2011 NFL Draft: Titans to Meet with Texas A&M LB Von Miller

by Jimmy on Mar 16, 2011 6:00 AM CDT in NFL Draft

Jim Wyatt tweeted yesterday that the Titans will meet with Texas A&M LB Von Miller in the weeks leading up to the 2011 NFL Draft. Miller is a very intriguing prospect. In a 4-3 system he would have the ability to play some end and get after the passer or play outside linebacker. The Titans have a need at both of those positions.

I haven't seen very many mock drafts where Miller is on the board when the Titans pick, and I have seen some drafts where he goes as high as third to Buffalo. Stranger things have happened, but I really don't see any way the Titans actually have a shot to draft him. He would fill a huge hole for the Titans though if he was still there.

Here is a scenario that could never happen, but I am going to propose it to you anyway; Da'Quan Bowers and Miller are on the board. Who do you take?

Poll

Who would you take?

Da'Quan Bowers

86 votes

Von Miller

169 votes

255 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I have serious doubts about Von Miller being able to be a 4-3 linebacker.

I’m sure he can be a great 3-4 one, but does he actually do enough coverage to be a 4-3 linebacker? I’m not really sure.

Ain't no time for hesitatin'
All you got to do is groove

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by BonzosMontreaux on Mar 16, 2011 6:44 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I was pretty much going to say the same thing.

Absolutely nothing I’ve read nor in the few instances I’ve seen him does it seem like he is a 4-3 olb. He seems to be at his best rushing the qb but I also don’t believe he is a full time de in a 4-3, I do believe in drafting the best player on the board but I really wouldn’t have a problem trading him and moving down a few spots to get a few more assets if Miller and Bowers are on the board.

by Magoo12218 on Mar 16, 2011 7:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Coverage???

Geez he can’t do any worse than our guys last season. Besides maybe we will start moving to a 3-4. I think him and McGrath would do well as 3-4 outside backers

by Tntowboater on Mar 16, 2011 10:05 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I'm giving Bowers

the edge for the same reason… Also I see Bowers helping the whole defense. Pass rush, and run defense will be helped hugely by a guy that demands a double team

Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame, Class of 2010

by Big Bad Bulluck on Mar 16, 2011 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

That being said

Miller seems athletic enough to pretty much be able to do anything. He could adjust, would just take some time. I would love to have a Julius Peppers type across from Morgan, and those 2 on the outside with Jones in the middle along with anyone will be pretty cool.

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by Big Bad Bulluck on Mar 16, 2011 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions

The problem with that.

Is that if you play a team like Jacksonville or the Jets, they will run at him. Having pass rushers isn’t a bad thing. What is bad is when you have great edge rushers and no dt tackles to hold up against the run. Draw plays and traps would kill the Titans.

by Patriots12 on Mar 16, 2011 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions

I can live

with JJ and tony brown in the middle. We could have like the Colts pass rush but actually have DTs

Music City Miracles Hall Of Fame, Class of 2010

by Big Bad Bulluck on Mar 16, 2011 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions

If I didn't know any better, I'd think that Fozzy Whittaker was a DB and Von Miller was a RB in the picture above. What a train wreck last season was for Texas.

That aside, Von Miller is an absolute monster, but he’s a 3-4 guy. He doesn’t have the frame to consistently take on guards and tackles in the run game. He’ll be a Godsend somewhere….it’s just probably not the best fit in Tennessee.

And, the idea of moving him to outside LB in a 4-3 is a waste of talent. He’s a natural pass rusher, and that’s what you want him doing as much as possible.

by SuperHorn on Mar 16, 2011 8:25 AM CDT reply actions

Von Miller. Its not a perfect fit here

but I just don’t want Bowers. Between the health issues and one good year of play, he seems to scream bust.

In Reinfeldt We Trust

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Mar 16, 2011 8:53 AM CDT reply actions

Square Peg, Round Hole.

It’s kinda like what we’ve seen with Babin. He was a highly ranked prospect, but found his way into the wrong system. Once he got back into the right system, you saw the production you’d expect from a high draft pick. Here’s my main reason why I don’t think he’ll be a fit:

In previous years, the Titans had their ends play a lot of 9-technique, lined up wide and told to collapse the pocket. Under Gray, the Titans could play more of a 7-technique, lined up across from the offensive tackles or tight ends, placement that requires stout, run-stopper ends.

Link.
Miller will struggle in that sort of system.

by SuperHorn on Mar 16, 2011 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions

Would Miller be a pure DE in a 4-3?

I think he might get some looks there, but is probably more of an OLB no matter the system. However, 4-3 needs it’s OLB to be able to cover and play the run, not so sure he can do that.

Good evening. I'm Ron Burgundy, and here's what's happening in your world tonight.

by ronburgundy7427 on Mar 16, 2011 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions

He'd need to pack a lot of muscle on to that frame. The problem with that is that you risk impacting his speed/explosiveness, which is what makes him dangerous in the first place.

