Who do you think starts at SLB?

[RiverDog]

Even if we only play Irvin at LEO in obvious passing situations, his presence there will be a benefit to our pass rush. It would mean we could continue to have Avril/Bennett rushing from the same side. Irvin did have eight sacks as a rookie playing LEO, while he received few opportunities to blitz at SLB. Our every down LEO will probably be Bennett or Avril, depending on the opponent and whom we need at the five technique. Benson Mayowa could be another option at LEO on third downs; we just don't have enough information on him yet.

Irvin has been coming out on obvious passing downs, which was a curious use of him as his long suit is supposed to be rushing the passer. I don't know why we didn't see them use him at this "spinner" position he was supposed to play or if that wasn't working out, why they didn't either move him back to his old position, or give him a crack at Leo, and put him back into the DL rotation. But instead, he was used more as a conventional OLB, and IMO he was marginal at best, as evidenced by his diminishing PT.

IMO Irvin's 4 game suspension really hurt him. It allowed a guy like Malcolm Smith to get more playing time and the coaches liked what they saw. It will be interesting to see how they use Irvin this season.

 

[hawknation2014]

Even if we only play Irvin at LEO in obvious passing situations, his presence there will be a benefit to our pass rush. It would mean we could continue to have Avril/Bennett rushing from the same side. Irvin did have eight sacks as a rookie playing LEO, while he received few opportunities to blitz at SLB. Our every down LEO will probably be Bennett or Avril, depending on the opponent and whom we need at the five technique. Benson Mayowa could be another option at LEO on third downs; we just don't have enough information on him yet.

Irvin has been coming out on obvious passing downs, which was a curious use of him as his long suit is supposed to be rushing the passer. I don't know why we didn't see them use him at this "spinner" position he was supposed to play or if that wasn't working out, why they didn't either move him back to his old position, or give him a crack at Leo, and put him back into the DL rotation. But instead, he was used more as a conventional OLB, and IMO he was marginal at best, as evidenced by his diminishing PT.

IMO Irvin's 4 game suspension really hurt him. It allowed a guy like Malcolm Smith to get more playing time and the coaches liked what they saw. It will be interesting to see how they use Irvin this season.

I justify that because they had Chris Clemons at LEO for those situations. When Bennett goes inside, they will need another edge rusher now that Clemons is gone. Maybe they find someone via the draft, maybe Mayowa lives up to the potential he showed last preseason, or maybe they just go back to Irvin, who was successful in that role in 2012.

 

[vin.couve12]

Irvin has to be that guy on 3rd downs unless someone can beat him out. Personally, I think he has 10+ sacks. Playiing LB was great for him and he's still a prototype.

 

[hawknation2014]

The results of the poll are back. It appears about half of the respondents would like to see K.J. Wright return to the SLB position he played during his successful 2012 season, as well as the Super Bowl.