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Linebacker our biggest need?
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Direwolf63
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I think so.As of November are we all in agreement that this is the biggest position of need?
Who are some guys I need to be watching?
It's starting to look like we won't be getting pick 32 unless we trade down.
The teams only consistent LB can't stay on the field. Bitterly disappointed in Jaylon Smith. His poor play is not related to his leg. He needs to be a completely different player next year to see the field. For every good play Wilson makes, he makes 2 bad ones. Hitchens is solid, but can be easily upgraded.
Wouldn't mind seeing 2 LB's drafted: 1 very early and the second in the middle rounds.
JeffInDC
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As of November are we all in agreement that this is the biggest position of need?
Who are some guys I need to be watching?
It's starting to look like we won't be getting pick 32 unless we trade down
Outside LB's:
Rashaan Evans ('Bama)
Keishawn Berria (Washington)
Ro Smith (UGA) - I don't see him as a MLB in the NFL
Inside LB's:
Josey Jewell (Iowa) - I see a LOT of Sean Lee......without the injuries
Mailk Jefferson (UT)
Cam Smith (USC)
Micah Kiser (UVA)
John813
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I say they go the way of letting him see what offers are out there if he doesn't take a 1-2 year extension that pay him a couple million a year(or maybe a tad more than Gachkar got). I think they like him, but he is limited as a player.
Definitely hope we go after a couple LBs this year. Been on the Jewell train as I too see him as a possible Sean Lee lite.
Yakuza Rich
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If we keep Hitchens I would be fine with just picking up a solid veteran MIKE. I think the MIKE is more important than the WILL. But with Lee in on defense, he can make up for deficiencies at the MIKE. Jaylon isn't ready to be a full time MIKE and I really question if he can ever play the MIKE. So I would rather get a veteran MIKE that can step in right away if Lee or Hitchens gets hurt. And then we can continue to use Jaylon on passing downs at the MIKE or permanently try to move him to the WILL and maybe he gets back to his college form again and can replace Lee when Lee is ready to retire.
YR
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Big needs:
LB
DT (#1 tech)
OT
In which ever order you can draft them.
LB
DT (#1 tech)
OT
In which ever order you can draft them.
bodi
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later rounds
Tegray Scales, ILB/OLB, Indiana
Height: 6-0. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
10/21/17: In 2017, Scales has 48 tackles with 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss. He has been a solid defender for Indiana.
9/1/17: Scales was a contributing defender for the Hoosiers with 46 tackles as a freshman and 64 as a sophomore before a massive jump as a junior when he notched 126 tackles on the season. He also had 23.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, two passes batted, one interception, and one forced fumble in 2016. Sources have said that Scales is a solid defender who is unspectacular for the NFL, similar to Clemson's Kendall Joseph or Ohio State's Jerome Baker
Kendall Joseph*, ILB/OLB, Clemson
Height: 6-0. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
10/21/17: Joseph has 57 tackles with 3.5 tackles for a loss, .5 sacks and a pass broken up thus far this season.
9/1/17: Ben Boulware got a lot of attention, but Joseph was the best linebacker on Clemson's National Championship team. Joseph totaled 108 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks and one interception on the year. He is a quick, solid and instinctive defender. Scouting sources say that they saw Joseph as the same as Jerome Baker. Both run around blocks more than they take on. They are good players, although not complete or exceptional. Jospeh is a good, solid player with instincts and could play in the NFL in the right system. He is seen as more of a second-day to early third-day prospect.
Darius Leonard, ILB, South Carolina State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 235.
Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
Projected Round (2018): 3-4.
10/21/17: Scouting sources have told me that Leonard has really impressed them this fall. He has been flying around the field, producing a lot for his defense. Leonard already has 76 tackles with four tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, one pass batted, two interceptions and one forced fumble. He has a knack for making plays behind the line of scrimmage as he totaled 42 tackles for a loss with 13.5 sacks combined over his freshman, sophomore and junior years. Leonard has NFL size and has dominated his level of competition.
