Arthur Brown at OLB? (speculation)

[rmw10]

I still don't think your understanding what I'm trying to say. I'm not saying put him right on the LOS against a guard or something, maybe put him off the LOS and bring him in on some delayed blitzes and such to take advantage of his speed. And Daryl Washington and Mychal Kendricks seem to do fine rushing from the ILB position even though they are in the 230lbs range.

 

Then that is not the role McPhee was in.  McPhee did his damage from the interior.

[Clmraven]

Then that is not the role McPhee was in.  McPhee did his damage from the interior.

Mcphee did his damage all across the line. Like I said before though I'm not saying Arthur would replace mcphee, just help replace his production being a situational move pass rusher by playing to Arthur's strengths not mcphee's strengths. They are 2 completely different players arthur is never going to line up at De or Nt, but I believe he can rush the passer in his own way.

[rmw10]

Mcphee did his damage all across the line. Like I said before though I'm not saying Arthur would replace mcphee, just help replace his production being a situational move pass rusher by playing to Arthur's strengths not mcphee's strengths. They are 2 completely different players arthur is never going to line up at De or Nt, but I believe he can rush the passer in his own way.

 

I don't think it's comparable at all.  You aren't going to get consistent pass rush from a 220lb. LB.

Edited February 15, 2015 by rmw10

[Clmraven]

I don't think it's comparable at all.  You aren't going to get consistent pass rush from a 220lb. LB.

From everything I've read arthur was in the 225+ range when we drafted him and he's gotten up to around 233 during the season i don't think he's as small as your making him out to be

[rmw10]

From everything I've read arthur was in the 225+ range when we drafted him and he's gotten up to around 233 during the season i don't think he's as small as your making him out to be

 

Regardless of what he is, that's not big enough to get a consistent pass rush from the edge or LOS.  He may not be 220, but even at 230-235, he's not big enough for that type of role.

[Clmraven]

Regardless of what he is, that's not big enough to get a consistent pass rush from the edge or LOS.  He may not be 220, but even at 230-235, he's not big enough for that type of role.

I don't mean to argue this much lol. But how can you say what he can or can't do when he has had no playing time what so ever? Sure he could be too light to be in that role he could even be a huge bust,but there is always players that defy the odds against them whether it be size speed or strength, basically im trying to say give him a chance before labeling him.

[rmw10]

I don't mean to argue this much lol. But how can you say what he can or can't do when he has had no playing time what so ever? Sure he could be too light to be in that role he could even be a huge bust,but there is always players that defy the odds against them whether it be size speed or strength, basically im trying to say give him a chance before labeling him.

 

Gotta be realistic.  He's an ILB in the 3-4 through and through, and even that isn't going all that well.

[Clmraven]

Gotta be realistic.  He's an ILB in the 3-4 through and through, and even that isn't going all that well.

I completely understand what your saying he's done nothing to this point. Just curious what do you think the Ravens should do with him keep developing him as D smiths replacement or just cut ties and try and trade him or something?

[rmw10]

I completely understand what your saying he's done nothing to this point. Just curious what do you think the Ravens should do with him keep developing him as D smiths replacement or just cut ties and try and trade him or something?

 

Keep him at ILB for now and see on Daryl Smith.  I was a proponent of letting him take some snaps from Smith last year but Smith really picked it up after a rough first few games.  I'm holding out hope for Brown, but I truly believe he's best in a 4-3.

[jimjim5]

First issue here is the ravens will have a need at LB before another 3 yrs. Darryl Smith is 33 and already has lost a half step that's evident in his range and coverage skill!! He gets by due to his smarts and sound tackling technique. Like other LBs learned its hard to continue to excel once they start losing half steps every year. Just ask Urlacher and Lance Briggs he will be a liability in the ravens defense eventually!! When a LB or cornerback begins relying on smarts they won't be playing up to their standard much longer in the nfl. Edge rushers can actually counter losing a half step with skill and technique. But a standard LB not quite so much. I'm actually questioning if he has another pro bowl caliber year left next year. Especially when there are 2 great replacements available this off season at bargain rates!!

The first lb the ravens should consider is Sean Weatherspoon. He is explosive, plays with good instincts, hits hard and can cover TEs and RBs or patrol a zone as well as many Strong Safety's thanks to his speed,agility and instincts. He is a 3 down LB in the mold of Mosley or Navorro Bowman. And he will be a bargain cuz he is coming off an injury just as Darryl Smith was cheap after coming off an injury. He is however much younger than Daryll Smith. He would easily play even better than before in our defense cuz of our DLine is far more talented and physical than any he has ever played with in Atlanta. He would be free to run hit and cover on our defense like he never had the luxury of before. He and Mosley would form the NFL's best physical 3 down LB tandem.

