LB John Simon

[Edgar]

What happened to the notion that Upshaw might switch to inside backer?

[Guest RBates]

I truly believe that this kid is going to beat someone out of a spot in the first six games.  He looks polished and strong. I love this pickup.

 

He will start by seasons end for this team.  

[GrimCoconut]

I truly believe that this kid is going to beat someone out of a spot in the first six games.  He looks polished and strong. I love this pickup.

 

He will start by seasons end for this team.  

Who will he beat out of a roster spot? Suggs & Dumervil are the starting OLBs. He would need to beat out one of them. I like Simon a ton, but for him to beat out one of them he would need to be balling out of his mind. 

[rmw10]

I truly believe that this kid is going to beat someone out of a spot in the first six games.  He looks polished and strong. I love this pickup.

 

He will start by seasons end for this team.  

 

This won't happen.  Simon is pretty abysmal against the run and in coverage.  At this point, all he can do is run after QBs.  He'll be a 3rd down pass rusher and key ST guy for this year at least.

[Guest RBates]

Who will he beat out of a roster spot? Suggs & Dumervil are the starting OLBs. He would need to beat out one of them. I like Simon a ton, but for him to beat out one of them he would need to be balling out of his mind. 

i didnt say starting spot. He could come in an fill Paul Kruger's role immediately.  I am really optimistic about this pick.

[GrimCoconut]

i didnt say starting spot. He could come in an fill Paul Kruger's role immediately.  I am really optimistic about this pick.

Oh. If you mean fill Kruger's role, then it's possible--yeah. I can agree with that. Sorry. I might have read what you wrote wrong. It just sounded like you meant he would start over one of them. 

 

I'm a big fan of the Simon pick as well. I think he's going to be a really, really talented player. I see really big things in his future. I love his work ethic & attitude. Two of the biggest things I like about him. Those are big keys to success. He has the natural skills as well to excel, so he's got the natural talent as well as the drive. 

[Fred Sanford]

Man, look at Simon use his hands in both those videos. That's Nebraska and Wisconsin too, not Clown College of Western Nantucket. John looks like he's just waiting for the Tackles to raise their hands, and just hammer smashes them out of the way as soon as they do. Some of those plays he was unblocked, but it's clear the guy's a high motor playmaker.

As for inside linebacker, I have to vote "no" to both him and Upshaw. I think DeCosta or someone already answered this for both of them as staying edge guys. Kruger to 5 technique DE from OLB didn't work, and was a waste of the valuable time we had him. This is probably a bigger transition even still. Much like you don't reach in the draft for need, you don't change guys' roles for need. We aren't talking about Jimmy Smith at Wide Receiver, it'd screw his development all up, and this is the same.

[GrimCoconut]

Man, look at Simon use his hands in both those videos. That's Nebraska and Wisconsin too, not Clown College of Western Nantucket. John looks like he's just waiting for the Tackles to raise their hands, and just hammer smashes them out of the way as soon as they do. Some of those plays he was unblocked, but it's clear the guy's a high motor playmaker.

As for inside linebacker, I have to vote "no" to both him and Upshaw. I think DeCosta or someone already answered this for both of them as staying edge guys. Kruger to 5 technique DE from OLB didn't work, and was a waste of the valuable time we had him. This is probably a bigger transition even still. Much like you don't reach in the draft for need, you don't change guys' roles for need. We aren't talking about Jimmy Smith at Wide Receiver, it'd screw his development all up, and this is the same.

LOL @ Jimmy Smith as a WR. That's funny. 

 

Yeah, I like Simon's motor a lot. He plays relentless, Ravens football. The guy doesn't stop and doesn't take a single play off. He's a hard worker. He's the kind of guy that will wear out a tackle or guard or whatever because of his motor. 

[Yatagarasu]

Hope John Simon knows how to play coverage.

 

I like the idea of mixing and matching our LB Corps so the best four can be on the field. John Simon is not a plug-in starter yet, but I think a couple years of development and he could be a real special LB.

 

His game is built on strength and relentlessness, now we have to teach him how to to drop back and run with TEs.