Oren Burks, ILB, Vanderbilt
Height: 6-3. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
Projected Round (2018): 2-3.
10/21/17: Sources from multiple teams have told me that Burks has impressed them this season. They like his combination of size, quickness and instincts.
Burks has 48 tackles with 4.5 tackles for a loss, one interception and two passes broken up this season. In 2016, he formed a potent linebacking tandem with Zach Cunningham. That season Burks had 59 tackles with 3.5 sacks and six passes broken up. Burks has shown some coverage and ball skills as he had six more breakups as a sophomore and seven as a freshman
Jerome Baker*, OLB, Ohio State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2018): 2-4.
10/21/17: Thus far in 2017, Baker has 29 tackles with four for a loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and two passes broken up. He hasn't validated some of the preseason media hype with his play this season.
9/1/17: There has been a lot of media hype about Baker, but in speaking with scouts who did advance work on the 2018 class, they weren't impressed with Baker. They said that Baker runs around more blocks than he takes on and has the speed to get away with that against average offensive lines. They thought was more of a second-day to early third-day prospect. They said Baker is a good player, but not complete and isn't anything exceptional. They felt Baker was a good, solid, instinct guy who, in the right system, will play in the NFL, but over time they're a dime a dozen.
After Darron Lee was taken in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Baker won the job to be Lee's replacement as Ohio State's fast run-and-chase linebacker. Baker had a quality debut with 83 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. He is a highly athletic linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed. Baker could be a great fit as a Will (weak side) linebacker in a 4-3 defense.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB, Oklahoma
Height: 6-1. Weight: 242.
Projected 40 Time: 4.69.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
10/21/17: In the early going of 2017, Okoronkwo has 3.5 sacks with 19 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble. He has been a leading defender for the Sooners and has gotten a lot of media hype.
In speaking with a director of college scouting, they say they think that Okoronkwo is fast and explosive to rush the passer, but he is tight. He gets covered by length and mass on the edge with offensive tackles, and that will be a bigger issue in the NFL. They think that Okoronkwo could be a hybrid inside and outside linebacker for the NFL. They gave him a fourth-/fifth-round grade.
9/1/17: Okoronkwo was a dangerous edge defender for the Sooners in 2016. The juniot totaled 71 tackles with 12 tackles for a loss, nine sacks, three passes batted and two forced fumbles. It was a breakout season after serving as a backup in the previous seasons.
Mike McCray, OLB, Michigan
Height: 6-4. Weight: 248.
Projected 40 Time: 4.68.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
10/21/17: McCray has 36 tackles with 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and 5.5 tackles for a loss to this point in 2017.
9/1/17: McCray was a solid defender for Michigan in 2016 as he totaled 76 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, seven passes broken up, two interceptions and one forced fumble. He has good size and could rise as a senior.
Jason Cabinda, OLB, Penn State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 232.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
10/21/17: Cabinda has 40 tackles with three tackles for a loss and one sack thus far this season.
9/1/17: Cabinda had 81 tackles with four tackles for a loss, one sack and three passes broken up in 2016. He was impressive as a sophomore with 100 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks, five passes broken up and a forced fumble. Cabinda should produce a quality senior season with a good tackle total in a running conference
Chris Worley, OLB, Ohio State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2018): 4-6.
10/21/17: Thus far in 2017, Worley has 22 tackles with two tackles for a loss.
9/1/17: Worley was a starter at outside linebacker for Ohio State in 2016. He totaled 70 tackles with 4.5 for a loss, four passes batted and one forced fumble. With Raekwon McMillan moving on to the NFL, Worley is going to move over to middle linebacker. Considering he is likely a little smaller than his listed numbers, Worley wouldn't be big enough for middle linebacker in the NFL and will probably have to play on the outside unless he is able to add weight.
Nick DeLuca, ILB, North Dakota St 6-3 #245 40 4.85
Tegray Scales, ILB/OLB, Indiana
Height: 6-0. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
10/21/17: In 2017, Scales has 48 tackles with 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss. He has been a solid defender for Indiana.
