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It seems that this post may have added importance now that the immediate need at WR is solved, by way of San Francisco.
Don't get your hopes up, Im thinking OL in round 1, GOD I HOPE not a reach at CB. WOuldnt mind a Trade up for a WR. BUT- assuming they stay put, and dont reach on a DB and decide that LB DOES matter...here we go!
I will rank em in the order of MY preference, not the websites. I will tell you if Ive never watched em play & its just a call by me based on the measurables and things ive read. I think Philly can use help/depth at ALL LB spots. I know the Birds feel that the spot left by Emmons and filled by Dhani is locked down, I have my doubts and think there could be some jockeying come camp time. That said...
There are THREE top LBs in this draft IMO, only prollem? the "top" guy is a LIGHT 224 and he played MLB in college!!! You can do that vs Rutgers and Temple. Below are your LB prospects...
1) DJ Williams. Miami. 6'1, 245, 4.55 40 time.
Most sites and "experts" like his teammate Jon Vilma better. Not me. I love Williams and think he posses's TONS of upside. TONS! The cat has solid size/speed combo.
What YOU need to know:
This guy is as dangerous covering as he is against the run or even gettin after the QB. He reminds me of Trotter in his eagerness to get to the ballcarrier on easy reads, and at times Ive seen him let a blocker take advantage of this and get their hands on him and tie him up. However- this guy has it all.
He runs side to side as good as ANY LB ive seen in recent memory. This guy would COMMAND Playin Time in ANY teams camp ( IMO ) and CERTAINLY Here in Philly where we agree they could use a bump at the LB spot. His size suggests he could play inside, but I think that may take away from his talents. Has the same "40 time" as his more heralded counterpart Vilma, while giving up 20 pounds!! Total package LB who can just as easily hit that extra gear and come up to blow up the ballcarrier after 1st steppin back in coverage as he can cover a TE. This guy is "IT", again, strictly IMO. I know the experts prefer his counterpart Vilma. Not me.
Whats not like?:
If i can think of ANYTHING off the top of my head, maybe it would be the aforementioned allowing blockers to get in on his body. One of the 1st thing all LBs are taught, EARLY on in thier playin days is SHED THE BLOCK or more importantly- USE YOUR HANDS TO KEEP THE GUY OFF YOUR BODY!!
Other than this? Coming outta the college ranks - other than all the normal things that Pro coaches work on with standout college players, Im at a loss.
I love this player. Stud. S-T-U-D, STUD! At 1 point, i thought he may be there for Philly at 28. Now I think there's a better shot of the SF/Ravens deal being overturned and Philly gettin Ter- huh? what? oh. Well, suffice to say, I doubt he is there but if he is and they pass, Im upset.
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2.) Jonathan Vilma, ILB, Miami. 6'0, 225 ( could be 235 accdg to some combine reports) with a 4.55 forty time.
Good college player, in the right system? Excellent Pro Player.
What YOU need to know:
Well, the guy has "pop". What i mean is, there's this thing that Linebackers, hell, safeties and CBs too- something they either have or dont and it ( IMO ) cant be learned. Its called pop, and often times the smaller guys have it. Played with a LB who was WAAAAY undersized from the 3rd grade thru H.S and he had "pop"....the ability to EXPLODE into a ballcarrier or WR. This instinctive ability to SOMEHOW ( i never had this POP ) time your steps in pursuit so as to EXPLODE THROUGH the opposition so cleanly that it looks like a car accident. Think Ray Lewis.
Vilma has "pop", like many undersized LBs ive seen. He will absolutely RUIN a RBs day...or a TE...and with that its important to note/use an abused cliche- Vilma plays
bigger than his size. This guy will knock someone's helmet off this season, id lay $$$ on it. He has speed, can go sideline to sideline and pursue downfield. I cant see him playin in the middle in the Pro game, and with that I think he could be a STAR if moved early enuff in his career.
Remember = they said Ray Lewis was too small as well. This guy reminds me of RAY the way he blows people up at fulkl speed. There's that POP i was talkin bout. This guy is no ESPN highlight auditioner,..he tackles the correct way we're all taught in Pop Warner- he actually WRAPS AND LIFTS AND DOESNT LEAVE HIS FEET!!! NICE!
Whats not to like:
He is small, WAY TOO SMALL to play ILB in the pro game. His speed is decieving, as for a 225 pounder, youre expecting better than 4.55- but its the way he pursues, gets after it, times the explosion into the ballcarrier that makes him seem quicker than 4.55.
He can be a star in the right system, or IMO, if moved to the outside ( WIL ?) . Guys a player thats for sure, just kinda A guessing game will take place as to HOW / WHERE he will play. He should immediately help the team who selects him- how much depends on where they play him.
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3.) Carlos Dansby, OLB, Auburn. 6'3, 230, 4.58.
One of 2 top LBs from Auburn, Dansby is the better of the 2.
I think that this guy could be excellent or could be Caver. I cant get a solid read and admidt that his being ranked #3 here is partly on potential. LOOK AT THE MEASURABLES!!! Say he adds 9 pounds, JUST NINE POUNDS in camp? 6'3, 240ish? HELL YEAH! And this cat figures to be there SURELY in rd 1, and likely would be a reach-no, surely he'd be a Rd 1 reach, but still, I think he could come in to a club and have an impact.
