Bjorn Werner as a 3-4 DE?

[Wesk7]

I was just reading a article on Bleacher report on Trent Cole and it mentioned potentially having Werner bulk up some and play de. That got me wondering. Could that be a real option? How do you guys think he would do? He moved from a 4-3 de to a 3-4 olb already. How much does he weigh? 270? 280?

[oldunclemark]

I cant see it..he doesn't have the body and cant get there

[ColtsLegacy]

I think he'd get manhandled. He's not nearly strong or big enough right now. His playing weight is ~260.

[Rich Cannon]

No more experiments, lets keep him at OLB.  

[Wesk7]

Yea if he's 260 30-40 lbs would be a lot to gain. Adongo is 280 and a great athlete. I wonder if he could do it? Again just bsing and not saying we should.

[PeterBowman]

Werner is shaping up to be an Erik Walden type....good edge setter with some decent pass rushing ability....that's where is value to the team is...hence why they brought in Trent Cole...

[lollygagger8]

Werner is shaping up to be an Erik Walden type....good edge setter with some decent pass rushing ability....that's where is value to the team is...hence why they brought in Trent Cole...

 

This.

 

Then when we let Werner go, he'll go to Buffalo and light it up. lol 

[ProblChld32]

No, let him stay at OLB, he will have to put on a ton of weight to play as a DE in the 3-4 defense. I think he is better suited as a 4-3 DE but he is good against the run in the 3-4 if he can develop more pass rush moves and counter rush moves he can be much more effective pressuring the QB. 

[pgt_rob]

Werner should stay where he is. With us adding Trent Cole and having Mathis back, Werner may play better. We will see though.

[Valpo2004]

Don't think he has the body to gain that much weight.  

[PeterBowman]

Werner should stay where he is. With us adding Trent Cole and having Mathis back, Werner may play better. We will see though.

and Newsome coming along too

[TKnight24]

Werner is a career backup/rotation OLB..... nothing more.

Don't see him living up to that first round pick here in Indy. But that's just my opinion

[Jason_]

Werner is a career backup/rotation OLB..... nothing more.

Don't see him living up to that first round pick here in Indy. But that's just my opinion

 

His ceiling has yet to be determined.

[PeterBowman]

His ceiling has yet to be determined.

if a mide 20s first round pick can be a solid long term contributor, I'd say that's a win.

[SteelCityColt]

Werner is shaping up to be an Erik Walden type....good edge setter with some decent pass rushing ability....that's where is value to the team is...hence why they brought in Trent Cole...

 

This....

 

Does anyone remember way back when we drafted him and he was projected into being a SAM Backer for us. Injuries in 2013 forced him into learning the rush role at the same time and then with Matthis going down last year he was the rush backer a role he's not ideally suited to being an out and out pass rusher. Add in his own injuries that have hampered his development and I think he gets a bit of a hard time on here. 

 

Back the to the topic... no way he will ever be a 3-4 DE. 

[Track Guy]

I think he's more of a SAM. The Walden comparison is a pretty good one.

[CheesyRoyale]

All I see out of Werner is depth at pass rushing OLB. He is not big enough to be a DE, especially in a 3-4, maybe in 4 down lineman sets. I like the guy, but he's not there yet, too small.

[coltsfanatic24]

Werner isn't good, doesn't have the speed and strength to be a good OLB. He's a career backup.

[Gavin]

Sure if you want to have no run containment whatsoever at 3-4 DE

[DougDew]

OLBs next year.  Walden/Werner....Cole/Newsome.  Mathis takes over Phillips' role and comes in on obvious passing downs.

[Superman]

No, Werner's not gonna play 3-4 DE. Not for us.

[NewEra]

Werner will be fine rotating with walden.

[Jason_]

Werner isn't good, doesn't have the speed and strength to be a good OLB. He's a career backup.

 

Do you think Paul Kruger isn't good?  Do you think he's a career backup? 

