mayoclinic

Has anyone seen Division II Murray State play this year? One of the more intriguing prospects is DE Austen Lane. He's 6'6", 265#, supposedly runs a 4.65 40 and does a lot of things very well, including the ability to play in space. He's currently considered a 3rd round prospect who could even move up into the 2nd round.

Here's a very detailed review from the Bleacher Report, which compares him to a hybrid of Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck and Osi Umeniyora: "Lane has the lateral agility, balance and foot speed that Kiwanuka possesses, showing excellent pass coverage skills that could see some team line him up at strong-side linebacker on occasion. He has the long frame with deceptive power and that keen sense for the flow of the ball that Tuck features in his game. He also demonstrates that explosive first step, hand usage and urgency getting to the quarterback that Umenyiora has utilized in ranking with the elite sack artists in the league." Not bad.

AUSTEN LANE IS ON THE RIGHT ROAD TO NFL STARDOM | Bleacher Report

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reamer

I read the same report a few weeks ago. I believe I linked it one of my other threads. Good find, and I really like Lane as a mid-late round conversion project. He seems to have most of the qualities we'd look for in an OLB or elephant.

mayoclinic

Wes Bunting from the National Football Post included Lane in this weekend's Defensive Review, and had this to say:

"A year of dominance

Ever since my initial player rankings were posted in September, Murray State’s Austen Lane has always been a top-20 defensive end prospect in my mind. As soon as you pop in a tape of any Murray State football game and watch Lane perform, it’s obvious the guy is ready to take his game to the next level. He finished the season with 64 total tackles, 19½ tackles for loss and 11 sacks and wrapped up his college career last weekend vs. Tennessee Tech with 10 total tackles and 1½ tackles for loss. Lane possesses a freakish combination of size (6-6, 258), length and body control and has a physical skill set very similar to Miami Dolphins OLB/DE Jason Taylor. In no way am I saying Lane will have a career similar to Taylor’s because those kinds of expectations are too much for any prospect to live up to. However, what I am saying is that Lane is a highly gifted athlete who, with a strong postseason showing, could end up being one of the most coveted pass rushers in the draft.

Scout?s notebook: defense | National Football Post

Sounds like a guy to definitely keep a close eye on over the next 5 months leading up to the draft.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

reamer

The more I read about Lane, the more I wonder if it's all too good to be true. He is fast approaching binky status, and we're not even done with the season! I'm curious to see how he does in offseason workouts, because if he plays in the senior bowl against top-notch offensive linemen and does well, then I feel he's a legitimate 2nd or 3rd round pick. Otherwise, he seems like the sort of raw, high-upside player that we ought to look at in later rounds.

After the Barwin man-love from last year, I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high.

mayoclinic

I'm not professing any man-love for Lane - I haven't seen him play. But the buzz is intriguing, and he sounds like a possible sleeper. Jason Taylor was a 3rd round pick out of Akron. I think the 3rd round is very possible for Lane if he performs well in the offseason. It will be interesting to see if he gets a postseason bowl invite, especially if he gets a chance to perform in the Senior Bowl.

Last year we took some kid from Houston in the 2nd round at OT, who didn't even merit a combine invite as one of the top 20 OTs. Guy named Vollmer. He seems to be doing ok. I'm not making any judgments on Lane, just saying that he deserves a close look. He could be the real deal, and he could be "too good to be true".

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

reamer

Just for you buddy: Go Racers Murray State Highlights

Hope that helps. I'm not on a computer that allows me to watch media right now, so I'm not actually sure what's on there, but I believe it's highlights. Took me forever to track them down, so I sure hope they're helpful.

patsfaninpa

Could be that elephant guy we need to draft to get after the qb. And, an eventual replacement for A.Thomas. Mayo mentioned in his post-Colt thread that he'd like to have 2 pass-rushers. I agree. I'd love to see something like this;

1. DE - 3-4 - 2 Gapper like J.Odrick
2. OLB - Pass rusher. Maybe a guy like; Kindle,Hughes,Norwood or Sapp.
2. OLB - A.Lane
2. OL - Name your binky.

If we keep Wilfork and Bodden, and hit on those players. Our defense could become spectacular. I'll worry about the skill positions in 2011 draft.

mayoclinic

Love your list. I'd like to pick up some extra picks as well (possibly trading some of our veterans who are under contract but who seem to be pushed down the depth chart), because I think this draft will have near-1st round caliber depth in the 3rd round.

If I had 5-6 picks through 3 rounds, I would probably target the following (NOT necessarily in order of how they would be picked in the draft):

1. A 4-3 DE/3-4 elephant kind of guy who can rush the passer from a 3 point stance or standing up, block the passing lanes, set the edge, and drop into coverage. Derrick Morgan, Carlos Dunlap, Greg Hardy, Everson Griffen, Jason Pierre-Paul, Greg Romeus, Jeremy Beal and Austen Lane seem to me the guys that could possibly play that role.

2. Another such guy, but with a bit more range and coverage ability, who can play 3-4 OLB and either 4-3 SAM or 4-3 DE. From the group listed above, Jeremy Beal clearly fits the mold. Austin Lane may fit as well. In addition, Sergio Kindle, Jerry Hughes, Eric Norwood and Ricky Sapp are options.

3. A true 3-4 2-gap DE. Cameron Heyward, Arthur Jones and Jared Odrick are early possibilities. Corey Wootton, Leonard Marsh, Adrian Clayborn, Cameron Jordan and Vince Oghobasse are slightly later options.

4. An OL. Either an interior lineman such as OG Mike Iupati, C/OG Maurkice Pouncey, or OT/OG Gabe Carimi. Or a powerful RT who can upgrade that side. Joseph Barksdale from LSU is my favorite, followed by Carimi.

5. Either a second OL or a RB. This could be a power runner like Jonathan Dwyer or Ryan Matthews, a big bruiser like Toby Gerhart or Anthony Dixon, or an elusive all-purpose speedster like CJ Spiller, Jahvid Best, Dexter McCluster or Noel Devine.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

patsfaninpa

I'm not basing this on whom I think is the better prospect. But, just looking at the draft history. DL usually go before lb's. So, I think we have to get our DE first. You mentioned Heyward. He destroyed PSU and is quicker than Odrick. Doubt he falls to our 1st pick. If he even comes out. Odrick could fall below 20. If he does he gets near our pick for a possible trade up. Clayborn kid from Iowa is tough too. But, BB likes his DL bigger than him. A lot of the recent DL from PSU have flopped; J.Kennedy, M.Haynes and C.Brown. T.Hali becoming a so-so players. Scares me a little. Not sure why. Being a PSU grad my .02 is that the players who stick around Penn St usually graduate. They are prepared to have a successful career away from football and won't bust their butt at all costs to make it in the NFL like many of their competitors. I know that's a broad generalization. But, I can't believe guys like C. Brown and Haynes didn't make it. Jared's a good kid. I think the interview process will be important for him.

mayoclinic

Heyward is climbing up my draft board very fast. I think he's one of the few guys I would deem worthy of a 1st round pick, along with McClain, Morgan, and possibly Hardy. But I think he will rise fast and go top 20 - unfortunately, I think the Jets are the most likely landing place, as they need 3-4 DE badly, as do the Chargers.

I wouldn't be surprised to see us trade our 1st round pick if no impact guy is available. The other guys are too closely bunched together, and there's too much depth in this draft.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi