What? N.C. State defensive lineman Manny Lawson, who ran a 4.44

[CrazyCowboy]

We had a tremendous time from N.C. State defensive lineman Manny Lawson, who ran a 4.44 and 4.45. We had a linebacker

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/9271713

I have read lots of Zoners saying we should draft N.C. State DL Manny Lawson.......Congrats to all of you!

You folks knew what the heck your talking about with this kid. Look at that 40 yd dash time. Can you imagine Ware and Lawson on the field at the same time? Awesome!

:laugh1:

[theogt]

Geez thats impressive. For comparison, Ware ran a 4.65.

[Rack Bauer]

You folks knew what the heck your talking about with this kid. Look at that 40 yd dash time.


So if he'd ran a 4.8 then those zoners wouldn't know what they were talking about?


40 times don't = great football players. I wish people could get that through their heads. Speed is nice... when it's a great football player that possesses that speed. But an "average" speed (or even somewhat slow) GOOD football player is better then a fast BAD football player all day, every day, and that'll be the case forever.


Who would you rather have Randall Williams or Terrell Suggs?

[bbgun]

It's not that I'm against Lawson, but dammit, when are we gonna start injecting some youth into the offense? We have an old QB, old wideouts, and an aging OL that won't get any younger by adding a brittle Fabini.

[neosapien23]

Geez thats impressive. For comparison, Ware ran a 4.65.

Ware ran a 4.56, he was under the 4.6 mark.

[theogt]

Ware ran a 4.56, he was under the 4.6 mark.I see that now. I wonder why the site I was looking at reported differently.

[neosapien23]

So if he'd ran a 4.8 then those zoners wouldn't know what they were talking about?


40 times don't = great football players. I wish people could get that through their heads. Speed is nice... when it's a great football player that possesses that speed. But an "average" speed (or even somewhat slow) GOOD football player is better then a fast BAD football player all day, every day, and that'll be the case forever.


Who would you rather have Randall Williams or Terrell Suggs?

While 40 times are not always indicative of a player being good, they do demonstrate a players speed. Williams might have been a good WR if he didn't always drop passes. Look at all the good players that turned in great 40 times. Ware, Randy Moss, Deion Sanders, Newman, etc.. Their speed is what make them special.

[ThreeSportStar80]

I too think it's time for the Cowboys to get younger on offense, it's getting pretty sad seeing re-treads on that side of the ball...that being said it's not up to us fans....

[BigDFan5]

40-yard dash

Manny Lawson NC State 4.43
Ryan LaCasse Syracuse 4.54
Kamerion Wimbley Florida St. 4.61
James Wyche Syracuse 4.63
Mario Williams NC State 4.66


Vertical jump

Mario Williams NC State 40½
Manny Lawson NC State 39½
Stanley McClover Auburn 39
Kamerion Wimbley Florida St. 38½
Mike Kudla Ohio State 37


Broad jump

Kamerion Wimbley Florida St. 10-foot-9
Manny Lawson NC State 10-foot-4
Mathias Kiwanuka Boston College 10-foot
Mario Williams NC State 9-foot-10
Rob Ninkovich Purdue 9-foot-8
Jeremy Mincey Florida 9-foot-8


20-yard shuttle

Mathias Kiwanuka Boston College 4.13
Manny Lawson NC State 4.18
Rob Ninkovich Purdue 4.18
Jeremy Mincey Florida 4.25
Ryan Lacasse Syracuse 4.30
Mario Williams NC State 4.36


60-yard shuttle

Manny Lawson NC State 11.08
Rob Ninkovich Purdue 11.33


Three-cone

Manny Lawson NC State 6.90
Rob Ninkovich Purdue 6.96
Kamerion Wimbley Florida St 6.97
Jeremy Mincey Florida 6.99
Mario Williams NC State 7.19

[Hostile]

Vertical jump

Mike Kudla Ohio State 37Combined with his bench press numbers that's pretty good. Especially for a guy who weighed 265 from what I read.

