More or less than any other linebacker in the draft not named Curry?
More? Yes.
I checked out a couple USC games in 2006 because there were folks here raving about Brinkley the same way they have been raving about Maualuga and Laurinaitis... Jasper didn't impress (I liked his brother much better): he was slow to find the ball, for a guy his size he struggled getting off blocks, as for coverage, well :confused2:. Freshman DE/OLB Eric Norwood was the kid who caught my eye, Brinkley didn't measure up to the hype.
Enter 2007 and the year of the busted knee...exit Brinkley.
2008, people were grumbling about how slow he was playing on his bum knee, I actually thought he looked better than he had in 2006, like he'd spent more time in the film room and was doing a better job of diagnosing plays - Norwood still made him seem like he was standing in molasses when it came to reading and reacting. The NFL advisory committee reportedly gave Norwood a 3rd round grade in this draft, if that's the case, Brinkley's a 5th round grade at best.
The athleticism he displayed at the Combine didn't show in the field when I watched him, he's got good size and experience, I give him points for being better at diagnosing plays coming off his knee rehab, but he's a two down LB who just seems to work too hard finding the ball and getting off blocks. If anything, I'd say he's a more athletic Oscar Lua.
When I watch Linebackers, I'm first off looking to see if they can find the ball. The more they look like a pigskin seeking missle the more interested I get. Then I look to see how they deal with blockers, if you can't negotiate the obstacles between you and the ball, you can't make the tackle in the hole - you wind up with Patrick Willis numbers, 5 yds downfield. Brinkley might prosper with a smaller area of the field to guard, but you're betting on a two down LB who doesn't find the ball very well.