#176 - 6th Round - Cleveland, Nick Speegle, LB, NEW MEXICO

[Hostile]

Browns select...Nick Speegle
OLB | (6'5", 243, 4.8) | NEW MEXICO

[Juke99]

Strengths: Has a terrific frame and good overall size. Is well built and has good upper and lower body strength. Has a great frame at SLB. Is tall, strong and has the long arms to keep separation and to occupy the TE. He does a good job of holding his ground versus the run. Is stout when teams run at him. Will play disciplined, show some ability to shed, and is a powerful tackler in the short-area. He is a consistent, reliable and extremely durable player that will pick things up quickly, do what the coaches ask of him, and always gives a great effort.

Weaknesses: Is high-cut, lacks good COD skills and is a below average athlete. Is at his best near the LOS. Does not show the ability to make a lot of plays versus the run in space. Lacks the ability to redirect and will miss some tackles in space, as a result. His hips are stiff in coverage and he doesn't have great speed. He also lacks great closing burst and instincts as a blitzer.

Overall: Speegle started four games at outside linebacker in his redshirt freshman season in 2001 and was a fulltime starter at OLB his final three seasons from 2002-'03. He started all 13 games as a junior in 2003 and finished with 80 total tackles, 10 TFL, 2.5 sacks and one INT. He finished his senior season in 2004 with 92 total tackles, including 12.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. Speegle is a "strongside" linebacker prospect with a great frame, good bulk and strength, and adequate straight-line speed for the position. He is not, however, a good athlete and he is marginal in the passing game. Overall, Speegle was a productive enough run stopper at the collegiate level with good enough size and strength to consider as an undrafted rookie free agent.

* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.