Safety to Linebacker conversion

[bighouserulez]

Has anyone really been successful changing a sefety into a linebacker? I have a great combine player in one of my MP drafts who looks like he could be a good size and combine fit for a linebacker.

[Firefly]

Never tried it. Give it a try and see what the game says. I'd trust that. Just don't export afterwards.

[TheMeat]

I have had good success with it, the safety needs to be 220lbs iirc. and since the safety has good coverage skills you end up with a great coverage linebacker that has absolutely no blitzing bars, so don't blitz him. But since the lack of blitzing keeps his OVR low he'll stay cheap.

Here's my best one so far, he was an undrafted SS with great combines and weighed 221, obvious creeper and he turned out better than i ever expected. Behold:

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/TheSwapMeat/Gray.jpg

He's a 64 OVR, and he switched to LB with "little or no change"

[bighouserulez]

perfect this guy i drafted was 218 drafted and is 70+ combine and bar for man to man play diagnosis and Interceptions. I was worried the no pass rush ability would hurt him.

[tarcone]

I find it interesting that the safeties have no pass rushing ability. But in game they blitz and have an area where you can put a percentage to blitz them.
So is it a bad idea to blitz a safety or cornerback? Obviously, the dont have the ability.

[stevew]

I'd struggle to play a player with no pass rush skills but I could make an exception for that coverage. I run the 3/4 and like blitzing linebackers.

[QuikSand]

I find it interesting that the safeties have no pass rushing ability. But in game they blitz and have an area where you can put a percentage to blitz them.
So is it a bad idea to blitz a safety or cornerback? Obviously, the dont have the ability.

Some time ago, Jim discussed this indirectly, and I believe he all but said that there's no "player skill" involved when a non-LB blitzes. Either the guy goes unblocked completely, or the offense picks up the blitz. I've worked with that assumption ever since.

[stevew]

I've switched guys to LB from safety before and they have pass rush ability. I think you have to do it pre signing or camp. Can't remember though. In solo play I try to snag upside safeties in the 7th if they are big enough to go to backer. Usually SILB for me though or WLB.

[TheMeat]

I switched a DE to LB recently and he had coverage skills so maybe some players do, I was just operating from my own experience. I've switched 5 safeties to LB and none of them had even 1 point in pass rush tech or str.

That's good to know about blitzing safeties QS, I've often wondered about it.