Jon Abbate ILB Wake Forest

[sebman2112]

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...

 

[BelichickFan]

Another short ILB like Davis and Blades. Give him 3 inches and I'm interested but even Belichick can't coach ht.

 

[sebman2112]

Another short ILB like Davis and Blades. Give him 3 inches and I'm interested but even Belichick can't coach ht.

And Tedy Bruschi isn't short? Most ILB's aren't of the 6'4" variety, and
being tall can actually be somewhat of a disadvantage.

 

[BelichickFan]

And Tedy Bruschi isn't short? Most ILB's aren't of the 6'4" variety, and
being tall can actually be somewhat of a disadvantage.

Bruschi is 6'1". There's not a lot of LB under 6'0". London Fletcher is one but they're few and far between. Like was discussed on the draft board, unless he has disproportionally long arms for his height, it would be difficult for him in our defense.

 

[sebman2112]

Bruschi is 6'1". There's not a lot of LB under 6'0". London Fletcher is one but they're few and far between. Like was discussed on the draft board, unless he has disproportionally long arms for his height, it would be difficult for him in our defense.

Bruschi is actually just under 6'1" (they're being generous), while Abbate is 5'11 1/2". There is maybe 1 inch between the two. Plus your trunk is much more important at ILB, than your height.

 

[patsgo]

Bruschi is 6'1". There's not a lot of LB under 6'0". London Fletcher is one but they're few and far between. Like was discussed on the draft board, unless he has disproportionally long arms for his height, it would be difficult for him in our defense.

do you think bill could coach zack thomas?

 

[Metaphors]

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/features/combine/positions/ilb.html

Jon Abbate Wake Forest 5096 231 5.04

Not sure how reliable these numbers are or how important they are (injury, bad day, etc) but they are what they are.

At least he seems to be able to jump and lift...

http://www.nfl.com/combine/story/10023350

 

[sebman2112]

Oh, and Abbate does have long arms.....

From Abbate's Agility test:
"Campus: 4.67 in the 40-yard dash … 360-pound bench press … 500-pound squat … 315-pound power clean … 32-inch vertical jump … 31 5/8-inch arm length … 9¼-inch hands."

Compare that to 6'2" 239lbs Michigan ILB David Harris:
"Campus: 4.66 in the 40-yard dash … 355-pound bench press … 30¾-inch arm length … 9 1/8-inch hands."

 

[Tippett56]

I saw this guy play in their b owl game and he was intesity personified. Would love to see him lined up at ILB for the Pats.

:rocker:

Ric

 

[Commander Shears]

I'm biased since I went to Wake so I didn't bother bringing his name up - but having watched most of their games this year, I do think that he'll be a very solid pro ILB. As has been pointed out, he doesn't have blazing speed, and isn't exactly a giant, but he's physical, smart and has the proverbial 'motor'. I really think he's one of those 3rd round picks that comes in and plays a lot of downs right away. I think he has Ted Johnson's run-into-walls mentality, and would be a great fit with the Pats.

 

[BelichickFan]

do you think bill could coach zack thomas?

There's exceptions here and there although Thomas has never played in a defense like ours. I'm not saying he couldn't play for us, just that he leaves me unexcited.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

According to Draftstock.com, Abbate's height (post combine) is 5'9" and three quarters. Man that is short.

 

[SamBamsFan]

Bruschi is actually just under 6'1" (they're being generous), while Abbate is 5'11 1/2". There is maybe 1 inch between the two. Plus your trunk is much more important at ILB, than your height.

From the NFL Combine stats Abbatte is 5-9 3/4, 231 lbs and runs the 40 in just under 5 seconds (4.98). He is 3 inches shorter than Bruschi, and unless he gets his time down to the 4.7 range he wouldn't be drafted until the 6th round IMO.

 

[Remix 6]

Oh, and Abbate does have long arms.....

From Abbate's Agility test:
"Campus: 4.67 in the 40-yard dash … 360-pound bench press … 500-pound squat … 315-pound power clean … 32-inch vertical jump … 31 5/8-inch arm length … 9¼-inch hands."

Compare that to 6'2" 239lbs Michigan ILB David Harris:
"Campus: 4.66 in the 40-yard dash … 355-pound bench press … 30¾-inch arm length … 9 1/8-inch hands."

those #s are false..he ran at combine

5.02 or 5.04..hes measured in at under 5"10.. he lifted well but boy was he SLOW

 

[Fencer]

When a guy is that slow is he much use on STs?

 

[Remix 6]

When a guy is that slow is he much use on STs?

sure..but dont expect him to be first 1 down there

 

[sebman2112]

those #s are false..he ran at combine

5.02 or 5.04..hes measured in at under 5"10.. he lifted well but boy was he SLOW

I can find you about four different height measurements and 40 times for most of these guys. Some who ran slow at the combine (Reggie Nelson) blazed at their Pro Days. It's just the name of the game.

Also, if his timing slow and coming in short at the combine means he'll be around in the fourth, fifth, or even sixth round that's fine with me. If the guy slips and NE only has to take a flyer pick on him all the better.

 

[SamBamsFan]

I can find you about four different height measurements and 40 times for most of these guys. Some who ran slow at the combine (Reggie Nelson) blazed at their Pro Days. It's just the name of the game.

Also, if his timing slow and coming in short at the combine means he'll be around in the fourth, fifth, or even sixth round that's fine with me. If the guy slips and NE only has to take a flyer pick on him all the better.

Here is a good site that will provide you w/ their combine results which are those most accurate out there:
http://fflivewire.com/players/Playe...&PlayerName=&pTeamID=99999999&PosNum=9&GO=GO!

 

[harveyw]

Oh, and Abbate does have long arms.....

From Abbate's Agility test:
"Campus: 4.67 in the 40-yard dash … 360-pound bench press … 500-pound squat … 315-pound power clean … 32-inch vertical jump … 31 5/8-inch arm length … 9¼-inch hands."

Compare that to 6'2" 239lbs Michigan ILB David Harris:
"Campus: 4.66 in the 40-yard dash … 355-pound bench press … 30¾-inch arm length … 9 1/8-inch hands."

Stats are stats, Abbate was far and away the better performer of the 2. Do you recall a great stats guy going into the combine? I can come up with Mike Mammula and he was god awful. Abbate would be a great mid round addition to the Defense.

 

[Remix 6]

Stats are stats, Abbate was far and away the better performer of the 2. Do you recall a great stats guy going into the combine? I can come up with Mike Mammula and he was god awful. Abbate would be a great mid round addition to the Defense.

^we dont even know if those stats are correct..thats not Pro Day..Michigan didnt even have theres yet and i dont think WAke did either

Harris: 4.53 , 23reps
Abbate: 4.98, 26 reps