[ghst187]

the guy Lawson is flat out one of the best athletes in the entire draft, esp for his size, just amazing. He benches close to 400 lbs, runs a 4.44, played LB and DE, had 7 QB sacks last year, also played on ST blocking a punt, ran track, was a broad jumper, once outjumped the measuring device used to measure vertical leap, and put up lots of other ridiculous stats. He's not the most polished at the DE or LB position but he's shown that he's quite capable at either or both. Combine that with his rare and ridiculous athleticism....and you've got a guy that could end up being a VERY special player.
I think Carpenter is going to be a very good player and would fit our team perfectly at the ILB position but I'm terribly enticed by Lawson's potential to be a gamebreaker type player. I think Burnett will come around next year and James and Ware are obviously solid but we're still lacking one player even though Fujita and Shanle are okay, they seem to be quality depth but not starters IMO. Seems Burnett is more of a OLB than ILB and Lawson would probably be a better OLB also but better to have too many playmaking LBs than not enough. I think Lawson would also make Ellis expendable whereas Carpenter would not. Lawson and Ware on the DL corners in passing situations would be ferocious. No way that QB is getting more than one read.

[BigWillie]

http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/24/244466.jpg

Not many passes will get over this guy if he gets a paw up. Heck, throw him in the middle of our FG block unit and he'll likely bat a few of those down as well.

Would love to grab Manny and put him opposite of Ware, but he may have moved himself out of our range, unfortunately.

[bbgun]

Q: Would you feel most comfortable as a outside linebacker or a defensive end?
Lawson: Wherever a team wants to put me, so long as I can play.


Q: If you went to a 4-3 team, what weight do you think you come become eventually?
Lawson: The way I look at it, my weight can hold a lot, but I don't want to substitute weight for speed, so I'll probably stop adding weight whenever I start slowing down.

Q: What's the most you've ever weighed?
Lawson: The most I've ever weighed is 247.

Q: Are you going to do all the workouts at the Combine?
Lawson: Yes.

Q: Who all have you met with here at the Combine?
Lawson: The Falcons, Jaguars, Dallas, New York Giants, Tampa Bay...I can't remember all of them. I had eight interviews last night.

Q: How about the Dolphins?
Lawson: I have not met with them. I actually met with them at the Senior Bowl.

Q: Is there a certain way to block punts like you did so much in college?
Lawson: There is a specific technique. Really, I think the knack is ‘want to,' as coach [Chuck] Amato would call it. If you want to get back there, you'll do anything or whatever it takes to get back there.

Q: How do you feel about being compared to linebacker/defensive end tweeners like Willie McGinest?
Lawson: It's crazy because they've done things I have not yet done, so I don't know what to say.

Q: Do you think Mario Williams complemented you as much as you were a complement to him at State?
Lawson: I think it goes both ways. When you see one guy coming around the corner, you're definitely not going to run his way, so you're automatically going to go the other way and into the next guy, who you don't see. I think we both complemented each other.

Q: Are you faster than Mario?
Lawson: By far. It's not even close. Not even.

Q: You did jumps for N.C. State track?
Lawson: Yes. Long jump and triple jump. I ran track all the way up until my junior year. I stopped before my senior year so I could focus more on football and get closer to [weighing] 400 pounds [laughs].

Q: How many reps did you do in the bench?
Lawson: I did 23 reps.

Q: Is that the most you've ever done?
Lawson: Actually, that's the only time I've ever done it.

Q: Where are you training?
Lawson: Phoenix, Arizona. Fisher Sports wish Brett Fisher.

Q: Did you put 25 pounds on before your senior year?
Lawson: Yes.

Q: How?
Lawson: Baked potatoes. Baked potatoes and right after I ate baked potatoes, I went to the gym. Just constantly eating and then working out rather than eating and running and then working out.

Q: How much have you played standing up like a linebacker?
Lawson: I played probably two years to a year and a half.

Q: As a starter?
Lawson: I started against passing teams standing up whenever my talents were needed to cover a tight end or a receiver.

Q: So do you think playing outside linebacker for a 3-4 team would be a huge adjustment for you?
Lawson: I don't feel it will be new to me at all. There may be a technique I have to learn or re-learn or improve upon, but as far as covering somebody, as far as dropping back in zone, I feel I can do it.

Q: So you're very comfortable in dropping into pass coverage?
Lawson: Very. I've been dropping into pass coverages all throughout my years even as a defensive end.

