Could Kevin Burnett end up being better than Derrick Johnson?

[Fletch]

Could Tennessee Volunteer LB Kevin Burnett end up being better than Derrick Johnson of Texas? DJ is a sideline to sideline player who really doesn't take anyone head on. No doubt DJ has a knack for making plays, but could Kevin end up being more productive? Kevin seems to be much more physical, and has similar range (sideline to sideline) as DJ.

In my mind, Kevin could very well be the steal of the draft. Keep an eye on Mr. Burnett! What are your thoughts?

[zrinkill]

that you are right ..................

Now we need a free safety so Roy can go back to being a monster

[TruBlueCowboy]

Gig 'em. :D

Let the tu smack keep rolling.... That would be hilarious to see their much heralded linebacker get beat out by a 2nd rounder.

But seriously, I'm still suffering from Bradie James Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. A lot of people at this site hyped him as the next big thing and we never really saw much. We'll hit on one of these linebackers sooner or later. ;)

[DWAREZ]

Burnett will be a great pick for us IMO :)

[InmanRoshi]

Burnett is a nice player, but he's not the dynamic playmaker that DJ is. And I'm not a DJ homer by any means.

[sdcowboy]

i am a hurricane fan and I know burnett p$ssed me off last time the canes played tenn.the kid seems to play hard and has some fire to him.

[siegbach]

i have watched burnett play throughout his career at tennessee and i can say without a doubt he will be a monster in the nfl for years to come.also in the last 5 or 10 years tennessee has produced some real nice lb's for the nfl.

[HardHittin'Witten]

I almost attempted drunk cartwheels when we took Burnett at 42.

[MiStar]

Burnett will be better than DJ. Even if DJ is has a bigger knack for "making plays," he's on the Chiefs. DJ had to go to a team that is strong up the middle in order to be sucessful.

I think DJ is going to eat a lot of turf this year, while Burnett will be working behind Glover, Ellis, Ferguson, and Spears.

[Dale]

It's a bit early to make this kind of prediction, but Burnett is a very good and underrated outside linebacker IMO. I don't think it'd be foolish to call him a poor man's Derrick Johnson (relatively speaking), by any means. I'll have to see him on the field before I think he'll be better than a guy I consider to be a top-10 talent, but I have always viewed Burnett as a guy that would be very successful at this level.

Tennessee has a pretty decent recent history of producing linebackers, too. Little played some linebacker at UT if I remember right, and Al Wilson comes to mind as well. Outside of them, and now Burnett, I'm drawing a blank on whether there have been any other top prospects. Busts aren't coming to mind here.

[CanadaBoys]

current Tenn LB's... AL Wilson. Will Overstreet. Eddie Moore. Ray Thompson. Keyon Whiteside.....

most weren't highly touted... so you can't call them busts.

[edwardo]

BTW, the kid made grades; during his redshirt medical to repair the knee, he graduated and now has a masters or some such

[Billy Bullocks]

I dont mind having SEC players at all...toughest conference in college

[Zaxor]

better or not the kid can flat out play...which is the best news of all:)

Zaxor

[morasp]

The Sporting News called two of this years OLBs ready made NFL starters. DJ and Burnett with DJ being the more polished. The key attribute they mentioned about him and the other two players we took this year was "Has terrific upside with his size, strength, athleticism, speed , and toughness. Works hard as a leader on the field." I noticed that all the guys we took are team leader types, smart, hard working players, Kind of in the Greg Ellis mold.

[Jersey]

Could be better? He already is!

[ghst187]

i definitely like Burnett in the second better than DJ at 11. Burnett will take on blocks and make tackles better in the running game than DJ but DJ is much better dropping into coverage. Their measurables are nearly identical speed, size, and agility-wise...
I watched quite a few U of Tenn games this past year and Burnett was the guy that really stood out to me every game. Seemed like every time the RB got the ball, Burnett blasted through the gap and blew him up. Kid is grade A, class act also, of course DJ is too.

[jterrell]

Could Tennessee Volunteer LB Kevin Burnett end up being better than Derrick Johnson of Texas? DJ is a sideline to sideline player who really doesn't take anyone head on. No doubt DJ has a knack for making plays, but could Kevin end up being more productive? Kevin seems to be much more physical, and has similar range (sideline to sideline) as DJ.

In my mind, Kevin could very well be the steal of the draft. Keep an eye on Mr. Burnett! What are your thoughts?
I predict that is exactly what will happen.

Not saying DJ will be a bust but I do think Burnett surpasses him and achieves a Pro Bowl type grade consistently.

He is a guy who plays very hard, is extremely physical and a leader on the defense.

DJ is a big play machine but also makes some bad plays which means the coaches will have to slow him down and get him focus on fundamentals. He is getting his DC back so that should help alot.
Burnett is coming to a defense with alot more around him and should excel as a rookie.

[Hollywood Henderson]

Trublue:
Don't worry about James...With our move to a 3-4 he and the other players will be able to make BIG plays....Not be passive...