to WLB, I'd absolutely consider it if we had a Bowman-caliber talent at ILB who was sitting on the bench (or possibly even a Grant in that case). But that's not the situation. I think this is an appallingly bad idea. Sorry to be harsh.

Bowman would be a better OLB in 43 or 34 IMO than Willis.

Bowman playd outside at LBU

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Bowman would be a better OLB in 43 or 34 IMO than Willis.

Bowman playd outside at LBU

I was thinking this initially, and I think either could play MLB or OLB (weak or strong, frankly) in a 4-3 at a very high level. But at this point, at least, Willis is the better player in coverage, so I think I'd prefer him at OLB over Bowman.