Q: How accomplished of a pass rusher do you feel you are?
Lawson: I'm pretty much still learning. I'm going to always be learning. I feel I have a variety and array of pass rushing moves that I can use and that will work, but if you really want to look at it, I've only been playing defensive end at the collegiate level for two years. So I'm still new to the game.

Q: Would you liken your abilities to anyone currently in the NFL, or is there anyone you model your game after?
Lawson: The guy who I look up to is a guy about my size, my height: Jason Taylor. And another guy is Dwight Freeney, because I wish I had the spin move to where I could keep spinning and spinning and somehow end up at the quarterback. I just can't do it.

Q: Who's the better end, you or Mario Williams?
Lawson: Better end? Better looking is me hands-down. We both have our days. Sometimes I'll end up with a good day and sometimes he'll end up with a good day. I've been rated as an athlete ad he's your prototypical end.

Q: You were voted your team's most valuable defensive lineman the past two seasons. Who votes on that?
Lawson: The team votes, the coaches vote.

[Bluefin]

I completely agree with Rack about computer numbers.

They're addictive and fun to talk about, but only give a glimpse of what a player can do under controlled settings.

Is he smart, dedicated, instinctive?

Does he possess leadership qualities and/or have a burning desire to prove himself and be a part of a winner?

Is he a football player or a workout wonder like former Eagle Mike Mamula?

Great computer numbers are always welcome if they come along with a football player, but the athlete must be a football player to put those raw skills to use on Sundays, IMO.

As for NC State's Manny Lawson, I remember some Senior Bowl articles that compared him to a current NFL outside linebacker.

Who?

His name is DeMarcus Ware.

:D

[Dayton Cowboy]

Kudla didn't run?

[31hammer]

It probally doesn't even matter anymore. Because he probably just catapulted himself out of our reach.

[Qwickdraw]

So if he'd ran a 4.8 then those zoners wouldn't know what they were talking about?


40 times don't = great football players. I wish people could get that through their heads. Speed is nice... when it's a great football player that possesses that speed. But an "average" speed (or even somewhat slow) GOOD football player is better then a fast BAD football player all day, every day, and that'll be the case forever.


Who would you rather have Randall Williams or Terrell Suggs?
Bullseye.

[Clove]

the guy Lawson is flat out one of the best athletes in the entire draft, esp for his size, just amazing. He benches close to 400 lbs, runs a 4.44, played LB and DE, had 7 QB sacks last year, also played on ST blocking a punt, ran track, was a broad jumper, once outjumped the measuring device used to measure vertical leap, and put up lots of other ridiculous stats. He's not the most polished at the DE or LB position but he's shown that he's quite capable at either or both. Combine that with his rare and ridiculous athleticism....and you've got a guy that could end up being a VERY special player.
I think Carpenter is going to be a very good player and would fit our team perfectly at the ILB position but I'm terribly enticed by Lawson's potential to be a gamebreaker type player. I think Burnett will come around next year and James and Ware are obviously solid but we're still lacking one player even though Fujita and Shanle are okay, they seem to be quality depth but not starters IMO. Seems Burnett is more of a OLB than ILB and Lawson would probably be a better OLB also but better to have too many playmaking LBs than not enough. I think Lawson would also make Ellis expendable whereas Carpenter would not. Lawson and Ware on the DL corners in passing situations would be ferocious. No way that QB is getting more than one read.People don't want to hear this because they've fallen in love with Carpenter, but Carpenter has very average numbers except in sacks. I can name atleast 5 to 6 players that's had better numbers.

If we had a chance to get both, it would be nice, but I would take Lawson over any OLB out there outside of Tambi Hali.

Plenty of teams have used two tweener as their LBrs, and if Parcells picks up a tweener, then Ellis is History.

[proline]

I have a friend who is an NC State grad. He's followed football there religiously for years. He told me all season that folks would be going nuts about Lawson due to his measurables. But he also said that he wasn't convinced that Lawson would make it at the next level due to his game intelligence, or rather perceived lack of it. I "think" Lawson is pursuing an industrial engineering degree, so he obviously has some smarts. But my friend says that the intelligence doesn't seem to transfer onto the field, i.e. his decision making is lacking and or slow. All I'm saying is that based on his observations, I'm keeping a "wait and see" attitude on Lawson. He may do well if he can go to a system that wants to use him as a pure pass rusher. But a team that needs him to be able to handle the full responsiblities of an NFL linebacker may want to look the other way, or at least expect his development to take awhile.

