Ted Johnson may have been a limited player but he was very effective in the role that he played - 2 down run stuffer. He just did not miss a lot of tackles. If a runner gets in his area, you're not going to see a lot of big runs broken off simply because TJ was a big strong, fundamentally sound tackler. So I'd rather not you piss on one of the big contributors to the Pats previous superbowl runs if it's all well and good. If you want a guy who could cover the pass well, that's why you'd sub in Phifer.
Now if you're talking about using a 1st round pick on a linebacker, then you're looking for the complete package - tackling, instincts, passrushing, coverage, etc. There are very few linebackers who can in fact execute all those facets of the game at a high level. Rolando Mcclain 'appears' to be one such player.
Does Spikes look to be in that same league? After a poor 2009 season, it appears that he is not, no. But is he worth a second round pick and would he be able to contribute positively to our defense? Crystal ball says, Maybe.
Scouting report:
Brandon Spikes Scouting Report - 2010 NFL Draft Prospect
Positives:
1. Good size. 6'3 255 lbs. He is physically built to withstand the pounding that BB's inside backers must take in the 3-4.
2. Violent tackler. Now the emphasis is not just on big, highlight hits, but rather the fact that a punishing downhill player will take his toll on the ballcarrier. Hit a guy hard enough over the course of a game and he might develop some hesitation when he sees the same guy coming over to punish him again and again. It is a fact that violent players excel at violent games because the physical part of the game can't be ignored and it's a war of attrition at times.
3. Surprisingly good coverage ability. Makes plays in space. Doesn't look lost out there when defending against the pass.
Negatives:
1. Questionable technique: Does not wrap up as well as he should. This can lead to big plays on missed tackles. Is this a problem? Yes, it's a red flag. Is it correctable with coaching? Possibly.
Some guys never learn to wrap up properly, but it is something that can be improved over time. When I first played football, it wasn't until my second to third year that I really learned to wrap up well. But after I did, I became one of the best tacklers on the team. This is a skill that I believe can be improved with repetition and dedication.
2. Foot speed: Scouting report says he runs about a 4.7. This is not ideal footspeed if you want a rangy sideline to sideline ILB, but isn't that what we have Mayo for? He just needs to be fast enough to stay with tight ends. Not all tight ends have freakish 4.5 speed like Watson, so as long as Spikes can keep up, he could be good enough to be a 3 down player.
3. Shedding blocks: Again this is questionable. And maybe an even bigger red flag than the first two. In BB's 3-4 defense linebackers must be able to stack and shed the blocks of opposing guards. Spikes is a strong player so maybe he just needs to refine his technique. Or maybe this is a skill that can't be improved? I don't know, I never had to face 300 lb guys at the high school level. I probably would have been killed if that had happened. LOL. Explains why I didn't try to play college ball though, that and my college didn't have a football team anyways.
Overall:
Do I think Spikes is equal to Mcclain? No, he has a lot more questionmarks and red flags. I'm not sure how good of a fit he can be for this team unless he can improve on his red flags and weaknesses. But at the very least, I think he could make an impact with his physical play and his coverage abilities are a nice bonus... that is if his footspeed doesn't limit him to the point where he can't stay with most tight ends.
Spikes looks like a mid 2nd to early 3rd round player right now. He might improve his stock at the combine. If anyone gets to see his drills, let me know if he appears to have improved with his block shedding and wrap up techniques. Spikes is a flawed player sure, but it's easy to get wrapped up in the negatives and forget about a player's strengths and what they can bring to the table. At the very least he fits BB's physical mold for the ILB position and his weaknesses might be correctable with proper coaching. He's not the 'ideal' player for us, but he is a player to keep an eye on. Remember that in 2008, he looked like a surefire 1st rounder and even a top 10 player at times.