[AlaskanRavensFan]

Just feel the need to clear up some things here:

 

1. Ray Lewis did, for much of his career, have sideline to sideline speed.

2. The Ravens ran a 4-3 defense (although with hybrid 3-4 looks at times) until after 2001; at which point they made the transition to a 3-4 (remember the Buddy Lee's?)

3. Fans are moving players around like it's madden because the Ravens on their own website and press conferences have talked about Bryan Hall being moved from DT to ILB (which is happening by the way), Courtney Upshaw being moved to inside linebacker, and because the Ravens have a history of moving players around (Edgar Jones, Paul Kruger, Jarrett Johnson, Adalius Thomas)

4. John Simon played 6-technique DE as well as 5-technique DE in college

5. Mike Mayock said of Simon (paraprahsing) [this is a guy you have to find a spot for] and then compared him to Jarret Johnson who came into the league as a DT then moved to DE and eventually OLB.

6. OSU Head coach Urban Meyer said that if he had another son he would name him after John Simon (this doesn't have much, if any, pertinence to the above conversation, but it made me chuckle)

[Yatagarasu]

Just feel the need to clear up some things here:

 

1. Ray Lewis did, for much of his career, have sideline to sideline speed.

2. The Ravens ran a 4-3 defense (although with hybrid 3-4 looks at times) until after 2001; at which point they made the transition to a 3-4 (remember the Buddy Lee's?)

3. Fans are moving players around like it's madden because the Ravens on their own website and press conferences have talked about Bryan Hall being moved from DT to ILB (which is happening by the way), Courtney Upshaw being moved to inside linebacker, and because the Ravens have a history of moving players around (Edgar Jones, Paul Kruger, Jarrett Johnson, Adalius Thomas)

4. John Simon played 6-technique DE as well as 5-technique DE in college

5. Mike Mayock said of Simon (paraprahsing) [this is a guy you have to find a spot for] and then compared him to Jarret Johnson who came into the league as a DT then moved to DE and eventually OLB.

6. OSU Head coach Urban Meyer said that if he had another son he would name him after John Simon (this doesn't have much, if any, pertinence to the above conversation, but it made me chuckle)

 

Makes sense.

 

I hope he plays all four downs since he's a type of player that won't give up.

[Guest RBates]

John Simon Ladies and Gents Ballin.

[akacrow]

Simon does not have the lateral agility to play ILB, that said Arthur Brown is a beast in the making. 

[RLewis52]

He has great talent an think he could really perform, OSU footbal fan, so know he can play. But dont think he can take on that MLB role, with T-SIZZLE and Elvis already locking the outside, him switching positions probably only way hel see the field though ha

[The Raven]

He looked really good today at OLB. Probably the star of that third team defense. He played a heck of a game tonight

[BuckeyeJoe]

Everyone,  take it from a Baltimore native, who loves the Ravens, and loves the Buckeyes, my alma mater, even more.  John Simon will set the field at M&T on fire sooner than you think.   He is the best, most instinctive, very strong, with fast lateral pursuit, you can imagine.  He was a steal in the third round and is very durable.   Watch him develop and deliver.

[JoeyFlex5]

simple reason as to why that wouldnt be a good idea.. the guy was a pass rushing machine in college, why waste such a valuable talent out of our rotation, to put him through the learning curve and preparations of switching him inside, to a position where "above average" to "good" players come a dime a dozen?

[BloodRaven]

He has more burst than Upshaw but he's not naturally fluid changing directions, kind of like a lineman.

[RobFuseRaven]

This topic is like 4 months old. We've already established that he won't play ILB with Smith, Bynes and Brown being great options. I'm guessing this thread was basically bumped so we could discuss how much of a beast he is.

[GrimCoconut]

He has more burst than Upshaw but he's not naturally fluid changing directions, kind of like a lineman.

Speaking of Upshaw, he disappointed me last night. He didn't do a good job setting the edge at all. 

[The Raven]

Speaking of Upshaw, he disappointed me last night. He didn't do a good job setting the edge at all. 