[BigWillie]

You can't really compare Randall Williams and Terrell Suggs since they play different positions.

However, for a DE/LB, you do need to posess some type of speed to cover a TE, slot WR or even a RB.

Certain things seperate certain players, and being a freak athlete seperates Lawson from alot of people from a physical standpoint.

I mean, if Demarcus Ware hadn't been a workout warrior, would we have taken him so high and be this happy we did?

Is 40 times the end all to players? Nope. I'd rather focus on shuttle drills with speed and footwork myself, but Lawson is simply excelling in every drill in the combine and is among the leaders. That cannot be denied.

[baj1dallas]

It's not that I'm against Lawson, but dammit, when are we gonna start injecting some youth into the offense? We have an old QB, old wideouts, and an aging OL that won't get any younger by adding a brittle Fabini.

We'll trade down in the first this year and take a WR.

[Rack Bauer]

While 40 times are not always indicative of a player being good, they do demonstrate a players speed.

Not necessarily.


Williams might have been a good WR if he didn't always drop passes.


No, he wouldn't have. It's more then just how fast your run and if you can catch the ball. There's A LOT more to playing WR then running and catching.

Look at all the good players that turned in great 40 times. Ware, Randy Moss, Deion Sanders, Newman, etc.. Their speed is what make them special.


Their speed might put them over the top, but they are/were good players REGARDLESS. They are/were all good football players that were also fast.



You can't really compare Randall Williams and Terrell Suggs since they play different positions


You obviously didn't get the point. The position has NOTHING to do with it.

[Z-Man]

So if he'd ran a 4.8 then those zoners wouldn't know what they were talking about?


40 times don't = great football players. I wish people could get that through their heads. Speed is nice... when it's a great football player that possesses that speed. But an "average" speed (or even somewhat slow) GOOD football player is better then a fast BAD football player all day, every day, and that'll be the case forever.


Who would you rather have Randall Williams or Terrell Suggs?
Lawson wasn't garbage in college though. His stats were comparable to Merriman's. Now what he does in the NFL is just speculation, but the stats and measurables look pretty good IMO.

[Rack Bauer]

Lawson wasn't garbage in college though. His stats were comparable to Merriman's. Now what he does in the NFL is just speculation, but the stats and measurables look pretty good IMO.


I never said he was. I think you misunderstood the point I was trying to make.


For another words, if he was a good player before he'd still be a good player now, regardless of how fast he ran his 40.


Was Terrell Suggs suddenly a poor player cuz he only ran a 4.8? No.

[BigWillie]

Position has everything to do with it.

Do you need a fast offensive lineman? Doy you need a fast NT?

Different positions have different needs to excel. If you're going to make a comparison, make one that will at least make sense.

[Bullet22]

I saw him in the NFL network run the 40..he is cut, no fat..

[Rack Bauer]

Position has everything to do with it.

Do you need a fast offensive lineman? Doy you need a fast NT?

Different positions have different needs to excel. If you're going to make a comparison, make one that will at least make sense.



Again, you simply aren't getting the point. Position has NOTHING to do with the point I'm trying to make (and apparantly, you're the only one that doesn't get it).


By the way, you don't "Need" speed at WR, do you? You don't "Need" speed at RB, do you? You don't "Need" speed at DE, do you? Hell, you don't even "Need" speed at CB.

If you can play, you can play. If you can play, AND you have speed, even better. But it isn't a necessity.

[CrazyCowboy]

I have a friend who is an NC State grad. He's followed football there religiously for years. He told me all season that folks would be going nuts about Lawson due to his measurables. But he also said that he wasn't convinced that Lawson would make it at the next level due to his game intelligence, or rather perceived lack of it. I "think" Lawson is pursuing an industrial engineering degree, so he obviously has some smarts. But my friend says that the intelligence doesn't seem to transfer onto the field, i.e. his decision making is lacking and or slow. All I'm saying is that based on his observations, I'm keeping a "wait and see" attitude on Lawson. He may do well if he can go to a system that wants to use him as a pure pass rusher. But a team that needs him to be able to handle the full responsiblities of an NFL linebacker may want to look the other way, or at least expect his development to take awhile.

