Maybin mentioned on Sirius NFL Radio 2 minute drill

by killascript on Jul 12, 2009 12:36 AM EDT Comment 31 comments

The brief mention at the end of the news blurb stated, "Bills have discussed moving rookie Aaron Maybin to outside linebacker if they feel he is too light to play defensive end"

I am sorry there is no link, but if you listen to Sirius NFL radio you might hear it again.

It sort of came out of nowhere, and seems very curious. With buffalobills.com usually "down" over the weekend, I can't find anything there or anywhere else?

Thoughts? I know Maybin can run a 4.6 timed speed at his more natural 240lb weight, and certainly has quickness, and while he was projected as a possible 3-4 OLB, how would that translate to the 4-3? As well, what are the thoughts of him developing into that position over the season and does anyone think that Maybin has already been preparing for a switch to LB with or without the Bills coaching staff in the mix? Another connection to this line of thinking could be his connections to LBs, Shawn Merriman, Ray Lewis, and Lavar Arrington?

I will say that while I am skeptical about his effectiveness at LB, because I am not knowledgeable enough on Maybin's game or the specifics of such a transition, if it were to work it would certainly shore up the OLB position. However....I would be very disappointed with losing a DE prospect...unless they really plan on moving him around a lot. Could he be a Shawn Merriman, or just some guy we keep waiting to achieve?

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When he was first drafted I wasnt thrilled with the pick.........

until I heard “rumblings”™ that he was possibly going to be moved to OLB…..and then I was semi-excited….

So I hope its true…..but maybe he’ll be a LB and a situational DE…….who knows?

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by norcaliangelsfan on Jul 12, 2009 2:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Other way around...

DE and situational LB.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jul 12, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The issue is his weight.

The Bills list him at 250, which is probably a little like listing Parrish at 179… yeah, right. Maybe after a big meal and when he’s soaking wet… with his pads and helmet on.
Schobel has commented on this many times and his take is that, in his case at least, he feels his weight is a bogus issue. He claims a lot of DE’s play at or around 240-250, and it’s an advantage when getting around the behemoths typically manning the O-line.
Yahoo had this rumor on Maybin, too. More likely he lines up in the OLB position, but with no coverage responsibility. He’ll be there as a decoy, and is a pass rusher all the way, going at the snap for the best gap between blockers to get into the backfield.
If your #1 pick has no experience covering backs or tight ends in pass coverage, you’ve got to find ways to get him on the field. Sort of like McKelvin with return duties last year. No way can you afford to let your #1 sit the bench for the majority of games. Why would you invest all that money and pub and energy in him and then let him sit?

by Defensewinsgames on Jul 12, 2009 8:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He won’t be playing OLB unless it’s in very specialized circumstances. He’ll rush from a standing position, though, I’m willing to bet.

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by Brian Galliford on Jul 12, 2009 9:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If I hear a more detailed report on Sirius

If I hear a more detailed report on Sirius I’ll let you know (i.e. sources, etc.) but to me I just didn’t see it, considering other DEs who have played in the 240-250 range on gameday (Schobel, Jason Taylor, Michael Strahan).

Also on an unrelated Sirius note, Ross Tucker, a former Bill who is quickly making a name for himself as a writer for SI and seems to be on Sirius NFL radio 7 days a week, had a long winded commentary on former teammate J.P. Losman after a caller asked him a question about him going to the UFL and what he thought f JP as a player. It also turned into an inside scoop on the demise of the 2005 Bills. Very good stuff.

The Bills CAN win any game

by killascript on Jul 12, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wish we had that audio on Losman...

I like Tucker.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jul 12, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he is a much better writer than lineman

Football. Bloody Hell!!

by gregeng on Jul 12, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Losman stuff was great

Ultimately, he said bad decision making and a lack of leadership hurt him, even though he was physically talented. While that is old news, his perspective that the team in 2004 made strides, they should have kept Bledsoe, but the decision was made from above to get rid of him (I suspect Donahoe not Wilson) and that all the vets in 2005, and this I quote from Tucker, “We all knew we weren’t winnning that year”, that was the biggest thing I took from it, because it means the team as a whole gave up, and that year went down the crapper. He said JP showed flashes, and that he was all right at the chalkboard, but under duress it was over for him. But he did say that him going to the UFL was a positive, because it shows he’s willing to take the pay cut and the NFL benefits in order to showcase his skills and possibly get back in the league.

