I have no idea why the author Sean Wilkinson would refer to Ogletree & Barron as busts, especially since 'Tree' is basically a rookie playing inside. Out of 87 graded LB'ers overall, PFF graded him at #51, and while not very efficient in run defense, he excelled in coverage. Mind you this his first NFL experience in the middle. Assessing Ogletree's future under Wade Phillips is complicated by 'Tree' starting the 5'th year option period of his contract, and he's likely to be asking for Barron type money going forward. We won't really have a grasp on his ability to work within a hybrid 3/4 if this is the direction Phillips takes us in 2017. This could result in what is another positional change for him, and is there a good fit anywhere in a new system where he will be comfortable, or could he become trade bait as a 4/3 OLB ?
A similar problem goes with Barron, although he graded out at # 33 overall with PFF, near same deficiencies in run defense, somewhat better in coverage than Ogletree. Barron is being paid as a top 10 LB, but we don't know if he'll remain a LB under Phillips or be returned to SS, or maybe even both depending on scheme. If he's a LB in a 3/4, I see him maybe as a MIKE ILB, but can he stand up to or slide by the blockers he'll face from the interior, or will his size work against him ? I tend to see both Ogletree and Barron as MIKE ILB'ers, so we would probably have to seek our JACK ILB from the draft or free agency unless someone sees somebody already on-board who might better fit the description. It's going to be interesting to watch Wade unfold his defense before our eyes, there may be some head scratching & face palming before it's all said and done, he knows how to do it, but will we be patient enough to bear it ?
Makes me wonder whether Williams, now with Cleveland, would want to trade for either of our 2 starting LB'ers, and what would their value be ? Joe Thomas, anyone ?
jmo.
