"When you go back and look at Marist Liufau at Notre Dame, you don't see a stiff downhill plugger. You see range, pursuit angles that close space fast, and a defender who is comfortable operating side to side and finishing in space. Those types of things matter in a 3-4."
"Outside linebackers in this system aren't just hand-in-the-dirt pass rushers. They: Set the edge against the run, Rush from wide alignments, Drop into coverage, Play with leverage in space. That's linebacker responsibility from an outside alignment. Liufau already understands half the job."
"If you look at how he's been deployed early in his career, you will see rotational snaps, situational work, and special teams value. He hasn't been treated like a designated pass rush specialist. Marist Liufau has been used as a movable piece and that is important."
Marist Liufau's move to EDGE in the Dallas Cowboys' new 3-4 defense under Christian Parker is a calculated fit based on his existing skill set. Rather than converting him into something unfamiliar, the Cowboys are translating his linebacker abilities to an outside linebacker role. Liufau demonstrates the range, pursuit angles, and side-to-side comfort necessary for 3-4 outside linebackers, who must set edges, rush from wide alignments, drop into coverage, and play with leverage in space. His NFL usage shows he's been deployed as a versatile, movable piece across rotational snaps and situational work, not as a designated pass rusher. His size aligns with modern hybrid linebacker builds and proven 3-4 outside linebackers like Von Miller and Haason Reddick.
Read at Inside The Star
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