The Bills CAN win any game

by killascript on Jul 12, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks.

Good stuff.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jul 12, 2009 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It came from the same FoxSports report that said Whitner might get benched in favor of Bryan Scott. http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/team/buffalo-bills/teamreport

I can only see Maybin standing up when he is blitzing. He will never be covering anybody. He’ll probably sneak up pre-snap and just try to get the corner before the tackle is out of his stance.

Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

by MattRichWarren on Jul 12, 2009 9:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

glad there's a link

but I figure anyway he is making plays works for me. What have we been saying, we need playmakers right? So, however he’s going to do it fine.

The Bills CAN win any game

by killascript on Jul 12, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Something from Chris Brown....

Don’t know if people have seen this already, but it hasn’t been mentioned above yet, so…….

2. Chris:

With the addition of Maybin and the need at linebacker do you see the Bills trying either Copeland Bryan or Chris Ellis at linebacker this season? I know Ellis was considered a tweener in last year’s draft and Bryan is small for a DE.

Gregg in Atlanta

CB: I highly doubt we’ll see Copeland Bryan at LB. I suppose Ellis is a possibility, but I don’t see it happening. However, I think Maybin could line up at LB in passing situations. In an effort to get Maybin on the field as much as possible on passing downs, I think Perry Fewell will make use of him not only as an end, but a rush LB. We’ll see.

Fuel to the fire, or cooled of the hype?

by SamUK on Jul 12, 2009 3:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So who does Brown think would be playing DE opposite Schobel on passing downs? We didn’t draft Maybin to keep trotting Denney and Kelsay out there to rush the passer, and since when do we use a rush LB? We’ll blitz LB’s occasionally, but we aren’t utilizing a DeMarcus Ware type LB that rushes 95% of the time. Plus, I’m guessing Poz and Mitchell will still be 3-down LB’s, so if we put Maybin in as a ‘rush LB’, do we stick with the 4-man DL, 3 LB’s (one is Maybin), and only 4 DB’s in passing situations? Do we use just 1 DT, and slide Denney/Kelsay/Ellis inside to rush and effectively put Maybin at DE, where he belongs, and go 4-2-5?

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 12, 2009 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do we?

The Bills CAN win any game

by killascript on Jul 13, 2009 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There’s a lot of different passing downs. If he’s even remotely ready then he has to be lining up with a hand on the ground on third and long, but what about 1st and 15? Or 2nd and 8? or 3rd and 5? Buffalo can get really creative with Maybin while still giving him snaps at DE. A full time move to LB is foolish and won’t happen, but 5+ plays per game at LB seems like a really smart thing to do.

by kaisertown on Jul 13, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Link

http://blogs.buffalobills.com/

by SamUK on Jul 12, 2009 3:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I see it as a possibility, but not as a full time LB.

As in he’d still play DE on most of his snaps, but myight see some OLB play on obvious run downs (3rd and inches and things like that). Personally I wouldn’t mind seeing him line up behind Kelsey in those situations.

But a fulltime move to OLB would be a horrible mistake. Not only would we be losing our best DE prospect ssince we drafted Schobel, but we wouldn’t be gaining all that much on the LB squad. I would deffinatly bring into question Maybin’s playing ability while trying to stop the pass if he was at LB.

No, to me Maybin is a DE with the ability to be a situational LB. But the DE part comes first.

by CanadianBillsFan on Jul 12, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

“Bills have discussed moving rookie Aaron Maybin to outside linebacker if they feel he is too light to play defensive end”

That implies some kind of permanent position change which is completely crazy. Buffalo would be stupid to not get creative with Maybin and line him up all over the field on very specific plays where Maybin blitzes, or acts as a decoy to allow blitzers on the other side of the field a better path to the QB. So if the guy meant that Buffalo is considering playing Maybin some at LB if his size limits how much he can play on the DL, then it’s hardly news. If he is saying that Buffalo might suddenly come to conclusion that Maybin is too small for the DL and they’re only going to play him at LB, then they’re just wrong.

by kaisertown on Jul 12, 2009 4:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yea

you figured it out before I posted the Fox Sports article, nice call.

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Brandon Rodd!! Our best player.

by poz on Jul 12, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I gues that fanshot got deleted. Do you still have that quote? It would be a great thing to post here. They worded it a bit different then this sirius quote.

by kaisertown on Jul 13, 2009 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why is there an argument as to where Maybin plays? If you ask me, just get the best eleven guys on the field for the given situation. Keep it simple.

