State

He's come from the bottom. His reputation doesn't match up with the person he is. He's a great pick-up for the value at the end of the first.

Bruce Irvin is an uncanny physical replica of Von Miller--same height and weight--except without quite the leaping ability. Though Irvin's even a smidgen faster and stronger than last year's combine boywonder who went what, seventh pick?

Almost identical forty times--4.53 Miller/4.50 Irvin;
IDENTICAL three cone drill--6.70
20 yard shuffle--4.06 Miller/4.03 Irvin
Broad jump--126" Miller/123" Irvin

But nfl.com lauds Von Miller and his "prototypical size," while denigrating Irvin as having "an undersized frame" playing the same position. It's completely bogus. Bruce Irvin will play so much like Von Miller it will be freakish. Both these guys are physical freaks.

NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Bruce Irvin
NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Von Miller

Stone Mountain's Bruce Irvin tries to land in NFL *| ajc.com

His most recent trouble seems to be incredibly minor.

Don't kid yourself if the Pats take a hard look at Irvin for one of our firsts. It's too bad Irving couldn't change his first name to Von, and collect an additional 20 million.

manxman2601

I'm not a fan of saying "never going to happen" but Bruce Irvin in the first for the Patriots? Never going to happen-ish.

Irvin is a complete washout against the run, my granny could block him. He's a one-trick pony who might start having some value in the third round for the Pats.

The reason I don't like "never going to happen" is that it only holds true until something happens for the first time. Cue a Bruce Irvin pick for the Pats in the first round.


So I'm not a fan of an early Irvin pick, but just to give further fuel to those who like him, Irvin vs Demarcus Ware:

State

Are you talking about the 11th pick in the draft, taken by Dallas? A guy who played for no-name Troy? And we're talking about a faster guy who played for West Virginia?

I'm talking about taking a guy at 27 or 31--with the same physical skills as guys taking in the top 15. If his name wasn't Bruce Irvin he'd be like these other guys, a top 15 or even top ten pick.

You just further proved my point, buttercup. (I saw Star Trek last night.)

Sciz

I'll say it. Irvin to the Pats in round 1 is never going to happen. Even at the end of round 2, it's unlikely. If they see him as having some kind of ability other than pure pass rushing (special teams coverage, 4-3 SLB or 3-4 ILB on early downs), then maybe at 62. He just doesn't at all fit with what Belichick wants to do, though.

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State

Physical skills eerily reminiscent of past picks--second player taken last year with Von Miller and the 11th player in 2005 with Demarcus Ware--and you wouldn't take him in the second round.

I bet other teams won't be so shy.

This guy is the Rodney Dangerfield player of the 2012 draft. He can't get any respect.

manxman2601

Well if the only way to evaluate players was by comparing combine statistics, then Irvin might be good in the first round. But tape and team philosophy matter too. We've NEVER drafted a first round pass rusher, it's been stated often that the Pats like first rounders to contribute as 3 down starters rather than limited specialists, BB values the ability to defend the run over pass rush from his front 7 are all elements which suggest that Irvin in the first is a bit of a pipe dream. As for Irvin's tape, he demonstrates only a speed rush in his arsenal and I read elsewhere that against OL's later drafted into the NFL he's only had one sack. He makes up his numbers against weaker opposition (don't know if true, just repeating what I read).

stevedogc

His name and attributes have nothing to do with where he gets drafted. Von Miller was a complete, pass rushing OLB in college. Bruce Irvin is and undersized defensive end who's only job was to rush the passer in college. If he is going to become a OLB in the pros he is going to have to learn a whole new position. He has almost no experience dropping into coverage and is not good against the run. BB would never spend a 1st on a one trick pony who needs to learn a new position in the pros.

State

Demarcus Ware played for Troy. I doubt he faced better OTs than Bruce Irvin.

Ware had 19.5 sacks for Dallas last season. The Patriots would love to have him.

I think Irvin's got better moves than you've been led to believe. Even the rather deprecating nfl.com says he's got "a flurry of moves" and an "uncanny athletic ability" to get through offensive linemen "to produce massive sack production." Just what we need.

NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Bruce Irvin

I think a speed demon who makes Mark Anderson look like slow is just what this defense needs. The defensive secondary had a long, long season last year.

Sciz

All the speed in the world doesn't matter if teams can get 5 yards on every carry by running straight at Irvin every time.

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State

I grant your point about the Butkus winner from Texas A&M being a more complete player, but taking Irving at 31 sounds like a fair trade-off to me.

Von Miller was the second player taken last year. He's a more complete player. Just a little slower than Irvin. I think Irvin will learn. Take a step back and look at where he's come from.

Read the link I posted from ajc.com. I admire what he's been able to do with his life. I can envision Robert Kraft agreeing with me.