Ayers's Future

by asdqqq on Jan 28, 2010 12:13 PM MST

Prior to and immediately following the draft, I was excited about Ayers as a Broncos pick for one reason: at least some scouts believed that he had the frame to bulk up a little and be a good 5-technique, 3-4 defensive end. I remember one saying that if Jackson wasn't available, Ayers was the last chance to get an impact 5-technique in this draft class. (Can't remember exactly where, unfortunately). So I was suprised when Ayers lined up as an OLB rather than a DE.

Nolan seemed to love the idea of having huge OLBs that could play right up on the line, allowing a hybrid 3-4/5-2 system. But Ayers doesn't seem to have the skill set of a traditional 3-4 outside backer. Dumervil seems to be a similar player that way, but with much stronger pass rushing skills (which I never got the impression was Ayers's strong suit anyway). Particularly if Dumervil stays around, it just doesn't make sense to me to plan on having Ayers line up opposite Dumervil very often, as they seem to share the same weaknesses in doing the other stuff the OLBs are supposed to do, like pass coverage.

So...now that Nolan is gone, do you think Ayers gets moved up to the line? I'm no fooball talent scout, I'm just going off what the scouts were saying prior to the draft. So all you great football minds out there, did the stuff we saw from Ayers his first year indicate that he would make a good 5 technique, or a better 5-technique than OLB?

PS, maybe this is an area where Nolan and McDaniels disagreed? I don't remember seeing any OLBs like Ayers in New England. If McD wanted to draft an OLB, I can't understand why they wouldn't have drafted Clay Matthews instead. He seemed to perfectly fit the New England OLB mold coming out (he was the pick for New England on just about every mock draft I saw leading up to the draft for this reason, although New England ended up trading away the Matthews pick to the Packers, so maybe he wasn't really). I would have said they should pick Matthews over Ayers if they wanted an OLB before the draft, and, in hindsight, it looks like that would have been a pretty good pick. Not that I think the Ayers pick is necessarily a bad one, particularly if he turns into a quality 5-technique or OLB.

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Good question, my area of knowledge is more vast on O, but I will give my opinion

I think he’lll do just fine. Coming out of college many believed he would be a 3-4 OLB at this level, so I think he’ll stay there. I also think for his size he is very quick and agile. He sticks out at me especially after watching him play against the Eagles. He was everywhere and flying around the ball a lot. He also made one great play on the eagles first drive where he made a TD saving tackle on Westbrook, which led to a TO. He’s also played kickoff, and not many 5 techs can do that so I expect to see him at OLB and maybe hav his hand in the dirt on nickel packages

by DBroncs1414 on Jan 28, 2010 12:24 PM MST reply actions

I agree

I have continued to say, just need to give these rookies a little time, at least 3 years before judging if they just can’t cut it or not. Leave him at LB and let him learn his trade, moving these guys around every year(ie DJ Williams) I believe is just as bad as hiring and firing coaches every year no continuity.

by broncos314 on Jan 28, 2010 12:32 PM MST reply actions

He'll stay at OLB

He’s a gifted athlete. He’s made improvement in coverage and was around the QB a lot when he blitzed.

When Ayers was interviewed after the draft he said the Coach Martindale personally spoke to him prior to the draft. And that the Broncos were scouting him as a OLB. With that said, (IMHO) Martindale is now the DC. I think that Ayers will grown into a Solid, Impact OLB.

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by BroncoCountryHawaii on Jan 28, 2010 12:36 PM MST reply actions

And he tackles like a Pro Wrestler... +1 to him just for that.

by BroncoMath101 on Jan 28, 2010 12:52 PM MST reply actions

It would be worth 15 yards

If he were to do that to Rivers. Imo. Not inducing serious injury, of course. Just a lot of pain.

And with the 32nd pick in the 2009 NHL draft, the Red Wings select: Someone other than Ryan O'Reilly. LOL@Detoilet.

by Bob in Boulder on Jan 28, 2010 1:02 PM MST up reply actions

Ayers is not a good fit as a 3-4 end IMO

Honestly, I thought Ayers would be a good 4-3 end that has good ability to hold the point of attack and get to the Qb on occassion. But I think he really lacks the size to be a 3-4 end, which you typically want in the 285lb or greater range so they can handle double teams. I think Ayers would struggle to get to that weight and play effectively, I think at a 270lb 4-3 end he would be good, and he may be servicable as a 260lb OLB, but I agree he has problems with coverage and being able to work in space.

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by Broncoman on Jan 28, 2010 1:22 PM MST reply actions

I agree...Ayers is too small to be a 3-4 DE

That position need to be a Big Poppa that will take on Guards and Tackles.

by miner00 on Jan 29, 2010 10:03 AM MST up reply actions

I agree with Broncocman that he would be a nice 4-3 end

However – one of the things that I like about him is that he is so versatile. Right after the draft, McD was quoted as saying that, among other things, they were looking at whether he’d be able to put on about 15 lbs of muscle and move back and forth between DE and OLB, playing each in different circumstances. I haven’t heard anything about that recently. However – I did see Ayers lined up at both DE and even (on one play that was very successful), NT during this year. He’s got a lot of ability, he’s learning fast and those who have dissed him so thoroughly may eventually hope that their words were soft, because they may have to eat them.

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by Doc Bear on Jan 28, 2010 3:52 PM MST reply actions

The games I saw the most from him he was lined up down as the end not LB. he made great moves and was in the backfield right away but he did not finish. He could not come up with the tackle whether it was the running back or QB. I think that will come. He will be great with pressure if he can actually not wiff when he reaches the guy with the ball.

by kimbertr on Jan 28, 2010 4:56 PM MST reply actions