9/1/17: Scales was a contributing defender for the Hoosiers with 46 tackles as a freshman and 64 as a sophomore before a massive jump as a junior when he notched 126 tackles on the season. He also had 23.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, two passes batted, one interception, and one forced fumble in 2016. Sources have said that Scales is a solid defender who is unspectacular for the NFL, similar to Clemson's Kendall Joseph or Ohio State's Jerome Baker
Kendall Joseph*, ILB/OLB, Clemson
Height: 6-0. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
10/21/17: Joseph has 57 tackles with 3.5 tackles for a loss, .5 sacks and a pass broken up thus far this season.
9/1/17: Ben Boulware got a lot of attention, but Joseph was the best linebacker on Clemson's National Championship team. Joseph totaled 108 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks and one interception on the year. He is a quick, solid and instinctive defender. Scouting sources say that they saw Joseph as the same as Jerome Baker. Both run around blocks more than they take on. They are good players, although not complete or exceptional. Jospeh is a good, solid player with instincts and could play in the NFL in the right system. He is seen as more of a second-day to early third-day prospect.
Darius Leonard, ILB, South Carolina State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 235.
Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
Projected Round (2018): 3-4.
10/21/17: Scouting sources have told me that Leonard has really impressed them this fall. He has been flying around the field, producing a lot for his defense. Leonard already has 76 tackles with four tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, one pass batted, two interceptions and one forced fumble. He has a knack for making plays behind the line of scrimmage as he totaled 42 tackles for a loss with 13.5 sacks combined over his freshman, sophomore and junior years. Leonard has NFL size and has dominated his level of competition.
Oren Burks, ILB, Vanderbilt
Height: 6-3. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
Projected Round (2018): 2-3.
10/21/17: Sources from multiple teams have told me that Burks has impressed them this season. They like his combination of size, quickness and instincts.
Burks has 48 tackles with 4.5 tackles for a loss, one interception and two passes broken up this season. In 2016, he formed a potent linebacking tandem with Zach Cunningham. That season Burks had 59 tackles with 3.5 sacks and six passes broken up. Burks has shown some coverage and ball skills as he had six more breakups as a sophomore and seven as a freshman
Jerome Baker*, OLB, Ohio State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.55.
Projected Round (2018): 2-4.
10/21/17: Thus far in 2017, Baker has 29 tackles with four for a loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and two passes broken up. He hasn't validated some of the preseason media hype with his play this season.
9/1/17: There has been a lot of media hype about Baker, but in speaking with scouts who did advance work on the 2018 class, they weren't impressed with Baker. They said that Baker runs around more blocks than he takes on and has the speed to get away with that against average offensive lines. They thought was more of a second-day to early third-day prospect. They said Baker is a good player, but not complete and isn't anything exceptional. They felt Baker was a good, solid, instinct guy who, in the right system, will play in the NFL, but over time they're a dime a dozen.
After Darron Lee was taken in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Baker won the job to be Lee's replacement as Ohio State's fast run-and-chase linebacker. Baker had a quality debut with 83 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. He is a highly athletic linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed. Baker could be a great fit as a Will (weak side) linebacker in a 4-3 defense.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB, Oklahoma
Height: 6-1. Weight: 242.
Projected 40 Time: 4.69.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
10/21/17: In the early going of 2017, Okoronkwo has 3.5 sacks with 19 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble. He has been a leading defender for the Sooners and has gotten a lot of media hype.
In speaking with a director of college scouting, they say they think that Okoronkwo is fast and explosive to rush the passer, but he is tight. He gets covered by length and mass on the edge with offensive tackles, and that will be a bigger issue in the NFL. They think that Okoronkwo could be a hybrid inside and outside linebacker for the NFL. They gave him a fourth-/fifth-round grade.