Maybin is just a kid, with little big time game experience. And because he’s just a kid, why can’t he learn more than one position? His muscle memory can’t be just locked onto DE; really, how many games has he played there?

Dude’s a physical specimen, and supposedly is a student of the game. If you have a chance to use him, whether it be DE or LB, why not use him where and when he can help?

I think people have a tendency to pigeon hole players into positions. What gets lost sometimes (IMO), is whether or not they are football players. I think this staff doesn’t care about positions (re: OL, S). Maybin shouldn’t have high expectations. But he should make some plays this year, and a lot of that probably depends on how Fewell can fit a square peg into the round hole of his defense.

by krytime on Jul 12, 2009 11:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The problem is that DEs take time to develop. So what does moving Maybin to LB do to his future? Can he continue to bulk up and still play LB? Can he work on his hand technique and pass rush moves while learning a different position? Will he be able to diagnose run plays and get to the right spots or drop back in coverage well enough to even be a startable LB?

You add up those questions and anything that even resembles a full-time shift to LB just seems like a bad idea to me. I think the coaching staff would be crazy to not design specific plays to take advantage of Maybin’s ability in a linebacker role. I also think it’s probably a smart move to work him into specific roles as a LB. He could be a difference maker in short yardage if you just told him to attack the gap between the tackle and guard and not to worry about where the run is going or if it’s a pass play, but to just get into the backfield. And I think that is what the source really meant. There’s no way that Buffalo is going to move Maybin to LB. The national media is just too uninformed to understand that Buffalo is coming up with ways to get Maybin on the field if he isn’t ready for that many snaps at DE and that doesn’t equate to “moving Maybin to LB”.

by kaisertown on Jul 13, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was never suggesting he move to LB full time. I just don’t it’s a bad idea to get a little bit of that as well as DL.

by krytime on Jul 13, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then we completely agree. The Bills just have to be careful and give Maybin a very specialized role. He’s already got a ton on his plate between picking up the scheme and playbook for both the right and left side as well as getting his body as ready for the size and physical nature of the NFL.

by kaisertown on Jul 13, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

interesting

That could be a pretty good scenario. But only if he is mainly going to be used as an attacking/blitzing outside backer. He was brought in soley to help the anemic pass rush and whatever position he lines up at, that main aspect has GOTTA remain intact. I still say look into a 2 year contract with derrick brooks

by Jay Mayne on Jul 13, 2009 1:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it’s simply called having a “plan B”. If he’s not pulling his weight at DE, would everyone prefer that he ride the pine vs finding a way for him to get reps and make a contribution to the teams success?

by dzil on Jul 13, 2009 2:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I dont think its plan B

As much as a plan A of getting Maybin on the field as much as possible. You have to be ignorant or naive to think that Maybin would be able to handle a full load at DE this season after only one year of big time football. Basically, I believe Maybin will not be a DE or a LB, but a pass rusher. No matter where he lines up his job is going to be getting after the QB, and if lining him up with his hand in the dirt or standing off the line next to Poz, then thats where hes going to be rushing from.

Thinking that he will assume LB coverage duty or something of that sort just isnt realistic.

by ballinbills1315 on Jul 13, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No matter where he lines up his job is going to be getting after the QB

That is going to have me (and I hope most fans) very excited everytime he steps on the field. I think with Maybin and with Leodis McKelvin last year, the Bills spent the highest draft pick on the player they thought would have the biggest play ability….and I see that for Maybin.
On a side note, two weeks ago I had a dream he would sack Brady in the first game (of course we do meet them twice, and in the dream Maybin wore a blue jersey and so did Brady, so go figure). No BS….but I just love the possibilities, even if the reality is that it will be hard for him to make an impact immediately

The Bills CAN win any game

by killascript on Jul 13, 2009 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think..

…I have said this before but you will Maybin line up (with his hand on the turf) outside of Ryan or Schobel. Since the bills run a 4-3 people might call him a LB but hes a defensive end in the situational 5-2 defense.

by Buffalo Mo on Jul 13, 2009 2:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Whaat put him as wide out or LB, OR DE. OR CB, I DONT RELLY care if you are a first rounder you better produce some thing. WE NEED to win ASAP NOT LATER OR MANANA OR NEXT MONTH or next year. MAYBIN , AND THE REST OF THE TEAM better get ready

by abayarde on Jul 13, 2009 8:30 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs