Okam seems ready to step up in year 2

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

Are you serious with this post?

First, there is no need to convert to a 4-3 simply because we found a guy that can play NT in it. The Ravens championship team played a 4-3 and had two guys (Sam Adams and Siragusa) that fit that description. Barwin comes into the league bigger and stronger than Dwight Freeney did and Jason Taylor- among others, who were both excellent DEs in 4-3 Defenses. Clearly, Brian Cushing fits the profile of a SLB in a 4-3. Most disturbing about your post is that you think we should go ahead and "cut our losses now" with Okoye. You don't think it's a little premature to quit on a 1st round talent at DT who is just about to turn 22 years old and entering his 3rd season in the NFL? Finally, our best defensive player (Mario), would become a much less effective playmaker in a 3-4 because he would be moved into the line and play almost every snap as a 5 technique.

Maybe, just maybe we could get a second-round pick for Okoye, but I suspect it would be more like a third-rounder, especially with his contract.
I'm just not very optimistic about AO and I don't think he's that valuable to us or most other teams.
But AS is much more of a 3-4 DE than he is a 4-3 downlineman, either at
DE or inside at DT. And Mario would be a premier 3-4 DE. Of course he's also a
premier 4-3 DE, I wouldn't deny that. But this whole scenario is based on a hypothesis that Okam could be effective at nose, which would then also permit Barwin to realize his full potential as a 3-4 outside backer and not a downlineman in the 4-3.