ryan fowler

[p1_]

another ST demon who makes play. What I can't figure is why nobody fell on the ball he so viciously separated from the return man.

Anyway, Shanle and Fowler look pretty decent. Am I being a homer, or do you guys see something too?

[Oh_Canada]

Not convinced about Shanle, but Fowler is someone to keep an eye on.


If it had not been for some health issues the guy would have been drafted within the first five rounds.

[Irving Cowboy]

Not convinced about Shanle, but Fowler is someone to keep an eye on.


If it had not been for some health issues the guy would have been drafted within the first five rounds.
I'm higher on Shanle than Fowler, at least I see Shanle on more than ST...

[p1_]

I'm higher on Shanle than Fowler, at least I see Shanle on more than ST...

Fowler looks to be making a case for PT on defense.

[Nightshade]

Ryan Fowler
Position: Inside/Outside Linebacker
College: Duke
Height: 6-3
Weight: 250
Hometown: Redington Shores, Fla.

OVERVIEW
Two-time team captain who began his collegiate career as an outside linebacker before moving to the middle as a junior … One of the team's strongest players with a 460-pound bench press, Fowler also established himself as a tackling machine … Fell just four tackles short in 2003 of becoming the first player in school history to lead the team in tackles four consecutive seasons … Started 41 of 46 games for the Blue Devils, recording 495 tackles (286 solos) with 12½ sacks for minus-92 yards, 47½ stops for losses of 182 yards, three fumble recoveries, seven forced fumbles, two interceptions and 11 pass deflections … Only Mike Junkin (513, 1983-86) and Carl McGee (511, 1975-78) had more tackles in a career for the Blue Devils.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has well-defined muscle mass and low body fat, broad chest and V-shaped upper body (excellent pectorals and abdomen) … Attacks the line of scrimmage quickly, showing good lateral agility in pursuit … Uses his size and hand jolt to reroute tight ends and backs in the short-area passing game … Stays low in his pads and extends his arms to secure the ball carrier working in the box (not reliable in the open field) … Plays right wing on the punt coverage unit, showing urgency getting down field to make the tackle … Gives good effort chasing down the ball from the back side … Gets adequate depth and keeps his head on a swivel working the short-area zone.

Negatives: Impressive weight room performer, but his strength does not translate to the football field … Looks lost at times and struggles to locate the ball working in the pile (better when left uncontested on the edge or dropping back in the short zone) … Needs to do a better job of using his hands to defeat the cut block … Gets caught up in traffic and does not have the long speed to pursue in the second level (better vs. plays in front of him) … Has stiff hips and marginal change-of-direction agility, struggling to mirror receivers in the deep half of the field … Gets adequate depth in his pass drops, but has marginal explosion when breaking on the ball … Lacks a smooth transition coming out of his back-pedal, as he is too high and tight in his drops.
AGILITY TESTS
4.9 in the 40-yard dash … 460-pound bench press … Bench presses 225 pounds 35 times … 540-pound squat … 305-pound power clean … 37½-inch vertical jump … 9-foot-10 broad jump … 4.19 20-yard shuttle … 7.2 three-cone drill … 32-inch arm length … 9 3/8-inch hands … Right-handed.


Scott Shanle
Position: Outside Linebacker
College: Nebraska
Height: 6-2
Weight: 245
Hometown: St. Edward, Neb.

Career Notes | Agility | High School | Personal | Stats
ANALYSIS
Positives: Well-built athlete with the acceleration and change-of-direction agility to quickly close on the ball … Has the strength needed to take on the lead blocker and stack the action at the point of attack … Stays low in his pads to clog the rush lanes … Can run through traffic and does a nice job with his hands to defeat low blocks … Has the vision and instincts to flow to the play and the short-area quickness to cover most tight ends in their routes … Times his charge off the edge properly as a pass rusher, getting a clean shot through the line of scrimmage … Can break down and tackle well when working in the box … Has the pursuit speed to make plays from the back side … His speed, toughness and closing burst could be more effective operating as a rush-end linebacker in a 3-4 defensive alignment.

Negatives: While he uses his hands well to combat low blocks, he does not extend them properly to keep the blockers out of his chest … Has decent, but not natural hands to make the interception or pass breakup … Gets engulfed by larger blockers when meeting them head on and lacks the strength to be effective as a pass rusher, unless he gets a clean lane to the quarterback (must rely on quickness rather than rip-and-swim moves) … Gets a little too aggressive, resulting in overrunning plays and missing tackles, especially when working in space … More quick than fast, lacking the speed to stay with tight ends outside the short area.