9/1/17: Okoronkwo was a dangerous edge defender for the Sooners in 2016. The juniot totaled 71 tackles with 12 tackles for a loss, nine sacks, three passes batted and two forced fumbles. It was a breakout season after serving as a backup in the previous seasons.
Mike McCray, OLB, Michigan
Height: 6-4. Weight: 248.
Projected 40 Time: 4.68.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
10/21/17: McCray has 36 tackles with 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and 5.5 tackles for a loss to this point in 2017.
9/1/17: McCray was a solid defender for Michigan in 2016 as he totaled 76 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, seven passes broken up, two interceptions and one forced fumble. He has good size and could rise as a senior.
Jason Cabinda, OLB, Penn State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 232.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2018): 3-5.
10/21/17: Cabinda has 40 tackles with three tackles for a loss and one sack thus far this season.
9/1/17: Cabinda had 81 tackles with four tackles for a loss, one sack and three passes broken up in 2016. He was impressive as a sophomore with 100 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks, five passes broken up and a forced fumble. Cabinda should produce a quality senior season with a good tackle total in a running conference
Chris Worley, OLB, Ohio State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2018): 4-6.
10/21/17: Thus far in 2017, Worley has 22 tackles with two tackles for a loss.
9/1/17: Worley was a starter at outside linebacker for Ohio State in 2016. He totaled 70 tackles with 4.5 for a loss, four passes batted and one forced fumble. With Raekwon McMillan moving on to the NFL, Worley is going to move over to middle linebacker. Considering he is likely a little smaller than his listed numbers, Worley wouldn't be big enough for middle linebacker in the NFL and will probably have to play on the outside unless he is able to add weight.
Nick DeLuca, ILB, North Dakota St 6-3 #245 40 4.85
KingintheNorth
Chris in Arizona
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I've watched Indiana a few games this year and the LB who stood out to me was Chris Covington (6-2/230).
TheCoolFan
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Yup, now that the DL finally has some decent talent (still not there yet but better than where it's been the last 7 years), it's time to start bringing in some quality LBs. Ever since the switch to the 4-3 in 2013, they have only spent an early draft pick (round 1-3) on a LB once and that was Jaylon in 2016 and we all know he is a project
We finally need to draft one early with the hopes that he will be the Day 1 starter at MLB and then draft another in round 4-7 for depth and maybe he can become a starter one day.
We finally need to draft one early with the hopes that he will be the Day 1 starter at MLB and then draft another in round 4-7 for depth and maybe he can become a starter one day.
Cebrin
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As of November are we all in agreement that this is the biggest position of need?
Who are some guys I need to be watching?
It's starting to look like we won't be getting pick 32 unless we trade down
In order
LB
NT
S
TE
OL Depth
visionary
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Cebrin
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I agree at receiver. Dez will be 30 next year. Time to shake it up.
kiheikiwi
Maui No Ka Oi
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Look at the Eagles inside last night Tim Jernigan (who they traded for) and Fletcher Cox. Solid, solid interior.
We have Collins OUR 3-TECH he is not a NT !
We have to put a talented Nose next to him, have to !
So,
NT
LBer
SS/ Olineman.
Corner.
We have Collins OUR 3-TECH he is not a NT !
We have to put a talented Nose next to him, have to !
So,
NT
LBer
SS/ Olineman.
Corner.
darthseinfeld
Groupthink Guru
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For me its between Mike and a WR.As of November are we all in agreement that this is the biggest position of need?
Who are some guys I need to be watching?
It's starting to look like we won't be getting pick 32 unless we trade down
And for me to say Mike says alot because I am usually very against LB's in the first.
I like Ridley alot at WR. At MLB, I really like Malik Jefferson
stilltheguru88
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Rahsaan Evans
Roquan Smith or
Josef Jewell
Anyone else is a fail and Jewell should be no higher than a late second rounder. Other two first rounders
Roquan Smith or
Josef Jewell
Anyone else is a fail and Jewell should be no higher than a late second rounder. Other two first rounders
stilltheguru88
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Walter football said Jefferson has issues about his love for football. Pass like Magic Johnson