Good points--it will be interesting after reading this how he does on the infamous Wonderlick score?

[proline]

Good points--it will be interesting after reading this how he does on the infamous Wonderlick score?

Actually, based on the difficulty of the degree he is pursuing, I would expect him to perform well on the W. test. It's his "game sense" that might be questionable. I'll see my friend today and try to get some more detailed thoughts from him to pass along.

[Bob Sacamano]

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/9271713

I have read lots of Zoners saying we should draft N.C. State DL Manny Lawson.......Congrats to all of you!

You folks knew what the heck your talking about with this kid. Look at that 40 yd dash time. Can you imagine Ware and Lawson on the field at the same time? Awesome!

:laugh1:

i started the bandwagon, YIPPEE!! but anyways, he's gonna be gone by the time cleveland picks, he could go top 10, in any event, we're gonna have to trade up if we have any hopes of landing manny fresh

[Bob Sacamano]

So if he'd ran a 4.8 then those zoners wouldn't know what they were talking about?


40 times don't = great football players. I wish people could get that through their heads. Speed is nice... when it's a great football player that possesses that speed. But an "average" speed (or even somewhat slow) GOOD football player is better then a fast BAD football player all day, every day, and that'll be the case forever.


Who would you rather have Randall Williams or Terrell Suggs?

lawson is a good player, he's active and good at pursuing plays and making tackles in the open field, plus he's played olb before

[Bob Sacamano]

Combined with his bench press numbers that's pretty good. Especially for a guy who weighed 265 from what I read.

scouts look at lineman's vertical numbers, because it shows how explosive they are, Kudla is pretty explosive then, and hell, manny is explosive as anything, nice 20 yard dash time, and vert, plus his 40 time...

[Bob Sacamano]

I completely agree with Rack about computer numbers.

They're addictive and fun to talk about, but only give a glimpse of what a player can do under controlled settings.

Is he smart, dedicated, instinctive?

Does he possess leadership qualities and/or have a burning desire to prove himself and be a part of a winner?

Is he a football player or a workout wonder like former Eagle Mike Mamula?

Great computer numbers are always welcome if they come along with a football player, but the athlete must be a football player to put those raw skills to use on Sundays, IMO.

As for NC State's Manny Lawson, I remember some Senior Bowl articles that compared him to a current NFL outside linebacker.

Who?

His name is DeMarcus Ware.

:D

I agree with rack too, but ware had great combine #s last year, that was the main reason why he went so high, and had a couple teams thinking about making him a top 5 pick

[CrazyCowboy]

Manny Lawson (DE - N.C. State) - Sunday, February 26, 2006:


Q: Would you feel most comfortable as a outside linebacker or a defensive end?
Lawson: Wherever a team wants to put me, so long as I can play.


Q: If you went to a 4-3 team, what weight do you think you come become eventually?
Lawson: The way I look at it, my weight can hold a lot, but I don't want to substitute weight for speed, so I'll probably stop adding weight whenever I start slowing down.

Q: What's the most you've ever weighed?
Lawson: The most I've ever weighed is 247.

Q: Are you going to do all the workouts at the Combine?
Lawson: Yes.

Q: Who all have you met with here at the Combine?
Lawson: The Falcons, Jaguars, Dallas, New York Giants, Tampa Bay...I can't remember all of them. I had eight interviews last night.

Q: How about the Dolphins?
Lawson: I have not met with them. I actually met with them at the Senior Bowl.

Q: Is there a certain way to block punts like you did so much in college?
Lawson: There is a specific technique. Really, I think the knack is ‘want to,' as coach [Chuck] Amato would call it. If you want to get back there, you'll do anything or whatever it takes to get back there.

Q: How do you feel about being compared to linebacker/defensive end tweeners like Willie McGinest?
Lawson: It's crazy because they've done things I have not yet done, so I don't know what to say.

Q: Do you think Mario Williams complemented you as much as you were a complement to him at State?
Lawson: I think it goes both ways. When you see one guy coming around the corner, you're definitely not going to run his way, so you're automatically going to go the other way and into the next guy, who you don't see. I think we both complemented each other.

Q: Are you faster than Mario?
Lawson: By far. It's not even close. Not even.

