Ronald Blair-DE-Appalachian State-signs with Jets

I could see them moving him around and using him as an ILB with Bowman rather than taking an OLB off the field...blitz him from anywhere.

Originally posted by dtg_9er:

I could see them moving him around and using him as an ILB with Bowman rather than taking an OLB off the field...blitz him from anywhere.

I was thinking the same thing a bit heavy to play ILB but I can see it, has the instincts pursuit, and blockshed skills

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by NeeJ49er:
So if he is weighing in at 270 LBs , will he be used as an edge rusher in nickel packages, and at OLB in the 3-4? ...270 LBs isn't exactly ideal weight for a 3-4 DE

but hopefully O'Neil finds ways to get him on the field to put pressure on the QB

All positions...at NT, DE and on the edge. He won't be your wide-body traditional 2-gap base DL. He'll be used in various packages to attack gaps between the C & G and G & T and then rush off the edge. It should work great b/c most of the game OL will be facing our two-gap DL in AA/Dorsey/Buckner/Purcell/Dial and they get used to facing power...then you bring in Blair and as you set your feet to brace for power, he's already blown by you and is in the backfield.

I could be wrong but wasn't that kinda how they used Smith his rookie year?

Originally posted by English:

Originally posted by 49erThrowback:
Let's assume that Blair makes the 53 (he looks to have a better than even chance at this point). What percentage of games do people think he'll be active vs. inactive (also assuming Armstead, Dial, Buckner, Dorsey, Carradine, and Purcell are also on the squad)?

For the record, I don't think he'll be activated every week.

That looks like a strong group there. He may start off inactive but as the season progresses I imagine he will have his chance.

Agree

Spot work until he starts to make plays, then more & more playing time.

Originally posted by 49erThrowback:
Let's assume that Blair makes the 53 (he looks to have a better than even chance at this point). What percentage of games do people think he'll be active vs. inactive (also assuming Armstead, Dial, Buckner, Dorsey, Carradine, and Purcell are also on the squad)?

For the record, I don't think he'll be activated every week.

Hard to tell, but I believe they said they were also working on his coverage abilities when they were working in his OLB snaps. If he's even close to decent at that, then that's a lot of versatility for a guy to be kept inactive for too long.

We have to temper expectations a bit because this is the period of every NFL season filled with optimism before the games either amplify it or crush it. What I will say is that the first step in any productive rookie's career is making positive impressions in camp and it is clear Blair is doing that. I hope he can develop into a useful rotational guy in the future.

I thought he was 285ish coming out of college.

If he is used at OLB, ILB, DE....it will be for one thing only and that is passrush. No pass pro. As the former, he will excel. NCommand's comments about leaving Blair off the field initially, getting the opponent's OL used to smash and grab, and then when they are expecting that, Blair comes in and as NC says, slides right by them. That is what I THOT he was brot here for.

Pass pro...leave that to our DBs, and LBs who CAN cover. That is a long way off for Blair. He is passrush. Period. He is good enough , however, to really help us jsut w/ blazing passrush. Just don't ask him to do something else.

In recent yrs, harbaw yrs, we were guilty of that....asking guys , oh say like Tank, to do something else. Use them for their obvious abilities, not for what they don't do. Seems simple enough, but obviously isn't, as it's been a bugaboo for us 5 yrs now.

Originally posted by pasodoc9er:
If he is used at OLB, ILB, DE....it will be for one thing only and that is passrush. No pass pro. As the former, he will excel. NCommand's comments about leaving Blair off the field initially, getting the opponent's OL used to smash and grab, and then when they are expecting that, Blair comes in and as NC says, slides right by them. That is what I THOT he was brot here for.

Pass pro...leave that to our DBs, and LBs who CAN cover. That is a long way off for Blair. He is passrush. Period. He is good enough , however, to really help us jsut w/ blazing passrush. Just don't ask him to do something else.

In recent yrs, harbaw yrs, we were guilty of that....asking guys , oh say like Tank, to do something else. Use them for their obvious abilities, not for what they don't do. Seems simple enough, but obviously isn't, as it's been a bugaboo for us 5 yrs now.

I was actually trying to avoid thinking about that

But yeah, good points. I've said before I'd much rather him stay on the DLine, but I guess if they're going to work him as an OLB, then part of that might include learning coverage basics as a 'just-in-case' sorta thing. And if he happens to be good at it, then good for him.

My ideal expectation for him is someone who's brought in specifically for pass rush early on, but can later become a rotational guy that can also help against the run.

That's the idea.

is the guy really 275 to 280??

that's like Bruce Smith or Mario William's size.. NO??

I thought he would only be in the 265 to 270 at most.. he'll be a fine pass rusher, but don't expect him to be an OLB .. .

NFL/49ers.com has him at 270, but in previous pages he looked like he'd fit the mold of an OLB. I can care less about a title, it seems like can be our Swiss army in this D.

Originally posted by Since07:

I was thinking the same thing a bit heavy to play ILB but I can see it, has the instincts pursuit, and blockshed skills

I'm thinking with smaller quicker OLBs he could concentrate on plugging holes...work with the three down as a rover DL. If he truly is a natural playmaker, they'll want him free to improvise. With Armstead and Buckner anchoring it would be a fun set.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by NeeJ49er:

So if he is weighing in at 270 LBs , will he be used as an edge rusher in nickel packages, and at OLB in the 3-4? ...270 LBs isn't exactly ideal weight for a 3-4 DE

but hopefully O'Neil finds ways to get him on the field to put pressure on the QB

All positions...at NT, DE and on the edge. He won't be your wide-body traditional 2-gap base DL. He'll be used in various packages to attack gaps between the C & G and G & T and then rush off the edge. It should work great b/c most of the game OL will be facing our two-gap DL in AA/Dorsey/Buckner/Purcell/Dial and they get used to facing power...then you bring in Blair and as you set your feet to brace for power, he's already blown by you and is in the backfield.

I could be wrong but wasn't that kinda how they used Smith his rookie year?

Hmmm, can't remember but I thought he mostly just played the WILL in nickel/dime. Fangio was pretty vanilla that way. But don't "quote" me on that one. LOL

I think you're right, that and as a pure DE(4-3) in passing downs. Been a minute doe, fudge that'd be fun to watch some '11 tape loose.