Adrian Fedkiw
Each day leading up to the official start of the NFL football season, I will be providing you with player rankings, team previews, analysis, predictions, opinions and a whole lot more.
What I look for in a 4-3 Outside Linebacker:
Instincts- Finding the ball and having the ability to recognize play-action and mis-direction. Being able to diagnose immediately whether to play the run or drop into coverage. Timing blitzes well to get after the quarterback.
Range- Having the speed to cover a lot of ground and chase down running backs sideline to sideline but also not overrunning plays and trying to do too much. Getting depth on your drop in coverage and having the closing speed to make tackles in the flats.
Athleticism- Having fluidity, agility and flexibility, especially for a weakside linebacker because they are a jack-of-all trades. This means rushing the passer via the blitz, slipping and taking on blocks and play both man and zone coverage.
- Jamie Collins (NE) 8.5
- Anthony Barr (Min) 8.3
- Lavonte David (TB) 8.2
- Vontaze Burfict (Cin) 8
- Sean Lee (Dal) 8
- K.J. Wright (Sea) 7.9
- Thomas Davis (Car) 7.8
- Telvin Smith (Jax) 7.8
- Mark Barron (LA) 7.7
- Bruce Irvin (Oak) 7.7
- DeAndre Levy (Det) 7.6
- Koa Misi (Mia) 7.5
- Karlos Dansby (Cin) 7.5
- Vic Beasley (Atl) 7.5
- Stephone Anthony (NO) 7.4
- Jelani Jenkins (Mia) 7.4
- Shaq Thompson (Car) 7.4
- Malcolm Smith (Oak) 7.4
- Mychal Kendricks (Phi) 7.4
- Myles Jack (Jax) 7.4
- Tahir Whitehead (Det) 7.4
- Manny Lawson (Buf) 7.4
- Josh Bynes (Det) 7.4
- Devon Kennard (NYG) 7.3
- Nigel Bradham (Phi) 7.3
- Akeem Ayers (LA) 7.3
- Courtney Upshaw (Atl) 7.3
- Dan Skuta (Jax) 7.3
- J.T. Thomas (NYG) 7.3
- Chad Greenway (Min) 7.3
- Jaylon Smith (Dal) 7.3
- Craig Robertson (NO) 7.3
- Daryl Smith (TB) 7.3
- Bruce Carter (Dal) 7.3
- Jonathan Casillas (NYG) 7.3
- A.J. Klein (Car) 7.3
- Emmanuel Lamur (Min) 7.3
- Kevin Pierre-Louis (Sea) 7.3
- Joplo Bartu (Jax) 7.3
- Anthony Hitchens (Dal) 7.3
- Kelvin Sheppard (NYG) 7.3
- Bjoern Werner (Jax) 7.2
- Zach Brown (Buf) 7.2
- Shea McClellin (NE) 7.2
- Reggie Ragland (Buf) 7.2
- Dannel Ellerbe (NO) 7.2
- Philip Wheeler (Atl) 7.2
- Kyle Wilber (Dal) 7.2
- Mark Herzlich (NYG) 7.2
- Kyle Van Noy (Det) 7.2