The Difference Between ILBs & OLBs
Sometimes, it’s confusing to understand why certain players play certain positions in the NFL, solely based on their size. I’m sure some readers of the blog think that when we talk about defensive front seven players, we tend to over-obsess on how tall they are, or how many pounds they are. Tedy Bruschi, talking to Patriots ticket holders at a pre-draft party and explaining the difference between an ILB and an OLB in the 3-4 system pretty succinctly, from his perspective.
“When I came into this program, I’m 6-1, and they tried me first at outside linebacker, and that lasted about four days. So then they said ‘Tedy, you’re at inside linebacker,’ and from that point on, I was inside linebacker.
“Think of Mike Vrabel, the long arms, the long legs, the shorter torso, where he can extend. You always hear Bill talk about setting the edge in the running game. That’s how you do that. You extend your arms. There’s a tight end on you, you extend your arms, you set that edge where that running back can’t get outside. But if he can, then you’ve got that other arm to get free and make that play. You force it back to those inside linebackers. You’ve got to have a body type that really fits that — that Vrabel-, that Kindle-type body.”
See ESPN for the video of Tedy talking about this.
And more importantly, here’s Tedy Bruschi doing “Geddy Bruschi” on the amusing Boston sports radio morning show, Toucher & Rich.
31 Responses to The Difference Between ILBs & OLBs
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Brandon from Illinois says:
AKA…Drew, I agree. Taylor is so classless, that he intends to use the Jets to get on HBO. He can’t even off er the Jets inside info on the Dolphins because they have a new defensive coordinator this season.
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Reprocity says:
I wish TJB would do a bit on what a slot WR is… “Slot” has become such a generic label it really should be clairified.
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Fobi says:
off topic, but did anyone catch nfl live the other day when they were discussing the holmes trade? tedy didn’t want to admit that that jets were the team to beat in the afc east….marcellus got on him for that and asked him if the pats still got him on pay roll….thought that was funny
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rusty sanchez says:
i thinnk with the b marshall trade it means jason taylor is going to stay in miami
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EastSide says:
Bruschi’s tenure as an analyst has actually been marked
by a lack of biased reporting in my opinion. One of the classiest rivals the Jets have ever had. -
Eric G says:
When it cam to Teddy Bruschi the only thing I hated was playing him. He was always a class act and as a true Jets fan, I truly feared playing him. He did not have any spectacular gift as compared to the Ray Lewis’ of the world. He was a hard working blue collar ILB and he was a overachiever.
I like listening to him on NFL Live, even if he always favors his Patriots. He knows his stuff and explains the game well. He and Trent Dilfer were great additions to ESPN. I liked his explanation of the difference between ILB’s & OLB’s in the 3-4. It was a decent clarification.
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Brad says:
Tedy’s description is right on and is confirmed by Mike Mayock’s report today when discussing the Jets #29th pick. Mayock discussing The Jets taking Kindle rather than Hughes because Kindle is 6’3″ and Hughes is slightly under 6’2″. I have a feeling the Jets might trade back and take Ricky Saap who I believe is close to 6’4″ and raved the other day about how he would love to play for Rex after have a meeting with the Jets!
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James in NY says:
Oh, please. the only reason some of us are warming up to him is because he consistently picked the Jets to win in the playoffs. If he bashed us on air, all of you would be asking for his head.
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also, i might add… he’s been notoriously known as an a-hole in the pats locker room. i don’t think many players got along with him
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bleedsgreen&white says:
im surprised since they are all A-holes!!!
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Mike James says:
Get Jerry Hughes!!!
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bluedevils532 says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpe4tq7agJ8
if nothing else, at least fast forward to 3:30!
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Pufftonio Stonelems says:
I agree, get Hughes!
The guy has that twitch in his first step, him or Jason Worilds that pass rushera dream of. Jerry’s 10yd split is 1.62…….. Thats phenominal Worilds is 1.67… You dont find speed rushers like that often.. Heard Kindle is fast, but straight sideline to sideline speed. More of a 4-3 OLB. Like I said, give me that one trick pony. Give me a pass rusher. Just a dynamic beast so we dont have to bring the farm on every blitz.
But once again if we can trade w/ say Tampa Bay, b/c they do have 2 2nd rounders in the draft, we can snag Hughes or Worilds in the Top of the 2nd and get another 4th in the process
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get both hughes and hardy and we will be set
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James,
The thing is he DOESN’T bash us on air. What’s your point? -
James
Thats the point…He dosent bash us and is pretty fair with his analysis.
