carolinatony

O'Brien Schofield, LB Wisconsin 6'3 - 248 lbs.
Maybe a late round pick for us?

per NFL Forum :: - Personal Player Interviews from the East/West Practice


O'Brien Schofield, LB Wisconsin

How do you feel about the transition from defensive end to linebacker?
I came out here today to show that I can stand up and play on the outside. It's been a great time showing my skills and that I can make that transition. I'm gonna show I'm a coverage linebacker.

What did you measure during the weigh-in?
I measured in this morning at 6'2, 242. I was listed at 250 but I lost weight during the year.

How was today's practice different than at Wisconsin?
The biggest thing I noticed was that these coaches are keeping it simple. They're allowing everyone to understand the situation.

What's your biggest asset when you step on the football field?
I will be able to cover well, man on man and stuff like that.

What scouts have showed interest in you the last few days?
I had interviews from Scouts from Carolina, Chicago, Philadelphia, Kansas City, San Francisco, Washington, Atlanta and New England.

Most of the teams are 43 teams, how do you feel about that?
I'm likely gonna have to stand up and play strong side linebacker and I feel I can work in any scheme.
But I would love to put my hand down and just get up and go.




from O'Brien Schofield Scouting Report - 2010 NFL Draft Prospect

O'Brien Schofield has a monster senior season for the Badgers. Schofield started his career playing on
special teams for Wisconsin, getting his first start in their 2007 bowl game at defensive end, where he
had three tackles and a forced fumble. As a junior in 2008, he registered 40 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss,
and 5 sacks in 13 games at defensive end. This year as a senior, Schofield made the transition to
outside linebacker, which should benefit his professional career greatly. He played in 11 games for
Wisconsin this season with 55 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 2 passes broken up in
coverage, and forced 2 fumbles. Schofield is too small to play defensive end in the NFL, and his
best position would likely be as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He is an incredible pass rusher, but
this year's experience dropping into coverage should show scouts he has the ability to make the
transition. Because he is new to the position, he'll need a strong showing in the post season games
and workouts to solidify his draft status. At this point, he is likely a fourth or fifth round
selection, but has an excellent chance to improve his stock

thoughts guys?

Box_O_Rocks

NFLDS has him projected late third/early fourth, he seems a reasonable value for NE there - the question will be how well he's making the transition and does his lack of height & weight compared to BB's stated preference for a 6'5"+ 260+ DE/OLB affect his draft grade for NE. Other than that I like what I've read.

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mayoclinic

I had heard that but hadn't been able to confirm it. Thanks for posting.

Some interesting things about this report:

1. It shows that the Pats are actively showing interest in LBs. I would hope they do diligence and take a close look/talk to many prospects.

2. Schofield is transitioning from DE to OLB, regardless of scheme (4-3 vs. 3-4). He lacks the height/size for a classic BB 3-4 OLB, but not as a guy who could potentially play both 3-4 OLB and 4-3 SAM.

He certainly sounds like a reasonable 3rd/4th round prospect to consider.

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patsfaninpa

He was very impressive against Miami in their bowl game. I don't think he's too slight. 6'2" 242LB as others have mentioned. He will be able to put on 12-15 lbs of muscle. Looked very active and could also drop into coverage. I don't think he lasts past round 3. I'm in the let's draft 2 olb's camp. My mock

1. 3-4 de (dunlap,odrick,williams,a.jones.b.price)
2a trade up 42 and 54 for early 2nd and early 3rd. OLB(graham,hughes,kindle)
2b OL
3 Schofield or similiar prospect.
4 te a. quarless

carolinatony

The reason I mention him as a late round pick is because

-BB will likely trade down one pick so we grab a LB later
- maybe we can go OG/DE/RB with the other 3 picks. I know a lot here like
Spiller, C.J.

VJCPatriot

Well the problem with Hughes and Schofield is that they are about 3 inches too short compared to BB's 'prototypical' OLB. Now I don't know what the big deal is with the height requirement but apparently to BB it's a big deal. That's why we passed on guys in past drafts like Lamarr Woodley, David Harris, etc.

I think if BB can't find an OLB he likes in the draft, he should just draft Rolando Mcclain and try to get pressure up the middle, the way Ray Lewis does for the Ravens.

If I were picking and I liked all the scouting reports on Schofield, I'd certainly consider him in the 3rd or 4th, but I'm not convinced that BB will take one look at the lack of height and pulls him off the board. I'm not saying I know that BB does that, but that appears to be how he operates with regards to OLBs.

Just look at imposing physical specimen Shawn Crable (6'5 243, who can't get on the field). And UDFA pickups like Pierre Woods (6'5 250) and Vincent Redd (6'6 260). Tully Banta Cain is really the only 'short' OLB (6'2 250) that BB has ever drafted that worked out, and he wasn't selected until the 7th round. Is this going to change any time soon?

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patsfaninpa

This whole height thing is puzzling to me. He coached LT. What was LT 6;2"-6'3"? The greatest olb ever. How tall was Tippett? 6'3"?? That Dumervil kid at Denver is a midget.
I wouldn't call Freeney rangy.

VJCPatriot

Would you rather have Lamarr Woodley now or Brandon Meriweather? And Taylor Mays looks like he is going to be available around pick #22 in this year's draft.

So the question could be framed, would you rather have Woodley and Mays or Meriweather and whoever we get at pick #22? Hmmm?

Another thought is that since Woodley was a mid second round pick, you could have traded down from the 1st, gotten Woodley, and then gotten say an extra 3rd round pick to take another prospect or trade into the next year's draft!

http://www.pro-football-reference.co...W/WoodLa99.htm

You can't look at these numbers, 11.5 sacks in 2008 and 13.5 sacks in 2009, and not help but think that Woodley would have helped us a lot more than Meriweather.

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Seneschal2

Yes, BB has a size preference for his OLBs -- at least in terms of the draft. But that may be in his perfect world. AD, TBC, Burgess, and Ninkovich are all listed as 6-2, with TBC as the only draftee.

So, BB may hope for one of the "prototypical" OLBs, but if the only ones available are 6-2 -- is he going to pass?

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VJCPatriot

He has passed before! Clay Matthews apparently wasn't big enough either. He was 'only' 6'3 and 245 lbs. Yeah he had 10 sacks for the Packers this year. I'm not in BB's head, I can only judge based on his actions. And he has passed on guys that he has deemed are too 'small' for his system.

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