Quote:The more people examine the differences between the Pass Rush 3 or 4 (Fowler, Gregory, Ray and Beasley) and Leonard Williams the more most people realize that except for all the hype that the public draftniks are giving Williams, he just is not that big of an impact player compared to the other guys.

 

Now put yourself in the Titans situation. The Titans are a 3-4 Defense that uses a lot of Pass Rush LBs.

 

Leonard Williams in their defense is a 3-4 DE and his job is to occupy the double team so that the LBs can make the plays.

 

This is the Dick Lebeau Steeler defense.

 

How is Leonard Williams going to make as big an impact in the Titans defensive alignment as compared to a Justin Houston type of OLB like Dante Fowler?

 

There is just so many smokescreens here.

 

The Leonard Williams selection by the Titans makes no sense other than to the TV/Internet draftnicks because in their mind, he is their guy and their ego will not let them see anything other than their guy.

 

In my mind, if the Titans pass on Marcus Mariota, they will regret it for a decade.

 

If they do pass on Marcus Mariota, then they had better find the next double digit sack master at OLB and be in the same place as the Chiefs are in 5 years, while attempting to re-sign Dante Fowler or Randy Gregory.

 

I think Leonard Williams makes much more sense in the Jaguars defensive alignment, which is why I think it is important that the Jags fill the Leo DE role in Free Agency.

 

If the Jaguars fill the Leo-DE role in Free Agency that frees them up to draft Leonard Williams at Pick 3 or alternatively to trade the Pick assuming that Marcus Mariota is available at Pick.

 

This whole off-season is like one big chess game and it sure is fun watching Dave Caldwell align his chess pieces.

I'm glad you brought this up.

 

The Titans could easily go Williams at this spot, if you are factoring in LeBeau.

 

One of the trademarks of LeBeau's defenses in Pittsburgh were the outside linebackers who were typically impressive blitzers/pass rushers.

 

However, examine some of the guys who played that position over the last 20-25 years.

 

Greg Lloyd

Joey Porter

Jason Gildon

Jason Worilds

Lamarr Woodley

James Harrison

 

All of those guys were 2nd round draft choices, at best.

 

When the Steelers did expend high draft choices at LB (Levon Kirkland, Chad Brown, Kendrell Bell, Lawrence Timmons), they tended to play inside, not outside, though they DID draft Jarvis Jones to play outside a few years ago.

 

What's more, the Steelers under LeBeau have utilized high draft choices on 3-4 DL (Hampton, Heyward) within that time frame.

 

This is a draft that is supposedly deep in 3-4 OLB/hybrid pass rushers, and if LeBeau has any input in the draft (and I believe he will), they will draft at least one OLB in the mid rounds. I think he knows how to identify these guys.

 

I do not suggest Tennessee does not need an OLB, or for that matter, that there are no OLB/DE hybrid types that are worthy of being drafted that high.

 

But I can see Tennessee looking to bolster the DL first, then coming back later to bolster the OLB.

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