If he bashed us and was so pro NE like R Harrison is he would be hated by this fanbase.
The fact is when he played he was a pretty classy enemy and played his ass off.
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Time speed splits from nfldraftscout – got to do a search for the site and make sure it doesn’t take u to the CBS sports site.
10 / 20 yard splits 20 yard shuttle/ 3 cone drill
Kindle- 1.65 / 2.69 4.53 / 7.26
Hughes- 1.63/ 2.63 4.15 / 6.99
Worilds- 1.56/ 2.61 4.29/ 6.95
(proday- 1.55/ 2.54/ 4.49 40 time 4.13)Worilds
Sapp- 1.60/ 2.62 4.41 / 7.29But you guys are missing the point of the comments by Bruschi – OLB in the 3-4 are best to be taller- longer arms to set the edge better! If we go this route we are looking at Kindle or Sapp. If we go pure speed pass rusher we should be looking at Hughes and Worilds!
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Eddie DiGio says:
I agree…Bruschi is pretty good at what he does…even though he is a Patriot
In fact, the second Tedy retired, that team lost INSTANT TOUGHNESS
Anyway you slice it, I could listen to Bruschi talk football all day…guy is a football junkie like the rest of us
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The 4.13 for Worilds is his 20 yard shuttle. The post above was set up nicely in a chart but everything got smushed together once the comment was submitted. Sorry!
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Freeman Mc says:
While on the topic of LB and their roles, can someone tell me the differences between the WILL and the SAM OLB and the Mike and the Ted inside backers if I have this correct, and where did these names come from?
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And please don’t tell me it’s Bruski, Vrabel, Johnson, and some Sam I can’t think of
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Jason- I gotta agree with you here. I’m not saying Teddy isnt a good analyst but i think people on TJB are extra happy with him because he picked the jets every game last year in the playoffs. I remember how many people were complaining on here about Trent Dilfer when he picked the Bengals over the Jets.
I’m not gonna lie- i like Teddy alot more since Ive watched him on espn because hes been picking the Jets. Same reason I love brian boehinger(sp?) on NFL network because he loves the Jets and unlike most analysts he uses video evidence for his reasons. His video last year explaining why Revis is the best CB in the league leading up the Colts game was the best analysis ive seen of revis yet. In fact- theres isnt a better NFL show than NFL networks playbook show.
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Freeman Mc
Will- weakside OLB
Sam-Strongside OLB
Mike-Middle LB
Ted- TE side MLBFor instance the TED will line up closest to the SAM, where the TE usually is and the MIKE vice versa
WILL is usually more of DE than a SAM, pure pass rusher usually but needs to have some coverage skills
SAM is usually closer to a 4-3 LB than DE, but can still rush the QB and has to be big enough to bump TEs at the line of scrimage. Most SAMs in a 3-4 are much bigger than SAMs in a 4-3
TED does all the dirty work, he takes on the lead FB on run downs, can help chip TEs on passing downs, covers RBs out the backfield and is even used as a blitzer in the 3-4
MIKE is your best tackler and fastest moving side to side LB. The DLine and TED occupy blockers so the MIKE is free to run to the ball carrier. Can also be used as a blitzer in the 3-4
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sunsetmusic says:
Eddie D. I just wanna say I appreciate your posts as much as the other popular names on this blog. I respect ur opinion and the fact that u would take the time to explain what 80% of the bloggers (not insulting anyone) would not have known regarding the difference between the WILL and TED etc. Good job bro.
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sunsetmusic
Its my pleasure…as a former football player in high school and college, albeit D2 and D1AA, and coach…I love doing stuff like that,
Some people are addicted to drugs, alcohol or sex…Im a football junkie
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sunsetmusic
Forgot to add
THANK YOU
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Johnny Reefer says:
i like drugs and football.
but, i hate any pat that had to do anything with the last 10 years.
But picking the jets in the playoffs def helped. plus he isn’t to biased
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Your welcome.
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Thanks Eddie Di
Bruschi is one of the VERY few Patriots that were very hard to hate even though he kicked our ass. The guy (unlike Jason Taylor who never beat us) has class and has repect for the game and has done a very nice job on the air since his retirement.