The other elite physical 3 down defender we could consider is Daryl Washington. Very similar size and skill of CJ Mosley. He can run, slip blocks with a mixture physicality and athleticism, cover and hit hard. He is coming off some off field probs but has worked hard to prove he is more focused and better person. He could be had cheap and is the prototype 3 down LB like Mosley. We have the coaching and locker room to keep him straight and get rewarded with a great player.

Just my opinion but I think ilbs and 4-3 LBs are more needed than ever. The position has been devalued due to the RBs being devalued. However having LBs with safety speed/ athleticism yet still physical makes them more important than before. Slower LBs that get burned in coverage is as bad as LBs that can't tackle shed or play physical. Either way the defense gets burned. You have some coverage LBs that are to soft for a LB then you have LBs like Brandon Spikes and Hightower that can shed tackle and hit but get burned in coverage. Sad thing is most teams are happy with these 2 down run defending physical tacklers whom leave the field on third downs which is totally Rediculous!! IN TODAYS GAME TEAMS DONT WAIT TIL DOWN#3 TO THROW THE BALL!! The better offenses throw on early downs often!! If your 2 down LB is getting torched by RBs and TEs you won't have to worry bout him having to leave the field on down3 cuz The better QBs will smoke your defense and put up points b4 they see a third down!! Especially the better qbs like Brady who get rid of the ball fast to the middle of the field and make fast reads and exploit slow 2 down LBs!! My opinion that's the reason physical yet athletic ilbs that can run with RBs and TEs and patrol a zone and close on the intended WR in a flash like a safety is as important as shutdown corners, edge rushers or ball hawking FS. If Daryl Smith has to leave the field next year on third down then he is a liability especially against the better QBs!! Daryll Smith may still be good enough in coverage next year but if a longterm lb that is not expensive is available this off season to partner up with Mosley the ravens should at least consider it in my opinion.

As for Arthur Brown fans, are hoping his issues were just how well Mosley and Daryll Smith played. If he really does have physicality and tackling issues along with likely technique issues then adding 10-15lbs may not help all that much. It would likely help him but if he is to soft and weak at 230 then he won't be anything to write home about at 245. Physical LBs and hard hitters are more naturally gifted than built in the gym. Adding muscle just makes physical hard hitting LBs and safety's into feared monsters. Players like Mosley Daryll Washington Lavonte David are physical forces and hard strikers at 230 lbs but become terrors that strike literal fear in ball carriers after getting bigger and stronger. The greatest in Ray Lewis when he weighed 225 knocked bigger power RBs backward and threw TEs to the ground like rag dolls and after bulking up to 245 then 255 eventually struck fear in ball carriers to the extent they looked for places to lay down before he got there. But he was already a hard striker who knocked bigger ball carriers backward even before bulking up. Mosley and Daryl Washington at 230 lbs can rock a fullback or TE and fight through blocks. Yet explosive enough to get depth in their drops and destroy Gronkowski's and Julian Nerdelman's that catch or attempt to catch in their zones in the middle of the field cuz they can close as fast as safety's!! Ed Reed could really lay wood at only 205 lbs. Will Hill when he was unfocused with the giants and unconditioned and rarely in the weight room played very physical and took down TEs like ragdolls even though he was on the thin side. Now that he is spending his off season in the weight room and is looking to finally fill his big frame out to 215-223, he is going to really lay some wood cuz he is already a physical tackler. If Arthur Brown isn't the replacement for Daryll Smith the ravens will need his replacement very soon cuz he is 33 and has lost a half step so far.

 

Ahem....abridged version, please........

[Whos_Up_Next]

Keep him at ILB for now and see on Daryl Smith.  I was a proponent of letting him take some snaps from Smith last year but Smith really picked it up after a rough first few games.  I'm holding out hope for Brown, but I truly believe he's best in a 4-3.

I think the Ravens still believe in Brown. They did trade up for him and he was considered to be on of the top LBs in the draft class. I think Smith and Brown will split time in the 3-4 with Brown playing more on 3rd down and Smith on 1st and 2nd.

[Tru11]

Whos_Up_Next, on 24 Feb 2015 - 02:38 AM, said:

I think the Ravens still believe in Brown. They did trade up for him and he was considered to be on of the top LBs in the draft class. I think Smith and Brown will split time in the 3-4 with Brown playing more on 3rd down and Smith on 1st and 2nd.

 

yeah it will all depend on how effective smith will look in coverage or if pees will blitz more.

if we have a healthy secondary we could see brown role increase.

