Pats work out USC LB...

[Seneschal2]

Betcha everyone thought it's Rivers.

This player's a classic sleeper who played behind the talented USC LBs. Very versatile having started at MLB, strong-side LB, and even two starts at FB.[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-2] He was an All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention and won USC's Most Inspirational Player Award and Co-Special Teams Player of the Year Award.[/SIZE][/FONT] His name is Thomas Williams:

My NFL Dream Has Started...

I had my first individual team workout yesterday with the New England Patriots. They came in and visited with me at USC and worked me out. Even though it was my first workout and it was the Patriots I wasn't nervous at all. I was just excited. I mean I got to work out for an NFL team and that's part of the dream. They had me do 8-10 drills to see how my hips turn, how I catch the ball and how I break on the ball. In all, it lasted about 25 minutes. I think they were trying to get me tired but that's one of my strengths I don't get tired especially with all the work Keith Rivers and I have been doing with Coach Norton. But they asked me a couple times during the workout "Are you sure you're not tired? Do you need some water." No sir, let's keep going.

I like this kind of stuff. I'm not a tester, I'm not a combine guy, I'm a football player, that's what I do. When you do drills like these you get to show that. They wanted to see if I could catch the ball and I caught every one of them. I'm not the fastest in the 40, but I'm fast getting to the ball because of my instincts and my desire. And I don't get tired. When you watch the film you see it. You see who wants to be there, who wants to be in the hole one on one. I believe in being accountable and I love being in those situations.

This was a great experience for me. I was with their defensive coordinator and one of their scouts. We got a chance to talk on the way to the field. They asked me about my family and wanted to learn more about me as a person. They also wanted to learn more about my football background, positions I've played and what I've done on special teams. I really enjoyed it. I called Coach Norton right after to tell him how it went. I called Keith too, because he was working out with the Jets this morning. I wanted to let him know how it went and encourage him for his workout. Treat it like practice and don't get nervous. We never got nervous before practice before, you just go out and compete against yourself.

---

Some worthy quotes from various sources:

"...blew people away at the East-West game."

"...whoever gets this young man is getting one of the steals of the draft."

[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-2]"...has a relentless motor and the ability to easily read keys and react to the ball."

"...with his downhill tackling ability and toughness taking on lead blockers, he could be a nice fit inside in a 3-4 alignment."

"Williams lacks great speed but he hustles from one side of the field to another."

His numbers (nfldraftscout):

[/SIZE][/FONT]

HT/WT 6-1 238
40 4.86 (has been timed as fast as 4.67)   
20 2.81
10 1.56
Bench Reps 26
VJ 29.5
BJ 9' 5"

Worthy article
[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-2]
[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

[sebman2112]

I like that ten split.

From what I've seen he could have some upside, but he might simply be a backup/special teamer at the next level, and I would like to get faster at LB. His instincts and awareness have also been questioned, but maybe he could develop into a better player with more playing time? We'll see...

Question, what do you think of DE/OLB Titus Brown? The Patriots interviewed him, and he could be an interesting prospect with some upside. Brown came in at 6'2.4" and 246lbs at the combine, so his size is good enough. He was a team leader and playmaker at Mississippi State, and he put up some pretty good numbers, too:

44 games played, 170 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, and 18.5 sacks.

Titus started out at Middle LB then transitioned to pass rushing Defensive End. He's got very good athletic ability and quickness, good burst, hard worker, high motor, good hand placement, and he has experience against top level comp. He's not great against the run though...

 

[Mikman]

Unfortunately I can't place the direct links because I have less than 50 posts on this board, but you can find scouting reports of Thomas Williams and Titus Brown on nfldraftcountdown.com. Williams is projected an OLB ( #28 ) , Brown a DE ( #16 ).

 

[sebman2112]

Unfortunately I can't place the direct links because I have less than 50 posts on this board, but you can find scouting reports of Thomas Williams and Titus Brown on nfldraftcountdown.com. Williams is projected an OLB ( #28 ) , Brown a DE ( #16 ).

Titus played DE, and is projected at OLB in the pros. Thomas Williams played both OLB and MLB, and his best fit is projected at ILB.

 

[Seneschal2]

Question, what do you think of DE/OLB Titus Brown?

I'm higher on Avril, Robertson, Crable.

 

[DW Toys]

I'm higher on Avril, Robertson, Crable.

Wouldn't mind Avril but this just came out:
The smallest bits of information are huge motivation for A.J. Raebel these days.

So when Raebel, a two-time all-American linebacker at NCAA Division III national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater, chats with a scout from the New England Patriots, he’s ecstatic.

When Raebel notices that a YouTube video his brother put together is posted on a Miami Dolphins’ fan Web site, he’s thrilled.

