Overrated: OLB Bruce Irvin

[KitsapGuy]

Well I guess if you have to nitpick someone on our team. I can see their point. :3-1:



Let's be honest, when a team that is full of selfless players is coming off a dominating Super Bowl victory, it can be difficult to find one who is truly overrated.

While he is developing into a solid all-around player (he ranked 10th overall at his position by Pro Football Focus last season), outside linebacker Bruce Irvin might not be the sack artist he was made out to be during his rookie campaign.

After amassing 8.0 sacks in limited action as a rookie in 2012, he produced just 2.0 this past season in 12 starts. Beginning the season with a four-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs didn't help.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2089 ... er/page/32

 

[Trenchbroom]

He's not Von Miller, by any means. But he ain't Aaron Curry either.

 

[Happybelly]

They're using a terribly flawed argument when they're comparing his sack numbers from two years ago as a pass rushing defensive end compared to a 4-3 OLB last year.

 

[Throwdown]

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh

Can't wait to read the Fantasy Football nerds go at Bruce's neck in this thread as well.

 

[pmedic920]

^^
I was just gunna say that he makes plenty of contributions.
I can't think of anybody on the 53 I'd call overrated.

 

[KitsapGuy]

Remember, stats mean everything too. :stirthepot:

 

[RussJames]

How can Hawks fans still refer to Irvin's sack numbers from last season? He was moved to linebacker. As result he dropped back into coverage (or played QB spy) far more often than he rushed the passer.

I think this season is his season to shine. With the experience he got from playing as a situational pass rusher his rookie season and a pass coverage/run stopping linebacker last season, I think he has all the skills necessary to be a ballin LEO in our system this season. I really hope this guy rips it up this season. The word "season" was used a record 6 times in this paragraph.

 

[hawknation2014]

Bringing up sack numbers is a poor argument. Avril took Irvin's place in the rotation and the coaches hardly ever allowed Irvin to blitz from the SLB position. Now that Clemons is gone, there is a chance that more pass rushing opportunities will open up for Irvin.

I will admit I was not thrilled with Irvin's play at SLB. I thought there was a drop off at that position from the previous season when it was manned by K.J. Wright. Irvin was dead last in the league in run stop percentage (3.2%), while also being enough of a liability against the pass for the coaches to remove him from the field on most third downs.

Was Irvin awful? Absolutely not. He was a capable, but unspectacular, OLB. Wright and Smith just happened to play better, which is why they got the bulk of the snaps in the Super Bowl, with Wright at SLB and Smith at WLB.

Is Irvin overrated? No, because I don't think anyone rates him that highly as a pure SLB. If he's given more pass rushing opportunities this year, he could surprise some people with his production.

The most overrated player is probably James Carpenter, only because a three year starter/Super Bowl winner/First Round draft choice should be better than that.

 

[kobebryant]

Love the sensible replies thus far., and I appreciate that the author did preface it appropriately.

Exactly, 8 sacks as a rookie edge rusher; changes positions and grades out as one of the better 4-3 olbs in the league.

I'd love to see him get more edge rush opportunities this coming season though, as that is his most valuable skill IMO.

 

[sutz]

I'm not worried. He was focusing on the other aspects of being an OLB. I bet he gets more sacks this year, as he becomes a more complete player. We know he can do it, but I don't recall that he was asked to a lot in 2013.

This year, it'll be a bit of a surprise when he pass rushes from the SLB slot.

 

[warden]

Our team knows how to develop players.

 

[Our Man in Chicago]

BLEACHER REPORT CLICKBAIT

 

[hawknation2014]

I'm not worried. He was focusing on the other aspects of being an OLB. I bet he gets more sacks this year, as he becomes a more complete player. We know he can do it, but I don't recall that he was asked to a lot in 2013.

This year, it'll be a bit of a surprise when he pass rushes from the SLB slot.

Honestly, I will be surprised if we see a lot of pass rushing from the SLB position. It goes against Carroll's defensive philosophy, which relies on front four pressure. When you bring a fifth rusher, and he fails to get there, that opens up another hole in the scheme- both in coverage and against the run.

The only year we saw Carroll allow a lot of blitzes was in 2010, and that was an ugly year to watch for the most part. He hardly blitzed at all at SC. For example, Clay Matthews never really got a chance to rush the QB until he was moved to the LEO position his senior year after playing three years at SLB.

 

[RiverDog]

Remember, stats mean everything too. :stirthepot:

It's not the stats, or lack thereof, that concerns me, it's how we're using him. He comes out in most passing situations, and when everyone else is healthy, he isn't getting very many snaps period, only saw 17 of them in the SB. His long suit is rushing the quarterback, and rather than finding a way to get him in a situation where he can put some pressure on opposing quarterbacks, ie the "spinner" role he was supposed to play last season, he's being used as a conventional OLB.

 

[GeekHawk]

Why the hell does anybody even read bleacher report? And how did they get connected up with CNN anyway? I'm better at sports analysis than anything I've ever accidently seen there, and I'm terrible at it!

 

[halfrack]

The Bleacher Report is to sports analysis as The National Inquirer is to journalism.

 

[HawKnPeppa]

He will get more opportunities to rush the passer this season with Clem gone. Let's see if he capitalizes. One thing we know for sure; any shortcoming won't be for lack of effort, so I'm rooting for the guy.

 

[Nog]

Overrated? :roll:

He was the fifth best 4-3 OLB last year according to PFF.

 

[SeatownJay]

Kiper still says he was a reach. :stirthepot:

 

[Hawknballs]

Over/underrated aside fact of the matter is that we can't afford to pay everyone and I don't see us keeping Bruce if he doesn't become the sack specialist we drafted him to be. Wagner is set up to be paid at mlb. As decent and probably underrated as Bruce was, Wagner simply offers more.