[Jason_]

This....

 

Does anyone remember way back when we drafted him and he was projected into being a SAM Backer for us. Injuries in 2013 forced him into learning the rush role at the same time and then with Matthis going down last year he was the rush backer a role he's not ideally suited to being an out and out pass rusher. Add in his own injuries that have hampered his development and I think he gets a bit of a hard time on here. 

 

Back the to the topic... no way he will ever be a 3-4 DE. 

 

Actually you have that backwards.  The plan was for Werner to back up Mathis at RushLB his rookie season and not learn the Sam position until later on.  Going into training camp during Werner's rookie year, they had the depth chart setup to have Walden starting at Sam with Lawrence Sidbury as his backup.  Werner was the backup to Mathis at Rush.  It was the season-ending injury in preseason to Sidbury that forced them to move Werner to Sam.

[Dustin]

I think Werner fits best on another team. Any team. Please. 

[Jason_]

I think Werner fits best on another team. Any team. Please. 

 

 

 

 

edited to clarify, you're the one on the right

[SteelCityColt]

Actually you have that backwards.  The plan was for Werner to back up Mathis at RushLB his rookie season and not learn the Sam position until later on.  Going into training camp during Werner's rookie year, they had the depth chart setup to have Walden starting at Sam with Lawrence Sidbury as his backup.  Werner was the backup to Mathis at Rush.  It was the season-ending injury in preseason to Sidbury that forced them to move Werner to Sam.

 

Apologies if that's how it went down, shows how bad my memory (and football knowledge ) is!

 

I still maintain he's a better Sam. 

[Jason_]

Apologies if that's how it went down.

 

I still maintain he's a better Sam. 

 

oh I definitely agree that he's a better Sam, was just saying that wasn't the original intention when he was drafted.

[wesd2890]

He was at his best in the afc championship game.. on the bench as a healthy scratch

[Luck_Is_Skilled]

Too small for that.

[Horse Shoe Heaven]

His ceiling has yet to be determined.

Agree

[Horse Shoe Heaven]

Thats weird I had the same thought yesterday. Maybe an ILB?

[theanarchist]

Werner is shaping up to be an Erik Walden type....good edge setter with some decent pass rushing ability....that's where is value to the team is...hence why they brought in Trent Cole...

Totally agree

[BOTT]

It's worth a shot for him...he isn't cut out as a LB. Maybe get up to 275/280 and become inside pass rusher on 3rd down....something.

[gacker65]

I'm going to preface this by saying, I did not like where we drafted Werner.  I did not see him as a pass rush OLB.  I've called Werner a bust.  This based on where he was drafted not on his ability.

 

I have been impressed with the progress Bjorn has made as a Sam OLB.  He is getting better at setting the edge.  He can rush from the Sam side and pressure the QB (needs to learn some more pass rush moves to help get the sack).

 

On topic, I do not see Bjorn adding weight to be a 3-4 DE.  More weight would slow him further.

[NewColtsFan]

Do you think Paul Kruger isn't good?  Do you think he's a career backup? 

 

You're not going to compare Werner with Kruger, are you?

[NewColtsFan]

Werner doesn't have the body to gain the needed weight.     He is what he is.

 

But Odongo might....

 

He was reportedly 282 last year.....     I'd like to see what we can do with that....

[CanuckColt]

I cant see it..he doesn't have the body and cant get there

True.  Just let him keep learning to play OLB and use him like Walden.

[masterlock]

Werner doesn't have the body to gain the needed weight.     He is what he is.

 

But Odongo might....

 

He was reportedly 282 last year.....     I'd like to see what we can do with that....

I'd definitely like to see what Odongo can do. Football's not rocket science, and I think by now, he's had enough time to learn the game, and learn the Colts' system. So yeah, put him out there in training camp and pre-season let the cards fall where they may.

[Cribbsfaircatch]

How about have him lose weight and play ilb. How bout we just trade him