Combine - Players I will be watching... ILB

[cstjohn17]

Almost here... the combine is typically the best place to get the low down as well as official weights of players.

LBs - I have focused mostly on ILBs, I am hoping for 2 veteran FAs and 2 LBs to be drafted. I am very interested in actual H &W, speed is not as crtitical but the players must match the typical size of our 3-4 LBs ( or at a minimum have growth potential)

ILB
- ranges (players at the bottom of the scale likely could not be full time ILBs in our system)
Height - 6'1 - 6'4
Weight - 240-260

1) Posluszny 6'1, 237 - A lot of people think he is overated and too small but in the games I saw he really looked athetic, smooth in coverage. He could be used in a rotation at ILB in year 1 and begin to take more reps in 2008.
Key scouting points to observe - Can he gain 4-7 more pounds and maintain his quickness? Is his knee recovered? Can he fight through blocks?
2) Willis - 6'1, 240 - I see him as a 2 down run stuffer, not sure I would want to spend a round 1 pick on a LB who has to leave the field on 3rd downs. But by all accounts he is the top ILB in the draft.
Key scouting points to observe - Can he gain 4-7 more pounds and maintain his quickness? How bad is he in coverage? Can he fight through blocks?
3) Siler - 6'2, 238 -Very athetic, seems to be more of a low round 2 player. Has shown well in the Florida games I have watched.
Key scouting points to observe - What is his real weight? Can he play with his reported 4.6 speed at 245-250. Can he get off blocks? Is he a round 1 pick? (I am sure BB will have a full run down about all the Florida players from Urban Meyer)
4) David Harris - 6'2, 239. Touted as a solid player to be selected in round 2.
Key scouting points to observe - Can he get a little bigger? Does he run at 4.75 or 4.85? Is he a liability in coverage?
5) Justin Warren- 6'3, 242 - Saw 1-2 games, came across as a team leader.
Key scouting points to observe - Is he anything more than a 2 down run stuffer?

OLB
- ranges
Height - 6'2 - 6'5
Weight - 245-260

OLB / ILBs (players who may be able to play ILB or OLB ala Mike Vrabel)
1) Zak DeOssie - 6'4, 245 - Local favorite.
Key scouting points to observe - Is he just big and fast or can he hang with the big boys? Is in a better fit at ILB or OLB? Do we like him because he is local?
1) Stewart Bradley - 6'4, 256. Sounds like the complete package.
Key scouting points to observe - Is in a better fit at ILB or OLB? Will he last to pick 60?
3) Prescott Burgess - 6'3, 246. Former Safety, could be a nice Day 2 pickup.
Key scouting points to observe - Is in a better fit at ILB or OLB?

OLBs and DE that may be able to convert
I won't be watching this group as closely, if anyone absolutely blows up the field then maybe we take a look at pick 24. In general OLBs are easier to find, ILBs have to be a little bit crazy to take all the abuse.
Key scouting points to observe - For all of them... Can they get to the QB? Do they have potential to drop back in coverage?
1) Lawrence Timmons - 6'3, 232 - Can he gain 12-15 pounds?
2) Dallas Sartz USC - 6'5, 237 - Can he gain 10 pounds and maybe be used for TS and in a similar role to Phifer? should be available in rounds 5+, maybe one of our round 6 picks
3) Jarvis Moss - 6'6, 252 - Medical concerns
4) Anthony Spencer - 6'3, 266
5) LeMarr Woodley - Michigan - 6'2, 269
6) Jay Moore - 6-5, 276
7) Quentin Moses - 6-5, 249 - Next Willie Mc. or Monty?
8) Dan Bazuin- 6-3, 265

3-4 Ends - for possible depth
1) Adam Carriker -6-6, 292 - If he is there at 24 do we take him?
2) Ikaika Alama-Francis - 6-5, 290
3) Baraka Atkins- 6-4, 278

OT
1) Joe Staley - 6'6, 296 - Can he gain 10-15 pounds and become an effective LT? Is he round 1 material and worth signing for 5 years?

WR
Deep group, lots of value in every round.
1) Are Bowe, Meachem, Ginn or Jarrett special enough to take in round 1?
2) Stuckney or Higgins - Can they be our "small" WR?
3) Ryne Robinson - Could he be an impact returner? round 6 pick?

CBs
1) Are any worth a round 1 pick? Where is the value?

S
1) Any chance Nelson or Landry slide?
2) Merriweather, is he a punk or a player? round 1 or 2?
3) Gattis
4) Other SS with ST potential (late Day 2 picks)


Ok getting tired, please let me know who you will be watching and why...

