Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

Originally posted by riverrunzthruit:
I have a hard time drafting a Guard in the top 10! I think putting Nelson in a zone blocking system would waste his talent, dude would dominate in a man/gap scheme...

Originally posted by Giedi:

I agree. The thread about the new rules kind of pushes me to lean towards your opinion. http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/nfl/190714-new-rule-banning-lowering-helmet/page12/

I just think teams are getting more and more away from the fullback position as a running position and more as a passing position (at least Kyle is going in that direction). If you want a MLB to cover, might as well speed the position up and lower the size to help in the quickness and agility area. Now you are looking at a strong safety kind of an athlete vs a Dick Butkus kind of MLB. I think you can get a good athlete - maybe 95% of a Patrick Willis - in the 2nd and 3rd rounds from an athletic point of view. Where teams can avoid the Ahmad Brooks - make a good slobberknocking tackle that is called a penalty and gives the opposing offense a 15 yard gain - is via the pass rush and pass defense. Hit the QB before he can throw, or rush him and make the QB misfire on his accuracy, from a pass defense point of view, load up on strong safties and have that be a deep position so that you can knock down passes before the receiver can catch the ball. Once the receiver catches the ball - you basically can't touch him unless the receiver sees the tackler and makes preparation to be hit. I just think the new pass happy rules and concussion protection rules really favor getting away from the Linebacker as a central defender role in a defense, and pushes it more towards the edge rusher and strong safety roles.

I disagree. I think if anything the rules put more of a premium on LBs who can play the run, be disciplined in their tackling and fundamentals but also be able to drop back and play in coverage without issue.


To me, Roquan is largely the prototypical weakside LB for the modern NFL.



If anything I see the strong safety position as it traditionally has been, vanishing. Teams are looking for safeties that are mostly interchangeable, they are looking for linebackers who can play excellent coverage and can stay on the field for all 3 downs.


In terms of coverage ability, Edmunds and Roquan are the future.

Originally posted by genus49:

Originally posted by Ninerfan84:

Not necessarily 1st round but at 9 for sure. At least we are making some progress.. If they see him as primarily a 3rd down rusher they won't take him high.

We're not taking someone we envision simply as a 3rd down rusher in the first round period. Not right now at least.

Teams like the Pats/Eagles have the luxury to take part time players in the first. 49ers are not one of those teams right now and need an impact player in the near future.

I agree with this 100%. In fact, that's been my entire point.

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by IdahoNiner:

Did i miss their visits with Smith or Edmunds?

https://ninerswire.usatoday.com/2018/04/03/nfl-draft-update-49ers-to-host-georgia-linebacker-roquan-smith-on-visit/

They've also met with Rashaan Evans.

I didnt know about Smith. However, i think we can do better at #9 then to replace our first round pick last season, with another first round pick. Just my .02

One would be at WILL and the other at MIKE so not seeing the overlap here. M. Smith is a placeholder and probably won't even be on in the roster in a couple of years.

Kiper's latest mock.

1 (9): Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
2 (59): Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
3 (70): Dante Pettis, WR, Washington
3 (74): Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn

The uncertainty around Reuben Foster's future has me rethinking the 49ers' first pick. They have a glaring need at cornerback, but Smith is the type of talent that is tough to pass up. And if Foster gets his off-field issues straightened up, Smith could move outside to weakside linebacker, and San Francisco would have one of the most talented front sevens in the league.

Originally posted by Hysterikal:

Originally posted by Heroism:

Daniel Jeremiah said No. 10 to the Raiders is very plausible for LB Roquan Smith. Said he could envision Gruden seeing some Derrick Brooks in Smith.

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) April 11, 2018

Lol, bringing up Derrick Brooks name in this thread triggered a few individuals.

Yeah people got so defensive as if Brooks wasn't "to small to play linebacker in the NFL" when he was coming out. Even Brooks said he was expecting to be moved to safety.

Heh, just wikie'd Derrick Brooks to see his size, and yep - strong safety size! Wiki says he's 235. I don't know if that's accurate, but that's a good weight to be at if you are a linebacker covering pass catcher! Roquan seems to be even smaller! Personally why not go with Shaquem Griffen in rounds 2 or beyond, and then go with a top flight edge rusher (read Landry/Chubb/Davenport) somewhere in the first.

Originally posted by Giedi:

Heh, just wikie'd Derrick Brooks to see his size, and yep - strong safety size! Wiki says he's 235. I don't know if that's accurate, but that's a good weight to be at if you are a linebacker covering pass catcher! Roquan seems to be even smaller! Personally why not go with Shaquem Griffen in rounds 2 or beyond, and then go with a top flight edge rusher (read Landry/Chubb/Davenport) somewhere in the first.

Roquan came in at 6'1, 236 at the Combine. Brooks was also in the 220's coming out of college.


Size also doesn't mean you are position interchangeable. You can be a really big safety and suck something fierce at LB. Each position is highly skillset dependent. Some guys can make the transition, most cannot.



If it helps just think of Roquan as a really big strong safety with top notch LB level tackling and instincts.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Kiper's latest mock.

1 (9): Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
2 (59): Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
3 (70): Dante Pettis, WR, Washington
3 (74): Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn

The uncertainty around Reuben Foster's future has me rethinking the 49ers' first pick. They have a glaring need at cornerback, but Smith is the type of talent that is tough to pass up. And if Foster gets his off-field issues straightened up, Smith could move outside to weakside linebacker, and San Francisco would have one of the most talented front sevens in the league.

If he replaced johnson with OO, Ejiofor or Hubbard and ill take it

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Kiper's latest mock.

That's like the best 49ers Kiper mock I ever seen lol. Change out the RB for Braden Smith/Austin Corbert/Ragnow/Teller and we cookin

Originally posted by 49ers808:

That's like the best 49ers Kiper mock I ever seen lol. Change out the RB for Braden Smith/Austin Corbert/Ragnow/Teller and we cookin

Or this

Originally posted by krizay:

If he replaced johnson with OO, Ejiofor or Hubbard and ill take it

Or that

Originally posted by krizay:

Or this

If they could somehow wrangle Roquan, Obo, Oliver and Pettis.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Kiper's latest mock.

1 (9): Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
2 (59): Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
3 (70): Dante Pettis, WR, Washington
3 (74): Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn

The uncertainty around Reuben Foster's future has me rethinking the 49ers' first pick. They have a glaring need at cornerback, but Smith is the type of talent that is tough to pass up. And if Foster gets his off-field issues straightened up, Smith could move outside to weakside linebacker, and San Francisco would have one of the most talented front sevens in the league.

.

Replace Kerryon with Obo, and it's PERFECT.

Originally posted by Ninerfan84:

Originally posted by genus49:

Originally posted by Ninerfan84:

Not necessarily 1st round but at 9 for sure. At least we are making some progress.. If they see him as primarily a 3rd down rusher they won't take him high.

We're not taking someone we envision simply as a 3rd down rusher in the first round period. Not right now at least.

Teams like the Pats/Eagles have the luxury to take part time players in the first. 49ers are not one of those teams right now and need an impact player in the near future.

I agree with this 100%. In fact, that's been my entire point.

Aldon only rushed on 3rd downs his rookie year...

Originally posted by SmokeCrabtrees:

Aldon only rushed on 3rd downs his rookie year...

Which led to him becoming an alcoholic and threatening to blow up an airport. Its a vicious cycle.