Heres another take on 3-4 OLB prospects:
Draft preview series: Top outside linebacker prospects | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette
Some interesting quotes from scouts.
- On Brian Orapko, who the article rates as the #1 3-4 OLB prospect: “ 'He’s a dog. I know so,' another scout said. '(Texas players) don’t play hard, don’t give a (crap). It’s a disgrace. It’s Texas, you know how they are. Orakpo has Robert Mathis-like explosion and quickness at (263 pounds) but he’s a (wuss), he doesn’t give a (crap). He might do good, but can you say Vernon Gholston?' ’’
- On Aaron Maybin, rated as the #2 3-4 OLB prospect: “ 'Maybe has the best take off, first three steps, I’ve seen since (Jevon) Kearse came out,' said a scout who rated Maybin the best rusher in the class. 'Maybin can do things you can’t coach, and you coach the things he can’t do. Tough as (crap), 20 years old, can run, competes.' ”
- On Larry English, rated #3: "Scored an impressive 34 on the Wonderlic intelligence test. One scout raved that he plays with a special-forces mentality. 'He’ll hunt ball carriers down, he’s as tough as they come,' the scout said. 'He probably plays faster than he is, I’d take him (in the last third of the first round). He’s my type of guy.' English played defensive end in college, but a scout for a 3-4 team considered him the second-best outside linebacker prospect in the draft, behind only Orakpo. 'He’s produced every year, and it doesn’t matter who they go against,' the scout said. 'They went against Big Ten people or whoever and he’s around the quarterback.' ”
- On Everette Brown, rated #4: "He was listed at 6-4 at Florida State, and scouts were hugely disappointed when he measured in at only 6-1 ½. Seems to rate as a top-15 pick on many internet sites devoted to the draft, but none of the scouts contacted here considered him that good a prospect. 'Pretty good pass-rush ability,' one scout said. 'I don’t see him as one of these elite players, more of a second-round guy than a first-round guy, maybe late in the first based off production. But I didn’t see a lot of upside to him.' Seemed to get sacks in bunches, which concerned a couple scouts that he was just taking advantage of match ups he won’t get in the NFL."
- On Connor Barwin, rated #9: “ 'This guy’s a wild card of the whole thing,' one scout said. 'His numbers and athletic ability, he’s tested so well you’ve got to take him early, he’ll probably go in the second round now just based off the way he’s tested. But you watch him and he’s really raw, still has to develop rush moves, playing with power, playing with strength at the point of attack, sustaining a high level of play through four quarters of the game. To some people he could be a tight end, his best position could be as an H-back, but I think people are falling in love with him as a linebacker.' Said another scout: 'Athletically the guy is really good. But I think he’s a better athlete than he is a football player right now. Will the two ever match up? I’d say no, but I could be wrong.' ”