 

[carolinatony]

How do you watch this cstjohn17; is it on NFL TV? I don't get this on my CATV. Keep us informed please, you seem to know your football!
thanks

 

[cstjohn17]

How do you watch this cstjohn17; is it on NFL TV? I don't get this on my CATV. Keep us informed please, you seem to know your football!
thanks

The NFL Network is the best source, they broadcast the event live and then have summaries each evening. I don't have the NFL Network, if I did I would watch it all the time and never get any work done... All of the websites will have updates after the combine some will have blogs that will be updated daily.

 

[DB15]

good list mate

no love for giffrin?

 

[cstjohn17]

good list mate

no love for giffrin?

Griffin seems to be a solid player, a little bit small to play SS. He falls into a range of players who will likely be drafted between 35-45 and are not really in the Pats range. If he has a good combine he could move up a bit.

 

[patchick]

Great list, will add a few of my own when I get a chance.

Just one quibble: I think you may be overestimating the importance of height at ILB and underestimating it at OLB. IMO a 6'0' ILB candidate is definitely worth considering, while a 6'1 OLB doesn't fit at all. (Yet I also see Bradley as a clear ILB.)

 

[c_nice_37]

Good stuff! You say that speed is not a concern, but it looks like there are some prototypical Elephants in the mix, I would think that speed is a big concern if they are truly in that role. Also, OLB in general needs to set the edge and getting there is 1/4 of the battle, the other 3/4 being getting off blocks.

Perhaps you see it as a quality that is overrated for our system?

Again, nice post.

 

[Seneschal2]

You say that speed is not a concern, but it looks like there are some prototypical Elephants in the mix, I would think that speed is a big concern if they are truly in that role. Also, OLB in general needs to set the edge and getting there is 1/4 of the battle, the other 3/4 being getting off blocks.

Perhaps you see it as a quality that is overrated for our system?

Speed isn't necessarily overrated for our system, but the OLBs need to be able to handle multiple tasks -- they're not just rushing the QBs.

I'm sure we'd all like to have a speedy edge rusher, but in our system, he certainly can't be one dimensional. I'd think Belichick would be more apt to seek a DE/OLB who's smart and strong vs the run FIRST, and through strength, explosiveness, technique, and a high motor -- will create pressure.

Willie, Vrabel, Colvin, Banta-Cain are not fast 40 guys. Yet, they're the chosen edge rushers.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

BB says it best. There just aren't a lot of tall, heavy, really fast guys out there and when they do come along, they are drafted very early.

 

[cstjohn17]

Good stuff! You say that speed is not a concern, but it looks like there are some prototypical Elephants in the mix, I would think that speed is a big concern if they are truly in that role. Also, OLB in general needs to set the edge and getting there is 1/4 of the battle, the other 3/4 being getting off blocks.

Perhaps you see it as a quality that" is overrated for our system?

Again, nice post.

I don't think pure speed is as important in our system as other defenses. In almost all 4-3 the LBs are freed up to make plays all over the field and must have sideline to sideline speed. Our traditional LBs would be lucky to break 5.0 in the forty but were extremely effective (Bruschi, Vrabel, Seau, Johnson, Phifer).

Would I like to see more speed at LB? Hell, ya, but it is not the number one characteristic. I think that our LBs are asked to smash heads with 300+ pound guards, the ability (size and mentality) to fight through blocks is crucial to stopping the run. It may be cliche but stopping the run is the first and foremost characteristic of a successful defense. As maligned as our secondary was I thought they played ok for most of the year, but after Seau went down our run defense started to sputter. If we can shore up the LBs and become very good or dominant against the run it creates all kinds of advantages for blitzes and 3rd down sub packages.

 

[cstjohn17]

Great list, will add a few of my own when I get a chance.

Just one quibble: I think you may be overestimating the importance of height at ILB and underestimating it at OLB. IMO a 6'0' ILB candidate is definitely worth considering, while a 6'1 OLB doesn't fit at all. (Yet I also see Bradley as a clear ILB.)

6'1 or 6'0 not much different, Bruschi is right in that range. The majority of it is a mentality, very hard to teach. I said 6'1 because any shorter it is difficult to create the necessary leverage. Parcells said that if you start making exceptions pretty soon your whole roster is exceptions. Maybe a vet like Fletcher-Baker can prove me wrong but as far as draft picks I would prefer they fit the mold otherwise their jobs become even more difficult.