sebman2112
In the Starting Line-Up
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Jon Abbate has been the Wake forest Defensive leader almost his entire college career, and he brings the same type of blue collar mentality that has made LB's Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel so successful in NE's system. However, Abbate doesn't just have that blue collar attitude. He's also a beast.
Here's the scouting report on this defensive ace:
Jon Abbate
ILB | (5'11 1/2", 243, 4.68) | WAKE FOREST
Scouts Grade: 70
Strengths: Reads keys quickly, rarely takes false steps and makes plays at the line of scrimmage. Takes sound pursuit angles, plays with a non-stop motor and always seems to be around the ball at the end of the play. Plays with a mean streak and can hold his ground when he plays with good leverage. Possesses above-average upper-body strength and flashes the ability to shed blocks quickly. Plays under control in space, wraps up on contact and is a reliable open-field tackler. Closes fairly well, squares up to the ballcarrier and delivers big hits. Gets adequate depth, reads routes fairly well and rarely gets caught out of position when asked to drop into coverage. Though separated his shoulder in 2003 and missed a game with a hamstring injury in 2005, he is tough and has played through injuries.
Weaknesses: Takes too long to open his hips when forced to change directions quickly and lacks the second gear to recover when he gets caught out of position. Doesn't have ideal top-end speed and has to be protected in coverage. Lacks ideal athletic ability and struggles to slip blocks in pursuit. Doesn't have great height and can have problems locating the ball carrier. Plays too high at times and can get driven back when he doesn't get under the blocker's pads.
Overall: Abbate was redshirted in 2003 and suffered a shoulder injury during practice, missing the second half of the season with the scout team. He returned in 2004 and earned honorable mention All-ACC honors after appearing in all 11 games (six starts) and recording 101 tackles, four for loss, one sack, one interception and two forced fumbles. Abbate started 10 games in 2005, missing the Nebraska game with a pulled hamstring, and finished with 77 total tackles, six for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, good for his second straight All-ACC honorable mention accolade. In 2006 he started all 14 games, registering 120 total tackles, seven for loss, three sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, garnering a first team All-ACC selection (coaches and media).
Abbate is a blue-collar player who is fundamentally sound, instinctive and tough. However, what scares us about Abbate's pro potential is that he's a better football player than he is an athlete. He should develop into a great special teams player, and he has a decent chance to emerge as a starting inside linebacker in the NFL, but there's an even better chance that he'll be a career backup at the next level. Abbate should come off the board late on Day 1.
* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.
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Abbate also bears a striking resemblance to a current New England Linebacker...
Here's the scouting report on this defensive ace:
Jon Abbate
ILB | (5'11 1/2", 243, 4.68) | WAKE FOREST
Scouts Grade: 70
Strengths: Reads keys quickly, rarely takes false steps and makes plays at the line of scrimmage. Takes sound pursuit angles, plays with a non-stop motor and always seems to be around the ball at the end of the play. Plays with a mean streak and can hold his ground when he plays with good leverage. Possesses above-average upper-body strength and flashes the ability to shed blocks quickly. Plays under control in space, wraps up on contact and is a reliable open-field tackler. Closes fairly well, squares up to the ballcarrier and delivers big hits. Gets adequate depth, reads routes fairly well and rarely gets caught out of position when asked to drop into coverage. Though separated his shoulder in 2003 and missed a game with a hamstring injury in 2005, he is tough and has played through injuries.
Weaknesses: Takes too long to open his hips when forced to change directions quickly and lacks the second gear to recover when he gets caught out of position. Doesn't have ideal top-end speed and has to be protected in coverage. Lacks ideal athletic ability and struggles to slip blocks in pursuit. Doesn't have great height and can have problems locating the ball carrier. Plays too high at times and can get driven back when he doesn't get under the blocker's pads.
Overall: Abbate was redshirted in 2003 and suffered a shoulder injury during practice, missing the second half of the season with the scout team. He returned in 2004 and earned honorable mention All-ACC honors after appearing in all 11 games (six starts) and recording 101 tackles, four for loss, one sack, one interception and two forced fumbles. Abbate started 10 games in 2005, missing the Nebraska game with a pulled hamstring, and finished with 77 total tackles, six for loss, two sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, good for his second straight All-ACC honorable mention accolade. In 2006 he started all 14 games, registering 120 total tackles, seven for loss, three sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery, garnering a first team All-ACC selection (coaches and media).
Abbate is a blue-collar player who is fundamentally sound, instinctive and tough. However, what scares us about Abbate's pro potential is that he's a better football player than he is an athlete. He should develop into a great special teams player, and he has a decent chance to emerge as a starting inside linebacker in the NFL, but there's an even better chance that he'll be a career backup at the next level. Abbate should come off the board late on Day 1.
* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.
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Abbate also bears a striking resemblance to a current New England Linebacker...
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