Archer: Bigger Kyle Wilber ready for move

Cotton

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Bigger Kyle Wilber ready for move
May, 16, 2013

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas – Kyle Wilber’s switch from outside linebacker to defensive end has resulted in a weight gain this offseason

“Right now I’m 255,” Wilber said. “The coaches tell me, ‘Keep your speed. You don’t need to get bigger. If you’re 260 and still have your speed, that’s fine with me,’ but I’m perfect where I’m at right now.”

Wilber weighed 243 pounds last year as a rookie. His season was slowed first by a broken finger suffered in the rookie mini-camp that cut short his offseason work and then a broken thumb suffered in a preseason game.

“It definitely set me back a lot not being out there, not being able to learn,” Wilber said. “I came back three weeks into the season and I missed a great opportunity to make strides to get better. This year hopefully will be a lot better.”

Wilber will be moving back to a position he played at Wake Forest and he will still be learning from DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer.

“My hand was on the ground at Wake,” he said. “I don’t feel like there’s much difference in comparing the 3-4 to the 4-3 because our outside linebackers we were basically defensive ends but I was standing up in a two-point. It’s less dropping for us now.”
 

Genghis Khan

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I don't see Wilber making this transition successfully. He's not enough of a natural pass rusher, and he's way too light to be a run stuffer. I never really liked him as a player anyway, but I don't see this being a fit for him.
 

Bluestar71

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I'm getting the feeling he doesn't make the final 53. A position change is never a good sign.
 

ravidubey

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I don't see Wilber making this transition successfully. He's not enough of a natural pass rusher, and he's way too light to be a run stuffer. I never really liked him as a player anyway, but I don't see this being a fit for him.
He showed some pass rushing ability in the Oakland preseason game, so it's not a lost cause. His best fit is somewhere as a 3-4 LB, though.
 

Cowboysrock55

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I'm getting the feeling he doesn't make the final 53. A position change is never a good sign.
Did he really change positions though? Everyone assumed he would play strong side LBer but he has had zero practices since last season. I'm not sure you can really call it a position change when he hasn't even practiced at the position yet. Truth is he is just making the same exact transition that guys like Spencer and Ware are making. I'm not sure the Cowboys organization hasn't always viewed him as a DE in the 4-3. Besides last year he was clearly better as rushing the passer then he was dropping into coverage. He actually flashed a decent amount as a pass rusher. I'm curious to see what he can do as a DE but I doubt he is anything more then a pass rush specialist at best because of his size and strength as a DE.
 

ravidubey

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I doubt he is anything more then a pass rush specialist at best because of his size and strength as a DE.
That's my take, and I don't think the Cowboys see him as anything more than Victor Butler, part II. Ware's eventual replacement is not currently on the roster.
 

Smitty

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I don't see Wilber making this transition successfully. He's not enough of a natural pass rusher, and he's way too light to be a run stuffer. I never really liked him as a player anyway, but I don't see this being a fit for him.
I agree. I didn't like him at all as a fourth round pick. In the sixth I would have liked it maybe.

I don't see him as an end at all. He's probably a career backup that only sticks around because of his draft pedigree.
 
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