 

I concur. Upshaw was majorly disappointing

[BloodRaven]

^That got me thinking, if Upshaw was walking around this offseason at 285lb that probably means natural weight is closer to 3 bills, factor in his obvious strengths and inability to generate pressure off the edge then what you have looks a lot like an interior lineman.

[izvoodoo]

Speaking of Upshaw, he disappointed me last night. He didn't do a good job setting the edge at all. 

He got lost on that one play.  Apart from that it just looked like he wasn't playing with an edge.  Most of the team looks lazy, honestly.  I know it's preseason, but it'd be nice to see a fire under the teams collective butts.

[ClintLB8]

^That got me thinking, if Upshaw was walking around this offseason at 285lb that probably means natural weight is closer to 3 bills, factor in his obvious strengths and inability to generate pressure off the edge then what you have looks a lot like an interior lineman.

 

I think he just had a bad game, but you could actually be onto something here. He could be an extremely athletic defensive lineman. Didn't he play a little 3-4 DE last year? Situational of course.

[izvoodoo]

I think he just had a bad game, but you could actually be onto something here. He could be an extremely athletic defensive lineman. Didn't he play a little 3-4 DE last year? Situational of course.

No, he's never played anything but 3-4 OLB and 4-3 DE.

 

EDIT:

No your right, there were a few snaps where he played tackle, but it was rare.

[ClintLB8]

No, he's never played anything but 3-4 OLB and 4-3 DE.

 

EDIT:

No your right, there were a few snaps where he played tackle, but it was rare.

 

Yeah, I remember it being rare.. I just remember seeing a few snaps where he was inside and them talking about his versatility. I love him as an OLB, but if John Simon continues to come on strong with a mixture of Suggs and Dumervil, maybe Upshaw at DE makes sense.

[izvoodoo]

Yeah, I remember it being rare.. I just remember seeing a few snaps where he was inside and them talking about his versatility. I love him as an OLB, but if John Simon continues to come on strong with a mixture of Suggs and Dumervil, maybe Upshaw at DE makes sense.

Not really, he's not going to be good as actually DEs.

 

People on this board need to realize that just because a player is good doesn't mean he's going to be better as the actual players at that position.  John Simon is not going to be as good an ILB as the actual ILBs on this team.  Courtney Upshaw should not take snaps away from Canty and Jones.  

[ClintLB8]

Not really, he's not going to be good as actually DEs.

 

People on this board need to realize that just because a player is good doesn't mean he's going to be better as the actual players at that position.  John Simon is not going to be as good an ILB as the actual ILBs on this team.  Courtney Upshaw should not take snaps away from Canty and Jones.  

 

I'm talking future.. and Upshaw definitely could have a future as a 3-4 DE. He could also continue being an OLB and be fine, but he could easily bulk up to 290-295 at 6'2 and a half and be a very stout DE. If somehow Arthur Jones doesn't get resigned, I bet that would be a possibility. I'm not saying it would happen.. but Upshaw as a 3-4 DE makes a lot more sense than just your average "oh, so and so could play this position" when they really can't. I do agree that Simon is not ILB material, but Upshaw could be a solid DE if the coaching staff decided he should play that.

[GrimCoconut]

I'm talking future.. and Upshaw definitely could have a future as a 3-4 DE. He could also continue being an OLB and be fine, but he could easily bulk up to 290-295 at 6'2 and a half and be a very stout DE. If somehow Arthur Jones doesn't get resigned, I bet that would be a possibility. I'm not saying it would happen.. but Upshaw as a 3-4 DE makes a lot more sense than just your average "oh, so and so could play this position" when they really can't. I do agree that Simon is not ILB material, but Upshaw could be a solid DE if the coaching staff decided he should play that.

I can see this. Being open-minded, nobody really saw the Ravens changing McPhee's position, so it's entirely possible they decide to switch Upshaw from OLB to 3-4DE or DT. 

[ClintLB8]

I can see this. Being open-minded, nobody really saw the Ravens changing McPhee's position, so it's entirely possible they decide to switch Upshaw from OLB to 3-4DE or DT. 

 

And I'm not saying I want it to happen or that I think it will happen.. I'm just saying it's a possibility and one that could be beneficial. I'm just saying I have heard of crazier things.