So LB Kyle Louis is a fun player to watch.
He's a small guy for an LB at 6'1 220. Somewhere between an LB and a CB. But in today's mostly nickle game having a hybrid is coveted. So let's get into it.
First he is not as good a finisher as I'd hope. Not that he is bad, but he isn't amazing. I saw Love at RB a few times make him look wrong or push him away, but Love is a bit of a freak. Generally though his tackling is... passable. But even when he tackles too often i saw guys fall forward for 1 2 or even 4 or 5 yards. There is a price to pay for being only 220lbs vs certain match ups as an LB. You need to be okay with that if you draft him.
His speed and quickness are both really good as you'd expect for a guy of his size... but they aren't amazing for a guy his size. good, not great. When he is wrong I don't think he will be fast enough to recover from a step behind at the next level. But most guys aren't. What the strength of his game is comes to his instinct for the game and how fast he processes things. He is also incredibly patient and seems to always be trying to read the QB. For as small as he is, he can be slippery on blocks for much bigger players. He uses speed and quickness to get through or get away from these 290 lbs guys and go towards the ball where ever it is.
I saw him multiple times hesitate then make a move when he set a guy up or change his assignment as the play changed very quickly. He can be very johnny on the spot often in that way. His pass rush is actually not bad, but he will need to win off a delay, free blitz or schemed rush. I don't think he is blowing past an OT at the next level, or slipping past with pure speed/quickness inside before the OL have even gotten in position. He doesn't have a first step like that or the power to speed/speed to power to do that.
As for his coverage... Fantastic. That's all there is to say. He is really good in that area and that will be his big selling point. A coverage LB with blitz potential who can be a quasi DB and play the run like an old school big strong safety kinda. Though he plays slot more than deep, being an LB. He is damn good in zone or man so scheme won't matter. He has the C on his jersey and acts like it on the field making calls and playing the mental game at a high level. Another selling point for him. But if put on a 6'6 TE i worry about his lack of height.
One thing i really HATED that i don't know was talked about by many as it isn't something shown on the stats. He slows down and kind of gives up when the play is away from him. I HATE that. Yeah you want to save energy and not being sprinting to every single thing... but there were a few plays where i saw guys not make a tackle cleanly or be able to bring a big TE down and if he had moved his god damn ass he would have been there to stop it immediately after. Instead he was way too far away from the play to do much and it turned into free yards. He needs to learn to not assume it will be taken care of just cause a guy is there to take care of it. It isn't uncommon to see in college kids at times, but i would want my teams coach to come down on him hard. If you don't hustle every single snap you don't play. But i don't think this disqualifies him, as it is a college problem a lot of guys have... but whenever i see it i point it out. And i saw it more with this kid than usual, so i am making a big point of it.
Anyway! I see Kyle has a lot to offer the modern smaller faster NFL. However due to lack of height to cover TEs and potential weaknesses in the run game when it comes to limiting YAC as well as some tackling problems in general and lack of truly elite speed... IDK if i see him as a guy I'd want out there every down depending on personnel, and that could limit his value a bit.
Overall I think i will side with caution and assume he is not an every down player due to some potential physical limitations but will be out there a lot who can make some electric plays in various packages when his number is called and offer huge value particularly on downs where you know they are passing but don't want too go too light. I give him a top 96 grade.
