OT...Seahawks LB Bruce Irvin says he'll be playing for Falcons in 2016...

Irvin and Beasley. There's a quick fix to the pass rush problems

quote:

---

I think the guy is just dumber than a box of rocks. Hell of a LB, but seriously...who does this?

---

Someone who is trying to force his team to trade him? It has the potential to poison a locker room and if he doesn't want to be there you could see his production dip. Trade him while you can get something for him.

Possibly.

ATL may want him enough to be fair even while having the leverage.

This is a very weird and unusual situation.

Seahawks already stated they wouldn't take Irvin's 5th year option. This is what set him off. Well, that and he absolutely loves Dan Quinn and the fact he's from Atlanta and his family all lives here.

But, right now, Atlanta would have to almost assuredly give Seattle a 3rd, or maybe at worst, a 4th round pick for Irvin if they did a trade this year. After this year, however, Irvin is a UFA and we can probably get him for the same size deal we just signed Reed to.

But that's the real problem for Atlanta. We just signed Brooks Reed to a 5-year $22M deal with $9M guaranteed, and to play the SAM LB position, which is where Irvin plays.

We got Beasley at LEO, Durant at WILL, Worrilow at MIKE, and Reed at SAM.

What happens if Reed comes out this year and racks up 10 sacks and Irvin gets his typical 8? (or even less?)

Irvin is not a guy you want to pass up on though. The dude runs a 4.53 at 6'3 250. AND he can stop the run AND cover TE's in the 2nd layer, on top of getting you 8 sacks.

Personally, I'd bring Irvin in after this year as a UFA and move Reed to WILL and let Durant and Worrilow compete for MIKE. Or even more Durant to SS since we know Willie Mo is about 90% chance to get injured every season. Durant is 6'1 230 and runs a 4.50, which means he's 10lbs heavier than Moore and .25 seconds faster. So I'm sure Durant could play SS in Quinn's cover-3, which his defense practically lives in.

Damn that defense would be FAST if we did all that.

Beasley 4.53
Irvin 4.53
Durant 4.50
Reed 4.63
Collins 4.43
Trufant 4.38
Alford 4.40
Southward 4.39

And then Hageman, Jarrett, and Clayborn up front with Beasley and Irvin on their outsides?

That's a defense I'd love to see. There's so much speed there it would be insane. Even Clayborn is a 4.73 guy and both Hageman and Jarrett are 5.00 guys.

That would have the be the fastest defense of all time.

quote:

---

I think the Falcons would be thrilled to have that problem

---

Well of course. But you see the dilemma? It makes it hard to sign Irvin if Reed is killin it at SAM. But passing up on a talent like Irvin would be stupid too. So I'm just saying it could cause a conundrum possibly.

Personally though, I take them both and find a place to play them both. Move Reed inside and let him stunt from the A or B gap on plays that Irvin or Beasley drop in to coverage.

If you got someone with that speed and size who WANTS to play for you, you get him and figure it out afterwards.

Irvin can stop the run?

Here's ProFootballFocus' grading on Irvin:

quote:

---

Bruce Irvin – His +8.7 overall grade ranks sixth out of 4-3 outside linebackers and includes a grade of +2.0 or better rushing the passer, in coverage, and against the run.

---