He’s a fit for OLB in a 3-4 system, where he’s not going to be called to run much man coverage. Most of the coverage responsibilities in a 3-4 come from zone blitzes where the OLB will drop into a short/intermediate zone. That’s a LOT different than asking a LB to play heads up man coverage against a TE.

by SuperHorn on Mar 16, 2011 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah I see him much more as a 3-4 OLB.

And since Gray is on the record as saying the DEs are likely to move in more, not so sure adding another undersized one, and using a first-rounder to do it at that, is a good strategy.

Good evening. I'm Ron Burgundy, and here's what's happening in your world tonight.

by ronburgundy7427 on Mar 16, 2011 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Miller

He is better than what we have in coverage, and can get bafter the QB if we dial up blitzes. While no a prototypical run-stuffing LB, he is not weak in that area either. Day 1 starter for sure.

Bawz Hawgin' from H-town to 'Toga Town

by MarkusInSaratoga on Mar 16, 2011 9:09 AM CDT reply actions

Are you sure about that? Even if true, I don't think that's saying much.

Miller only had one INT in college. The type of coverage that’s required of a 4-3 OLB will be foreign to him. That’s not to say that he can’t learn it, but saying that “he is better” now is a stretch.

by SuperHorn on Mar 16, 2011 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions

watch the tapes mof Miller

not the stats. Only 1 INT in college…how many INT’s did in 2010? 0. does that lessen his effectiveness? He was asked to rush the passer and drop in to coverage when dictated by the opposing offense. Having zero interceptions, 10.5 sacks (17 in ‘09), 5 passes defensed, and four forced fumbles in ’10 tells me other teams avoid him and when they don;t, they pay the price. Additionally, he can easily bulk up, and his speed makes him capable of doing something we forgot about last year, cover TE’s, and even slot WR’s.

Bawz Hawgin' from H-town to 'Toga Town

by MarkusInSaratoga on Mar 16, 2011 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions

sorry....Nhamdi had ZERO int's.....forgot to write his name

Bawz Hawgin' from H-town to 'Toga Town

by MarkusInSaratoga on Mar 16, 2011 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Comparing Asomugha and Miller is disingenuous. Nhamdi didn't have interceptions because people were afraid to cover him. Miller didn't have interceptions because he was rarely in coverage.

by SuperHorn on Mar 16, 2011 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

ppl were afraid to throw to him?

i think thats what you mean

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yeah, i want some views...

by Ice0ne (CAJ) on Mar 16, 2011 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions

yes, my point exactly. Miller was avoided.

Bawz Hawgin' from H-town to 'Toga Town

by MarkusInSaratoga on Mar 16, 2011 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Could you take Von Miller

and instead of having a rigid role for LB in your system, use a sort of hybrid scheme designed totally around the personnel’s strengths? Have Miller blitz, or drop into a zone. Move him around to different sides. Have the other line backers do different things. Have a safety play a hybrid LB/S. Etc. Or is received doctrine the only way to play defense?

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by rothbard on Mar 16, 2011 9:30 AM CDT reply actions

Design a system around a player? Are you crazy?!

I’m pretty sure this team only forces guys into it’s syste…oh sorry, new coach. Maybe, possibly. Didn’t we used to have that sort of “hybrid” safety back in the Super Bowl era? Bishop seemed to play that role, and quite well.

Good evening. I'm Ron Burgundy, and here's what's happening in your world tonight.

by ronburgundy7427 on Mar 16, 2011 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions

I like it.

Back in high school we used to run a 4-3 but we also had a monster man. He was a lb/safety hybrid. Use him for coverage and blitzing almost like a 4-4

by Tntowboater on Mar 16, 2011 10:14 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Don't have the personel

I like the 4-4 and wish the Titans would go back to using it more. I think a more viable option due to our lack of quality play at the linebacker position is play more nickle and 3-2-5 defenses with Hope in the box. Let Finny, Alteraun (I’m a huge fan seeing as I’m a long beach CA native and I love seeing the local guys play, yes even Marcedes Lewis), McCourty and Fuller take the field at the same time with Hope and Griffin. If we took Miller, he could be free to blitz from behind any spot on the line or line up hand down and run stunts. It’s an exciting possibility. After all, the goal is to get your best players on the field.

by -Erock on Mar 16, 2011 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Is there even a scenario...

..where he is our BPA? Of all the draft talk, I’ve heard no one in Titan-land say, “That’s who I want.”

In Duslin we trust

by 99speed on Mar 16, 2011 9:30 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

I want........

Cam newton there I said it I am not ashamed. He is an incredible athlete take him in first Dalton in second. That way one way or another we are set at qb. Go ahead flop this year and draft d next year

by Tntowboater on Mar 16, 2011 10:18 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

i agree...

Check out my Youtube Channel Icecru2.
yeah, i want some views...

by Ice0ne (CAJ) on Mar 16, 2011 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Doubtful

Not likely that he’s there either way. I’d take any of the defensive players rated in the Top 10. Linebacker and a big defensive tackle are both needs but I’d still be very excited if Peterson fell to us. Then go out and get Carson Palmer and new freakin’ center!

I secretly wish the Titans would beg Kevin Mawae to come back….

by -Erock on Mar 16, 2011 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions