Matchmaker: Bruce Irvin and the New York Giants

This is a new series here at NFLmocks where I’ll take a look at a player that many see one why and try to pinpoint an unforeseen fit for the player. For many Luke Kuechly is a MLB, but there might be a team out there that he would fit ideally as a Weakside linebacker I’ll try to highlight that team and why I believe he could play a different position. I’ll also use this series to look at late round players and a team I think he would fit in well with, today’s player is WVU Bruce Irvin who was recently arrested, but I do not expect that to drastically alter his stock.

Bruce Irvin is not a traditional player. He played Defensive end in WVU 335 scheme at about 245 pounds, very slight for a defensive end. He’s a player who has terrific speed and a good arsenal of pass rushing moves. Irvin is a player that is considered to be a 34 Rush OLB with his main priority getting after the quarterback (almost think what Aaron Maybin was to the Jets this year) or a situational pass rushing defensive end. Irvin isn’t considered a guy who is terrific in run support-in part because he was often off the field in running situations at West Virgina, and doesn’t have a lot of experience as a guy in coverage, which is also why he’s considered purely a pass rusher.

But there is one team out there that I think will consider him as a 43 Strong side linebacker-and that team is the New York Giants. The Giants have not taken a normal approach to their strong side linebacker in recent years. Really the only protypical 43 Strong side linebacker they have used under Jerry Reese is Kawika Mitchell in 2007. Generally the Giants like to take guys who are pass rushers first and mold them into Strongside linebackers (which has not been that effective) year in and year out they draft conversion defensive ends. They drafted Mathias Kiwanuka as a defensive end, but have switched him back and forth to strong side linebacker. Other players they have tried to fit as their SAM linebacker are Clint Sintim (a 34 OLB 2nd round pick out of Virgina). Sintim has battled myriad injuries and hasn’t’ been able to get on the field. They also drafted DE Adrian Tracy and tried to turn him into a strong side linebacker.

There is a difference between Irvin and the other players the Giants have tried to unsuccessfully make their SAM linebacker (or in Fewell’s system it’s called the Will, but that doesn’t matter)-Speed.

Sintim, Kiwanuka, Tracy dont have the kind of speed and pure athletic ability that Irvin does. Irvin would provide the Giants with the length and pass rushing ability that they covet. He also has pretty long arms at 33 3/8″ long which is another factor they always look for in front seven players. He has the ability to develop into a better guy in pass coverage than either Kiwanuka or Sintim was. In short he has the look of a Giants Strong Side linebacker-the question is whether or not he’d be able to hold up against the run effective and I think that he’s better tackling and shedding blockers in the run game than he gets credit for from most draftniks. He’s not Dont’a Hightower, but he’s not bad. The question is how early would the Giants consider him (and will they actually consider him at 43 OLB). Maybe as high as round two, but I think if he’s available at the end of round three he’ll be a New York Giants. Even if it’s not the main stream connection I think he has a chance to excel in the Giants system.

Home/NFL Draft