“I’ve gotten enough good feedback that I think it’s still the right way to go,” Raebel said of his hope for a pro football career. “If you get me on the football field, I’ll be fine. It’s just getting that opportunity to get on the field that might take some convincing.”

Although he played at a D-III program and is considered a long shot to be drafted, Raebel was highly productive, finishing his career as Whitewater’s all-time leading tackler and helping the Warhawks play in the past three D-III national title games.

Raebel, an outside linebacker, said he expected three key attributes to play in his favor as the April 26-27 NFL Draft approaches.

“I’ve got the height, the weight and the speed,” said the 6-foot-5 Raebel, who played at 240 pounds last season.

Last week, Raebel was among four Whitewater players to participate in the University of Wisconsin’s pro day in Madison for nearly 20 NFL scouts.

Although Raebel said he and his teammates got only one chance to run through each NFL combine-style drill, he ran two 40-yard dashes, including a solid 4.67-second effort.

“After my first 40, which was the slower of the two, [a Patriots’ scout] asked how he could get a hold of me on draft day. It’s those little things like that that you hold onto and keep you going.”

Raebel said he also has drawn interest from Miami, Jacksonville, St. Louis and Baltimore.

“It’s nerve wracking and it makes you bite your nails,” Raebel said. “I just want to get out there on the football field.”
DW Toys

 

[sebman2112]

I'm higher on Avril, Robertson, Crable.

So am I, but Titus is a late rounder, and those guys are projected as going in the 2nd, 3rd, or fourth (Robertson).

I actually was hoping to hear your opinion of him as a Patriots prospect.

 

[sebman2112]

Wouldn't mind Avril but this just came out:
The smallest bits of information are huge motivation for A.J. Raebel these days.

So when Raebel, a two-time all-American linebacker at NCAA Division III national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater, chats with a scout from the New England Patriots, he’s ecstatic.

When Raebel notices that a YouTube video his brother put together is posted on a Miami Dolphins’ fan Web site, he’s thrilled.

“I’ve gotten enough good feedback that I think it’s still the right way to go,” Raebel said of his hope for a pro football career. “If you get me on the football field, I’ll be fine. It’s just getting that opportunity to get on the field that might take some convincing.”

Although he played at a D-III program and is considered a long shot to be drafted, Raebel was highly productive, finishing his career as Whitewater’s all-time leading tackler and helping the Warhawks play in the past three D-III national title games.

Raebel, an outside linebacker, said he expected three key attributes to play in his favor as the April 26-27 NFL Draft approaches.

“I’ve got the height, the weight and the speed,” said the 6-foot-5 Raebel, who played at 240 pounds last season.

Last week, Raebel was among four Whitewater players to participate in the University of Wisconsin’s pro day in Madison for nearly 20 NFL scouts.

Although Raebel said he and his teammates got only one chance to run through each NFL combine-style drill, he ran two 40-yard dashes, including a solid 4.67-second effort.

“After my first 40, which was the slower of the two, [a Patriots’ scout] asked how he could get a hold of me on draft day. It’s those little things like that that you hold onto and keep you going.”

Raebel said he also has drawn interest from Miami, Jacksonville, St. Louis and Baltimore.

“It’s nerve wracking and it makes you bite your nails,” Raebel said. “I just want to get out there on the football field.”
DW Toys

240lbs is pretty thin for a 6'5" LB.

 

[Seneschal2]

I actually was hoping to hear your opinion of him as a Patriots prospect.

I knew what you wanted, but didn't want to continue with the detour you chose for Brown, when the original road was intended for Thomas Williams. How long have you had your license?

 

[cstjohn17]

Betcha everyone thought it's Rivers.

This player's a classic sleeper who played behind the talented USC LBs. Very versatile having started at MLB, strong-side LB, and even two starts at FB.

Sounds like Lua's little brother... I hope the Patriots bring more to the table than a small, slow undrafted free agent.

 

[Seneschal2]

Sounds like Lua's little brother... I hope the Patriots bring more to the table than a small, slow undrafted free agent.

Understand where you're coming from on the speed factor. I also have hope BB will one day add speed to the LB corps. But there are so many other factors to consider in seeking out Pats prospects like:

Size/Athleticism/Smarts/Work ethic/Character/Coachability

Makes us just want to add speed to the list.

Sometimes I feel like BB wants the above qualities even more...thinking that if the player has enough quicks, is athletic enough to play the position, and decent football speed (as opposed to timed speed), he'll survive in the Pats D.

IMO, BB would rather have a Safety with average speed but plenty of smarts, arrive on time to make the play -- than a foot fast, slow-reading Safety arrive too late. Faster players would be great -- but what else do they bring to the table?