INJURY REPORT
Suffered a left wrist sprain vs. Iowa in 2000 … Sprained his right shoulder (AC joint) in the 2000 Missouri contest … Suffered a strained left hamstring (8/4) and left ankle sprain (8/8) during 2001 fall drills … Lacerated and sprained his left thumb in the 2001 Missouri game … Did not run on Pro Day during 2002 spring drills (3/13) due to a strained left hamstring … Did not play in the 2002 Independence Bowl vs. Mississippi due to a severe stomach virus.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.73 in the 40-yard dash … 30-inch vertical jump … 33-inch arm length … 9¼-inch hands … Bench presses 385 pounds … Right-handed.
COMBINE AGILITY TESTS
ARM HAND TEST 40 20 10 225 VJ BJ SHUTTLE CONE
32 7/8 9¼ 25 4.72 2.75 1.68 20 31 9'3" 4.32 7.27

So far Shanle has shown more instincts than Fowler and even Brady James. Also Shanle is faster so I can see why he's starting and Fowler is still on special teams. If we use alot more 3-4 I think Fowler will see alot more playing time.

[JohnsKey19]

We have plenty of LBers who stand-out on STs. James, Shanle, O'neil and now Fowler. The question is can any of these guys contribute on defense? James probably is the closest but I'm not really so sure about him. Consider ourselves lucky if any of the remaining 3 ever proves to be good enough to be a regular contributor to the defense.

[Yakuza Rich]

By the looks of it, Shanle is slightly smaller, but faster.

Fowler is bigger, much stronger, and actually a little bit quicker (better shuttle time) and has a little better agility (better 3 cone drill time)

The 40 time may be deceiving since we don't know what track conditions Fowler was using.


Rich...........

[p1_]

By the looks of it, Shanle is slightly smaller, but faster.

Fowler is bigger, much stronger, and actually a little bit quicker (better shuttle time) and has a little better agility (better 3 cone drill time)

The 40 time may be deceiving since we don't know what track conditions Fowler was using.


Rich...........

more importantly, they both appear to be able to play football. Fowler gave us such an opportunity last night, what a shot he laid on that guy. That got my attention.

[Oh_Canada]

By the looks of it, Shanle is slightly smaller, but faster.

Fowler is bigger, much stronger, and actually a little bit quicker (better shuttle time) and has a little better agility (better 3 cone drill time)

The 40 time may be deceiving since we don't know what track conditions Fowler was using.


Rich...........

I have heard Fowler runs around the 4.7 range as well.

[Gaede]

I don't know anything about Fowler, but last night showed me that the guy can hit.

That's something at least

[Chocolate Lab]

I don't know anything about Fowler, but last night showed me that the guy can hit.

That's something at least
I agree, he really blasted that guy. That might have been the hardest hit we had all year from a guy not named Roy Wiliams.

Obviously there wasn't much to go on, but I thought Fowler looked a lot more athletic than I expected him to.

[sad_otter]

Fowler also seemed totally unaware that he had caused a fumble -- he seemed to be jumping out of the pile to celebrate the hit rather than trying to help recover (or hinder the fumbler from recovering). Oh well.

[jterrell]

He made two huge hits.
Those kind of hits add up and more guys will fumble.
Put him on ST and you'll see alot more fumbles throughout the course of a season.

I'd seriously suggest to my blockers that they get on him were I a kick returner.

[junk]

Fowler looked OK on ST. I have been watching Shanle, he really doesn't impress me. He has moved up in my estimation, I think he could probably start, but he isn't going to be a playmaker. He misses tackles and doesn't seem to shed blocks well. Seemed a bit lost in coverage as well.

[Nightshade]

Fowler looked OK on ST. I have been watching Shanle, he really doesn't impress me. He has moved up in my estimation, I think he could probably start, but he isn't going to be a playmaker. He misses tackles and doesn't seem to shed blocks well. Seemed a bit lost in coverage as well.

How many games has he started? 3
maybe we should hold judgement tiil he plays say.. 5 games?
then if he still SUCKS we can make sure his a$$ is run out of the league.
whadayasay?

[Hollywood Henderson]

I hadn't seen or known much at all about Fowler before last night...BUT...A FOOTBALL player should LOVE to lay the wood!

Outstanding size too!

Perhaps Parcells stock piled larger LBers, (Thorton, Shanle, Fowler, James)knowing zimmy would be gone and we would move to a 3/4?

I don't like dat in any D except nickle & dime pkgs...
Dex is GONE!

[jobberone]

Fowler looked OK on ST. I have been watching Shanle, he really doesn't impress me. He has moved up in my estimation, I think he could probably start, but he isn't going to be a playmaker. He misses tackles and doesn't seem to shed blocks well. Seemed a bit lost in coverage as well.

That was my take. Both maybe's.

We've got too many maybes on the team but one or two will probably step up. Shanle looks like he might can play. He needs speed, agility, stretching work.

I hate this next year crap.

[junk]

How many games has he started? 3
maybe we should hold judgement tiil he plays say.. 5 games?
then if he still SUCKS we can make sure his a$$ is run out of the league.
whadayasay?

Just my opinion. People have been spinning him up as great. If a guy can't shed blocks in his second start, why would he suddenly be able to do it in his fifth? Linebackers aren't the focal point in the current defense anyway so he could probably start. So could Singleton. So could a bunch of scrubs off the street. An upgrade would be nice, but there are a lot of other holes to fill.

[jacs]

What I can't figure is why nobody fell on the ball he so viciously separated from the return man.

because fowler was too busy celebrating the hit