Q: You did jumps for N.C. State track?
Lawson: Yes. Long jump and triple jump. I ran track all the way up until my junior year. I stopped before my senior year so I could focus more on football and get closer to [weighing] 400 pounds [laughs].

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/team/article.jsp?id=11113





Q: How many reps did you do in the bench?
Lawson: I did 23 reps.

Q: Is that the most you've ever done?
Lawson: Actually, that's the only time I've ever done it.

Q: Where are you training?
Lawson: Phoenix, Arizona. Fisher Sports wish Brett Fisher.

Q: Did you put 25 pounds on before your senior year?
Lawson: Yes.

Q: How?
Lawson: Baked potatoes. Baked potatoes and right after I ate baked potatoes, I went to the gym. Just constantly eating and then working out rather than eating and running and then working out.

Q: How much have you played standing up like a linebacker?
Lawson: I played probably two years to a year and a half.

Q: As a starter?
Lawson: I started against passing teams standing up whenever my talents were needed to cover a tight end or a receiver.

Q: So do you think playing outside linebacker for a 3-4 team would be a huge adjustment for you?
Lawson: I don't feel it will be new to me at all. There may be a technique I have to learn or re-learn or improve upon, but as far as covering somebody, as far as dropping back in zone, I feel I can do it.

Q: So you're very comfortable in dropping into pass coverage?
Lawson: Very. I've been dropping into pass coverages all throughout my years even as a defensive end.

Q: How accomplished of a pass rusher do you feel you are?
Lawson: I'm pretty much still learning. I'm going to always be learning. I feel I have a variety and array of pass rushing moves that I can use and that will work, but if you really want to look at it, I've only been playing defensive end at the collegiate level for two years. So I'm still new to the game.

Q: Would you liken your abilities to anyone currently in the NFL, or is there anyone you model your game after?
Lawson: The guy who I look up to is a guy about my size, my height: Jason Taylor. And another guy is Dwight Freeney, because I wish I had the spin move to where I could keep spinning and spinning and somehow end up at the quarterback. I just can't do it.

Q: Who's the better end, you or Mario Williams?
Lawson: Better end? Better looking is me hands-down. We both have our days. Sometimes I'll end up with a good day and sometimes he'll end up with a good day. I've been rated as an athlete ad he's your prototypical end.

Q: You were voted your team's most valuable defensive lineman the past two seasons. Who votes on that?
Lawson: The team votes, the coaches vote.

[Bob Sacamano]

rack, I havent' missed your point, I like talking about lawson lol

[dmq]

Gimme some of that Mathias Kiwanuka. He just has a name that sounds like he would be a great LB.

[BARRYRAY]

Well I didn't listen to you guys about Merriman, if you say he's the man that will scare coordinators then I will take your pick, we need somebody that does, not just another so-so guy, think Lawrence Taylor...

[proline]

OK, here's some more info about Lawson from my NC State grad friend. To be honest, most if not all of this is available online, but here's his view anyway.

Lawson was a linebacker his first two years at State. In those 2 years, he only started 3 games. One of those three starts was actually as a DE in the 2003 bowl game.

In 2004 and 2005, he started at DE.

Why was Lawson moved from LB to DE? Was it just to make use of his pass rushing skills, or because he was not complete enough at LB to be a pass rushing LB? Maybe because it is simpler for a guy to understand "Just go get the QB" than it is to read plays and react? You won't find this written anywhere, but my friend thought that as a LB he was out of position much of the time. He also got beat up against the run (something that happened to him as a DE against Wake Forest in 2004, by the way).

So ..... basically Lawson has no proven track record of being able to play LB at the college level. Can he do it at the pro level? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe with better coaching, experience, etc., he will become an outstanding LB. But at 245 pounds, he obviously won't be an NFL DE. My friend's "fear" (and he's a Lawson fan) is that Lawson will be a great athlete without a position at the next level.

I honestly have not seen Lawson play, and I don't have a horse in this race. I just wanted to add some food for thought while all this "Man"-ny love is going around.

[MissionCoach]

Some of the Scouting Reports also list Lawson as a very good Special Teams player...sounds like a BP guy to me. :starspin

[dmq]

With that time, sadly he will probably be long gone by the time we draft.:bang2: