Andre Branch OLB Clemson

[Nconroe]

Just looking at LB and DE, quite a few choices in top few rounds.

according to CBS sports rankings http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/p...nkings/2012/DE

top DE's include those two guys:
Rank Player Pos. Pos. Rank School Class Ht. Wt. Proj. Round
11 Quinton Coples DE 1 North Carolina Sr 6-6 284 1
21 Courtney Upshaw DE 2 Alabama Sr 6-2 272 1
22 *Nick Perry DE 3 Southern California rJr 6-3 271 1
30 Andre Branch DE 4 Clemson rSr 6-4 259 1-2
35 *Chandler Jones DE 5 Syracuse rJr 6-5 266 1-2
50 Vinny Curry DE 6 Marshall rSr 6-3 266 2
58 Jared Crick DE 7 Nebraska rSr 6-4 279 2
67 Billy Winn DE 8 Boise State rSr 6-4 294 2-3
75 Tyrone Crawford DE 9 Boise State Sr 6-4 275 2-3
106 Cam Johnson DE 10 Virginia Sr 6-4 268 3-4


top OLB are:
Rank Player Pos. Pos. Rank School Class Ht. Wt. Proj. Round
9 Melvin Ingram OLB 1 South Carolina rSr 6-2 264 1
24 *Whitney Mercilus OLB 2 Illinois rJr 6-4 261 1
39 Zach Brown OLB 3 North Carolina Sr 6-1 244 2
42 Lavonte David OLB 4 Nebraska Sr 6-1 233 2
46 Bobby Wagner OLB 5 Utah State Sr 6-0 241 2
57 Shea McClellin OLB 6 Boise State rSr 6-3 260 2

top ILB are:
Rank Player Pos. Pos. Rank School Class Ht. Wt. Proj. Round
12 *Luke Kuechly ILB 1 Boston College Jr 6-3 242 1
41 *Dont'a Hightower ILB 2 Alabama rJr 6-2 265 2
76 Mychal Kendricks ILB 3 California Sr 5-11 240 2-3
121 James-Michael Johnson ILB 4 Nevada rSr 6-1 241 3-4
152 Tank Carder ILB 5 TCU rSr 6-2 236 4-5
165 Audie Cole ILB 6 North Carolina State rSr 6-4 246 5

[HPF Bob]

But how many of those would fit a Phillips 3-4 defense for OLB?

22 *Nick Perry DE 3 Southern California rJr 6-3 271 1
30 Andre Branch DE 4 Clemson rSr 6-4 259 1-2
50 Vinny Curry DE 6 Marshall rSr 6-3 266 2
24 *Whitney Mercilus OLB 2 Illinois rJr 6-4 261 1
57 Shea McClellin OLB 6 Boise State rSr 6-3 260 2

And how many teams run a 3-4 defense now? A bunch.

[barrett]

I am torn about going OLB in the first. I think we definitely have some need after Mario left, but I am also very positive about Braman (and even Nading). If we take an OLB in the 1st then draft position will dictate that he is at least one of our 3 rotation guys for OLB/3rd down DE. I would almost rather a mid round pick or two so that it comes down to the actual best player and Braman has a real chance to win snaps if he deserves them.

[NBT]

I am not torn at all about going for LB in the first. I think we have sufficient depth at LB to prosper at the position. I would like the first round of the Draft to play out like this:

1. WR Stephon Hill, or TE Coby Fleener if Hill is gone.