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What's one of the advantages of the 3-4 defense? Being able to disguise where the 4th rusher is coming from. In order for the Broncos to disguise where the 4th rusher is coming from, they've apparently sometimes been dropping a lineman into coverage and sending either a linebacker or a safety because Dumervil is always one of the rushers. When the offense is trying to figure out who's rushing, they know Dumervil is going to be one of the rushers.
If Ayers starts to become an effective pass rusher, could that mean the Broncos would be willing to let Dumervil walk? Dumervil has already admitted that Ayers drops into coverage better than he does. If Ayers becomes the versatile linebacker that they are hoping he will become, where does that leave Dumervil? Ayers is the back up weak side outside linebacker which would seem to indicate that that's where he would play if he ever becomes a starter. Why else would he be the back up at that spot. I suppose it's possible that he's the primary back up for both outside spots but is only listed as the weak side back up while Reid is listed as the strong side back up. I don't think that's the case though. With Ayers' ability to play the run and drop back into coverage, it would seem that the only thing holding him back is his pass rushing. If he gets that going, maybe Dumervil becomes nothing more than a pass rushing specialist. Unfortunately, if Dumervil continues to get sacks, it's going to be hard to keep him around, perhaps even if he ends up being a restricted free agent because of the fact that there is no CBA.
I think a lot of Dumervil fans might be setting themselves up for disappointment thinking that Ayers is eventually going to move into the starting strong side outside linebacker spot. Ayers is getting better according to the coaches. The question is, how soon does he start making the coaches think about him as a starter? If it's later this season, which starter gets moved to second team status? If it's Haggan, then why isn't Ayers currently listed as his back up? Is it because Ayers is thought of as a better weak side linebacker than Reid? If Ayers is considered better on both sides, why doesn't the depth chart reflect that by having Ayers listed as the primary back up at both positions?
I guess it's very possible that Ayers would eventually take over on the strong side. It seems that just about every 3-4 defense has an OLB that is a pass rusher that rarely, if ever, drops into coverage. That would maintain a spot for Dumervil on the weak side. It just seems to me that if the Broncos want to stay true to what the 3-4 offers in terms of versatility and disguise, they would want an OLB on both sides that can drop into coverage and be an effective pass rusher.
If Ayers starts to become an effective pass rusher, could that mean the Broncos would be willing to let Dumervil walk? Dumervil has already admitted that Ayers drops into coverage better than he does. If Ayers becomes the versatile linebacker that they are hoping he will become, where does that leave Dumervil? Ayers is the back up weak side outside linebacker which would seem to indicate that that's where he would play if he ever becomes a starter. Why else would he be the back up at that spot. I suppose it's possible that he's the primary back up for both outside spots but is only listed as the weak side back up while Reid is listed as the strong side back up. I don't think that's the case though. With Ayers' ability to play the run and drop back into coverage, it would seem that the only thing holding him back is his pass rushing. If he gets that going, maybe Dumervil becomes nothing more than a pass rushing specialist. Unfortunately, if Dumervil continues to get sacks, it's going to be hard to keep him around, perhaps even if he ends up being a restricted free agent because of the fact that there is no CBA.
I think a lot of Dumervil fans might be setting themselves up for disappointment thinking that Ayers is eventually going to move into the starting strong side outside linebacker spot. Ayers is getting better according to the coaches. The question is, how soon does he start making the coaches think about him as a starter? If it's later this season, which starter gets moved to second team status? If it's Haggan, then why isn't Ayers currently listed as his back up? Is it because Ayers is thought of as a better weak side linebacker than Reid? If Ayers is considered better on both sides, why doesn't the depth chart reflect that by having Ayers listed as the primary back up at both positions?
I guess it's very possible that Ayers would eventually take over on the strong side. It seems that just about every 3-4 defense has an OLB that is a pass rusher that rarely, if ever, drops into coverage. That would maintain a spot for Dumervil on the weak side. It just seems to me that if the Broncos want to stay true to what the 3-4 offers in terms of versatility and disguise, they would want an OLB on both sides that can drop into coverage and be an effective pass rusher.
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