What YOU need to know:
I dont know if this is good, but he actually reminds me a TAD of Caver. Those arms, that rangey frame and type of "pursuit" game? I like him, he wont be an Eagle based solely on where he's slated to go. High 2nd round. If they took him at 28 overall it would be a mistake. he has SPEED, not very thick framewise and not a hitter like the other 2 mentioned above. He seems a tad raw, IMO and I admidt to this being a measurable pick at the 3rd rated LB by me. I love his Ht/Wt/40 combo, if he could retain the forty time and add some bulk.
Whats not to like?:
He is lanky, thin even. When you have a build like this, its tough to add muscle as well. I havent seen a TON of him like the Miami boyz, but he has serious potential- potential to excel , or potential to BUST.
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4) Daryl Smith, ILB, GA TECH, 6'2,235, 4.70.
What YOU need to know:
Well, havin taped the Sr Bowl, I have to say that I actually like him over the #3 selection here, who made it over Smith based on "others" opinions and the measurable factor.
The kid can play. Tough, not so fast, better straight ahead IMO. Watchin the Sr Bowl as i know many here have, you see he is a master at takin the good angle over tryin to rely on his speed, which is smart considering. Youd be surprised how many players never learn to calculate that angle on the move. It really is worth mentioning. If you know you lack the all out wheels, you learn to get real good at takin the correct angel. Trust me here.
I think he had like 7 solo tackles and a slew of assists.
Good nose for the ball.
Whats not to like?
I think he could use some added weight, but thats becoming a trend in my analysis, and maybe im wrong. Who knows? I am not sold that he can play MLB in the pros. Maybe outside? I dunno. The guy seems to me to be a tweener? I cant get a read where he can/will play in the pros.
I like him and he seems to me to be a natural LB, nose for the ball, tough, good tackler and the sense to know when he doesnt have the wheels- thus knowin the right angles. I like him and think he will have a good career, just not sure where and for whom.
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5.) Micheal Boulware, FSU, 6'2, 225, 4.55.
We all know his brother Peter and realize that this cat could be a Manning type- strong bloodlines. Or could he be a Detmer type?
What YOU need to know:
I like him. We've all seen him. I think he would be a good fit as the WIL in a system like Johnsons. Great coverage LB IMO. He is a playmaker, despite lacking the physical specs teams would look for in the NFL. If he could bulk up, i think he'd be fine as a WIL both covering the pass or gettin thge ballcarrier.
Whats not to like?:
Ive seen him destroyed by blockers b4. He needs to bulk up. IMO he isnt good against the inside run - well, he likely isnt THAT bad, but compared to a.) how he plays in space and b.) how good the aforementioned LBs are vs the inside run, it seemed like something I should note. I think he has a tad of the "highlight reel" mentality- ( read: not a sure, form tackler from what ive seen- goes for the big hit or gets himself outta position to where he is reduced to a Bobby Taylor-esque Arm tackle.)
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6.) Dontarious Thomas, MLB, Auburn, 6'2, 235, 4.55.
This guy is a top prospect, surely a day 1 selection, but has lotsa room to improve. Definately no comparison to his counterpart Dansby. Misses too many tackes IMO. To play MLB, again, Id like to see him add some wt. Seems like he could be a good blitzing LB, but a tad too stiff to cover effectively in the big league.
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Others of note, just their size and forty times for now- until the Eagles draft one, then more detail cos Im bushed!
7)Courtney Watson, Notre Dame,6'0, 242, 4.70
I told our resident Golden Domer fan Dean O that I liked this kid and saw plenty of him. Reminds me a tad of Percey Snow ( Eric Snow's bro) formerly of Michigan State and a top KC draft choice who ultimately flopped. A great college player who may never find his niche in the pros. OK, Percy had FAR MORE ATHLETIC ability than doesn Watson, but theyre similar in that i dont think that either will really find a true position in the pros or have a stellar career. Who knows?
8.) Ted Lehman, 6'1, 240, 4.55, Olka., OLB.
Love him, but he has NOTHING that youd look for outta a day 1 prospect. A good player who I would not mind at all seeing Philly select in rd 2. Good size. Can play OLB in the pros IMO.
9) THE PITT PANTHER- Lewis Moore, OLB, 6'2, 240, 4.80.
You know I had to get a Panther in here.
I like him, but likely no higher than a 4th rounder realistically. Slow by NFL standards. decent player but stiff. Looked good against the Big East. Could maybe play MLB? Dunno.
There it is. Im beat. There are others out there and if anyone wants to discuss the following, we can in this thread. the PITT grad was thrown in outta Alumnus pride. He isnt really the 9th best prospect ( IMO ).
Kendall Pope from FSU, Keyaron Fox outta GA TEch, Demmorrio Williams from NEBRASKA r just some names. At least ones Ive seen. There are plenty others admidtedly. I would LOVE To see DJ Williams there at 28. I doubt he is there. Id take Vilma should HE BE THERE which I doubt, or Dansby.
discuss...
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