Upshaw might not be starter

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Originally Posted by wickedsolo

Exactly and honestly, it'll come working with guys like Suggs and Kruger because I'd argue that those guys aren't exactly "quick twitch" athletes either.

When I say quick twitch I'm talking about guys like McPhee, Freeney, JJ Watt, Brooks Reed...those guys just have an initial burst and 1st step that is hard to match up against. They're already in motion before the offensive lineman is even out of his stance.

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i think Suggs is borderline quick twitch, he has a decent first step, its not elite but i do think hes pretty quick from time to time, otherwise i agree. I actually see a lot of Kruger in Upshaw, some i think took that as a slight against him but i think Krugers a decent player. I think theyre similar players/builds, both are kind of stiffer. Kruger had a little bit more as a pass rusher coming out, but lacked the run stuffing that Upshaw has, so pretty much opposite skill sets. now youre seeing a more complete player and i think thats just as possible with Upshaw. however pass rushing seems to be a harder thing to learn or adapt in the NFL, so it may take him a little longer, but he does have guys here that can teach him that.

Kruger didn't have the same build as Upshaw coming out of Utah, he was a tall and slightly lanky DE. Upshaw is a short guy with a tremendous amount of strength, but was not as refined as Kruger was as a pass rusher. Kruger is a high motor guy who isn't fast twitch, but can get to the QB better than Upshaw can. Upshaw is built in a similar way to Lamar Woodley, but can he ever be as good as Woodley? I don't think so, but they are similar.

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Originally Posted by leachisabeast

Kruger didn't have the same build as Upshaw coming out of Utah, he was a tall and slightly lanky DE. Upshaw is a short guy with a tremendous amount of strength, but was not as refined as Kruger was as a pass rusher. Kruger is a high motor guy who isn't fast twitch, but can get to the QB better than Upshaw can. Upshaw is built in a similar way to Lamar Woodley, but can he ever be as good as Woodley? I don't think so, but they are similar.

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2 inches and 10lbs separate the 3 (woodley 6'-2 265, Kruger 6'-4 265, Upshaw 6'-2 275) but i always thought Kruger seemed more stocky and didnt realize he was 6'-4. Maybe its just an optical illusion or he just plays lower? whatever the case i dont think theyre that far apart physically.

Upshaw can be as good as Woodley, he just needs time. Woodley did not come out and have a lights out year when he was a rookie and he was a 1st round talant who fell to the 2nd like upshaw.

He NEEDS to drop some weight to build the speed to go with the bullrush. I am not saying he needs to get around the LTs or RTs but needs to be able to be fast and strong enough to push them all the way back. and to do that he needs to drop 10 lbs. Notice Woodley is not a speed rusher he reliys on bullrushing with speed.

He is not lazy and just reported at his playing weight he has more than enough time to at least get to 270 but it takes practice to learn the NFL style of bullrushing and pass rushing before he can be a star. I belive he will make an impact but not more than 6-7 sacks.

Remember he just played his first game after missing most of camp and was hesitant, if he was not hesitant maybe he could have gotten the sack?

I believe Upshaw nearly got a sack against Detroit by completely bull rushing the tackle into the QB. Anyone recall this or was this someone different?