 

he was pretty good blitzing in his rookie season.

[Underdogsontop!]

I really wonder what its going to be like with Arthur Brown this season.....

[PerpetuallyBored74]

Regardless of what he is, that's not big enough to get a consistent pass rush from the edge or LOS.  He may not be 220, but even at 230-235, he's not big enough for that type of role.

 

At the Combine he weighed in at 241 pounds:

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/pyrnotes.php?pyid=82068&draftyear=2013&genpos=ILB

 

Google, among others, have him at 242 pounds.

Maybe he couldn't maintain that much weight and dropped back down into the 230's?

[rmw10]

At the Combine he weighed in at 241 pounds:

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/pyrnotes.php?pyid=82068&draftyear=2013&genpos=ILB

 

Google, among others, have him at 242 pounds.

Maybe he couldn't maintain that much weight and dropped back down into the 230's?

 

That's likely the big question.  I recall a report around training camp that Arthur Brown was up to 235, which means he had been lower than that for maybe all of his rookie year.  That 241 could be manufactured weight that he can't keep on.

[Hey Diddle]

All this talk about Matt Elam being a bust, what about Arthur Brown?  I know its to early to tell because he hasn't been on the field.  

 

Does anybody here believe he might take a step this next season?  Play special teams at least? Beat Darly out of his spot or score some defensive snaps?

[GrimCoconut]

We've seen Elam on the field. Brown really hasn't been in the public eye. Very different circumstances.

[Hey Diddle]

I'm eager I haven't heard of him even being mentioned by the coaches or the Wizard lately?  Is he in danger of getting cut?

[Hey Diddle]

100 posts yeah!  I've been a member since the Hey Diddle 4th and 29 play!

 

I think Arthur Brown comes through to eventually contribute for us!

[Ravenseconbeast]

He isn't active because he's bad at special teams. If Daryl Smith got hurt Arthur Brown would play pretty much every snap.

YYeahhh...no.

[Yatagarasu]

He's cheap insurance for us.

 

I think we should wait and see if he breaks out this upcoming year.

 

If not, I say we trade him away to a LB needy team for more draft picks.

[izvoodoo]

YYeahhh...no.

I know that sounds crazy, but it's true.

 

Go and do the math, but with arthur brown on active roster there's no way we can fill a full coverage team on either punt or kick off returns.  He is an absolute shiv on punt returns and almost single handedly gave up 2 blocked punts his rookie year.  If we start him we'd have to play Daryl Smith on returns.

 

But he'd still start over McLellan or Orr, which isn't saying a lot.

[gooftroop]

All this talk about Matt Elam being a bust, what about Arthur Brown?  I know its to early to tell because he hasn't been on the field.  

 

Does anybody here believe he might take a step this next season?  Play special teams at least? Beat Darly out of his spot or score some defensive snaps?

Maybe we should be glad he hasn't been on the field.

[ravensfan520]

That really surprises me. It's hard to believe that Ozzie would move up in the 2nd rd to draft a linebacker that weighed somewhere in the mid 220s. That is Way too small for an NFL linebacker. I can only assume that he felt that the trainers could get him into the weight room and bulk him up. I mean, there Are safeties in this league at that weight. It just sounds like a very iffy draft choice at best, and a foolish one at worst.

On the Ravens roster Mosley and brown are both 235 and mosley is 2 inches taller... on a side note can he play corner and move webb to nickel because the secondary is where we are having trouble.

[Bruce_Almty]

On the Ravens roster Mosley and brown are both 235 and mosley is 2 inches taller... on a side note can he play corner and move webb to nickel because the secondary is where we are having trouble.

I find it so hard to believe the coaches have not tried Brown at several positions during drills & practice these past 2 yrs. I can only conclude he's not talented enough and thus the reason he doesn't dress on game day. All-in-all a sad situation for a player we used 3 draft picks on.

[ellicottraven]

I see Arthur Brown as a prime candidate to send to SF in a trade.

[Static]

I see Arthur Brown as a prime candidate to send to SF in a trade.

 

for?? i could see Arthur Brown being a draft day trade but I'd honestly like to keep him. I dont think he's nearly as bad as people are implying.

 

He was a beast out of college and has spent 2 years behind Daryl and we know how to develop linebackers.

[Militant X 1]

I don't know why everyone keeps calling for Arthur Brown when we've seen very little of him.

[Static]

I don't know why everyone keeps calling for Arthur Brown when we've seen very little of him.

 

I think thats why

[Militant X 1]

I think thats why

 

Perhaps, but doesn't that mean he's also unproven?