DE/OLB Darrell Robertson to visit...

[Seneschal2]

From Reiss:

As part of their extensive draft preparations, the Patriots are scheduled to host Georgia Tech defensive end Darrell Robertson on a visit to Gillette Stadium early next month.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 255-pound Robertson projects to outside linebacker in the Patriots' 3-4 alignment, and he would also likely contribute in a rushing role in sub packages. Teams looking at Robertson will likely want to double-check his medical status before the draft, as he tore a pectoral muscle while training for the February NFL Combine.


Robertson started 29 games over his four-year college career, and totaled 25 tackles for loss over that time. He is projected as a mid-round draft choice.

---

Happens to be my official sleeper pick at the position. When most of the talk centers around Gholston, Harvey, and Groves all in round one, lower-tiered prospects like Avril, Jackson, and even Crable have been mentioned as other options. Both Robertson and Avril are the only two I'd consider for the Pats (rounds 2-3), and feel that Robertson is the better edge rusher of the two.

No workout results have been posted about DR, simply because he hasn't had any. [FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-2]He tore a pectoral muscle while training for the combine and isn't suppose to work out before the draft. If he had, his numbers would have been impressive due to his athleticism. Did measure at the Combine though, at 6037 255.

For those who haven't seen him play, the best profile of course comes from NFLdraftscout.com via here:

Here's a small excerpt from that profile:

[/SIZE][/FONT]

Compares To: JASON TAYLOR-Miami...Some teams feel that Robertson lacks the bulk to face up to the bigger offensive tackles at the next level, but, like Taylor, Robertson is blessed with excellent quickness, good balance and body control and very active hands to counter. He is best playing on the move, as his bulk issues do come into play when trying to combat double teams, but he has that lateral agility and closing burst to get serious consideration as a strong-side linebacker or edge rusher. Those experts that might question his ability to stuff the run need to digest this fact -- in 101 running plays, the opponents have gained only 33 yards and one first down against him.

Thoughts?

 

[dryheat44]

[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]Thoughts?

My thoughts are simply that Robertson got his ass kicked by every single (literally) lineman he went up against in Senior Bowl week. If you go back and re-read the practice notes, every day it says something like Darrell Robertson disappointed today as he was absolutely owned all day long by (fill in the blank) and didn't get to the quarterback all day

He's not on my board. The Jason Taylor comparison is laughable.

 

[DaBruinz]

My thoughts are simply that Robertson got his ass kicked by every single (literally) lineman he went up against in Senior Bowl week. If you go back and re-read the practice notes, every day it says something like Darrell Robertson disappointed today as he was absolutely owned all day long by (fill in the blank) and didn't get to the quarterback all day

He's not on my board. The Jason Taylor comparison is laughable.

Sorry, DH, but me thinks you need to go back and re-read some of those practice notes.

Yes, he had a bad day, but here are some of the things that NFLDraftScout had to say:

[FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-2]01/23/08 - Senior Bowl Wednesday South Team Practice: The most explosive pass rusher for the South all week long has been former Georgia Tech defensive end Darrell Robertson. Robertson has very good burst off the snap, but has a lanky, relatively weak frame that, when exposed, gives offensive tackles a big target to get their hands on -- and when Robertson is engaged, he lacks the hand technique and strength to disengage.

[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=-2]01/22/08 - Senior Bowl Tuesday South Team Practice: Darrell Robertson, DE, Georgia Tech: Joins Sedrick Ellis as the quickest players off the snap in this game, although Robertson gets high too quickly at times and loses speed. Used his length to get around the slow OT Barry Richardson as if he were standing still. QB Colt Brennan would have been planted on one play. Took part in linebacker drills with fellow DE Wallace Gilberry and looked much more natural in his drop and at taking on the tight end on the line. Looked good enough to get a shot at a 3-4 OLB spot.

From NFLDraftCountdown:
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/features/seniorbowl/reports/practices/south123.html

[/SIZE][/FONT]• Georgia Tech defensive end Darrell Robertson continues to have a great week and today he beat Chris Williams in 11-on-11's, which hasn't happened often.

Could you provide links to where you heard Roberston was garbage all week?

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

[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

[dryheat44]

Sorry, DH, but me thinks you need to go back and re-read some of those practice notes.

Yes, he had a bad day, but here are some of the things that NFLDraftScout had to say:



From NFLDraftCountdown:
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/features/seniorbowl/reports/practices/south123.html

[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]• Georgia Tech defensive end Darrell Robertson continues to have a great week and today he beat Chris Williams in 11-on-11's, which hasn't happened often.

Could you provide links to where you heard Roberston was garbage all week?

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

[/SIZE][/FONT]

Well, the site I was getting my information off of was overwritten every day, so I can't use that source. However, even on NFL Draft Scout, read the 1/23 entry. Cut and Pasting is disabled, but the short version is that he jumped offsides every other snap, but still didn't touch the quarterback all day....lined up at either 4-3 end or 3-4 OLB.

I concede that going back there seems to be more positives than I remember, So I guess my source at the time (either GBN or NFL Draft Countdown -- One did the North and one did the south) was unduly harsh.

 

[DaBruinz]

Well, the site I was getting my information off of was overwritten every day, so I can't use that source. However, even on NFL Draft Scout, read the 1/23 entry. Cut and Pasting is disabled, but the short version is that he jumped offsides every other snap, but still didn't touch the quarterback all day....lined up at either 4-3 end or 3-4 OLB.

I concede that going back there seems to be more positives than I remember, So I guess my source at the time (either GBN or NFL Draft Countdown -- One did the North and one did the south) was unduly harsh.

No sweat. I did read that he had one bad day, but one bad day of practice doesn't break a career.

Also, you CAN cut and paste from NFL Draft Scout (use CTRL C and CTRL V) That's how I did it.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I did a few GA. Tech games last season and the season before and my impression of Robertson was that the production never matched the potential. He was an excellent run stopper, held up at the point very well.

However as a pass rusher, he did not impress me at all. He looked like a play the run first, play the pass second kind of player, and while that makes him a great candidate to backup Vrabel next season, it does not solve our quest for a pass rushing beast off the edge. And in all fairness to Robertson, that could have been the scheme at Tech.

I have nothing but respect for Jason Taylor, and over the years I've seen a lot of draft magazines declare a guy the next Jason Taylor, but this time, I think comparing Robertson to Taylor is a bit of overkill.

 

[PonyExpress]

I like Robertson, and if this pec injury shelves him to the end of rd 3 and the Pats miss out early on Long/Gholston/Groves/Avril, he is definitely worth a shot. Robertson has NFL athleticism and can hold the point of attack.