With just a little over two months until the annual NFL draft, the college scouting and evaluation process is in full swing. The NFL combine event will be held Thursday, Feb. 24 through March 1st at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
More than 300 top prospects for the 2011 NFL Draft will be invited to participate at the event. Hopefully, these evaluations will give all fans some ideas of who to focus on at each position of need. Be sure to comment and let me know who you might be interested in.
Position: Outside Linebacker
Need Ranking: 1st
Top 5 Prospects –
- Von Miller: 6’3 – 240 (Texas A & M) – Miller is an explosive player that could run a 4.5 40 at the Combine according to Texas A & M sources. He has exceptional top end speed but could be a little small for Belichick’s standards. He is a three down player with excellent tackling ability and strong pass rush capabilities. He plays with terrific pad level but can be over powered by bigger offensive lineman because of his size.
- Robert Quinn: 6’4 – 260 (UNC)- Ideal size 6’4, 260 lbs for the Patriots system. Quinn, who was suspended for the entire 2010 college season, is a natural pass rushing monster. He has an unreal motor along with all the intangibles for the position. He can over power blockers but does play a little high at times. He could rocket up draft boards during the pre – draft process.
- Akeem Ayers: 6’4 – 250 (UCLA) – One of the most complete 3 – 4 prospects, Ayers can do it all. He is an underrated pass rusher but is fluid enough to drop into coverage. Great tackling ability and very well rounded. While his pass rushing ability did not show up in the statistic column, he does have the capability to get to the quarterback.
- Aldon Smith: 6’5 – 260 (Missouri) – One of the many 2011 NFL draft gambles. He truly defines the term risk – reward prospect. Deemed by many any athletic “freak” he is this years Jason Pierre – Paul. He has superior pass rush ability and explosiveness. He might be a bit raw and need some development but, has the potential to be the next DeMarcus Ware.
- Justin Houston: 6’3 – 258 (Georgia) – A dynamic multi-faced edge rusher who has experience as 4 – 3 defensive end and 3 – 4 outside linebacker. He does a great job wrapping up when tackling (110 tackles last season) and has the speed / athleticism to play from sideline – to – sideline. Houston can simply so it all and could be a greta option for teams late in the first, early in the second round.
* Da’ Quan Bowers not mentioned because he is a top 3 pick *
My Favorite Prospect: Robert Quinn - Quinn is my favorite prospect because he is a pass rushing beast with the size Belichick loves to have at the OLB position. This Patriots team needs a dynamic edge rusher who can get after the opposing quarterback and I believe Robert Quinn could be that guy.
Sleeper Prospect: Brooks Reed (Arizona) – Brooks Reed is a prospect that could shoot up into the early second round range after the pre- draft process is complete. He is slated as a mid third to late second talent as of now, but that could change in the coming weeks. Â Described by NFL Analyst Pat Kirwan as “The next Clay Mathews”, Reed will be a well known commodity after the combine. His size, relentless motor, and ability to locate the ball carrier is exceptional. I believe this could be a prospect worth keeping an eye on before April’s draft.
Analysis: Outside Linebacker is far and away the highest need for the Patriots this off – season. This team has searched high and low for a pass rush threat for nearly three seasons. Not only does the team need help rushing the quarterback, they also need a three down player. Hopefully for patriots nation, this will be the season Bill Belichick and the scouting department can finally land their man this April.
- Like what you have read on the site? Stay in touch with me on Twitter @DerekHavens! Whether you want Patriots updates in an instant or just talk about the team, be sure to look me up!
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Really enjoyed that, very good column Derek. I can’t agree more; the time is right to upgrade the OLB position. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Thank you John, I will do my best to match expectations. Thanks for reading
In case anyone was curious, each of the players height / weight’s were according to their respective school websites. Keep in mind those numbers can be inflated but each player is measured at the combine.
i’d love to double dip at olb and get quinn and reed!
along with a stud d lineman, guard, and tackle, and le shoure (tough breakaway back),good free safety and tall wide receiver who can escape blocks at line of scrimmage, through draft and or free agency.
i’d use lower round picks to trade up where need be to get those studs.
we’re not going to have 12 more rookies make the team, and brady’s window is now.
Derek, if our team needs immediate help, why do you regard a small player, a suspended player, and a risk/reward project so highly? (I suppose you are just being a realist considering our draft position.)
Good job. A good list of players. A few comments. Ryan Kerrigan is not on the list and should be. In games I saw, Ayers get blocked by big linemen, not wild about him. Quinn is gone early, as is Von Miller. Aldon Smith has real production not a workout guy and is very interesting, maybe the most potential for a Pats pick, have to be at 17. So is Justin Houston who looks like a real player, would love to see him at 28 or 33. Brooks Reed is up and coming and I would like to see us double up with Kerrigan, Smith or Houston and then later a Brooks Reed, but I don’t know if Reed makes it to 60, probably not. Maybe a Sam Acho from Texas in the lower third or fourth.
Yes Brett, I am trying to be logical and realistic with my projections. Even though he was suspended (which might scare some teams away) he is not small. In fact many call him a “greek god” for his incredible size and strength. He has top 5 capability but if he fall, I would hope the Pats would make the move.
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Joe, Thanks for the insight. Yes, Ryan Kerrigan is a top prospect, but I am not in love with him. Maybe I will change my mind after the combine but for now, I see him as the #6 on my list (if I had 6 spots). Quinn is a wildcard for now, could go high or fall late. I agree about Houston and Reed. Acho is a guy who intrigues me later in the draft. I agree that the Pats should double up with two prospects. They need guys at that position. Both for pass rushing ability and three down OLB play. Thanks for the comment, good takes.
As I evaluate players, I gleen out the ones that will not work in the Pats system first. They play a 3-4 2-GAP defense.
So that would eliminate Miller and Ayers almost immediately. Neither can stack & shed. Ayers is not a pass rusher, and Miller is a pass rush specialist.
Then you have Quinn who has been permanently banned from NCAA competition. Not only for his off-field problems, but then lying about it to investigators. Take your sharpie and cross him off the list.
Smith and Houston are possible candidates.
If you want more pressure on the QB next year. Look at the possible 5-tech DEs. It all starts up front, if the DL can’t command double teams, the LBs can’t do their job.
DE is BY FAR the biggest need on defense going into next season.
[...] at 12:01 pm A few weeks ago, I made Arizona defensive end Brooks Reed my sleeper prospect in my College Prospect Breakdown. The college defensive end seems to have many of the qualities to transition to 3 – 4 outside [...]