Dallas Cowboys draft series: South Carolina LB Jasper Brinkley

[cowboyjoe]

Dallas Cowboys draft series: South Carolina LB Jasper Brinkley
1:06 PM Thu, Apr 16, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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Size: 6-2, 252

Combine 40-yard dash: 4.69

POSITIVES

There aren't many linebackers as big as Brinkley who run as well as he does. He has dropped weight since the season and put up impressive numbers at the combine and his pro day. His bulk and explosiveness would make him a good fit as an inside linebacker in a 3-4. He's a powerful hitter with the strength to take on guards, giving him the potential to be a force against the run. He's also proven to be disruptive as a blitzer.

NEGATIVES

Brinkley will not be a three-down linebacker in the NFL. He might be a liability in coverage on first and second downs, because he does have the ability to be effective in man coverage. He was dominant in 2006 (107 tackles, 14.5 for losses), but his production dropped drastically after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the fourth game the next year (65 tackles, 2.5 for losses in 2008).

COWBOY FIT

Brinkley, who is projected to be a mid-round pick and is visiting Valley Ranch this week, would give the Cowboys a run-stopping backup for Bradie James and Keith Brooking. Brinkley could develop into a starter down the road and would benefit by learning from the veterans. He should be an immediate contributor on special teams. Brinkley would not be an alternative to fill the void left by Kevin Burnett's departure in the nickel and dime packages.

SOUTH CAROLINA ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ELLIS JOHNSON

"He's a big, strong, physical linebacker. I'd say he's measure up well with anybody in the draft in that regard. ... Excellent run player. He has a first step and a fast twitch for a big guy. He's not a slow 260-pounder. He's a quick 260-pounder. ... He's a junior college transfer, but Jasper played in three different schemes in two and a half seasons. He's a pretty sharp kid who can pick things up and adapt pretty well. ... If there's any negative, it'd be his pass coverage. Playing man coverage on a running back or tight end would be the one thing that you would say he shouldn't be doing. Now zone coverage, pattern reading and being able to play in space, he's OK there. ... I do see him being able to do some things that we didn't have him do here. I believe he's got the ability to rush off the edge. We really didn't use him in that aspect. We did put him down at defensive end in our dime package for a couple of games when a guy got hurt. I've never seen him play outside linebacker, but I bet he could. He's certainly big enough to line up over the tight end and play the run, and I think he could be effective as a pass rusher against tackles and especially if he gets matched up with running backs. But I think he's more of an inside linebacker. ... He carried [his weight] well. It never was a conditioning issue or a fatigue issue. But I felt like if he got a little bit lighter, it would have helped his hip flexion and his drops into pass coverage. ... He's a super young man. Never a discipline problem or a punctuality problem. He's really a pleasure to coach."


SCRAPBOOK

USC's Brinkley sees stock rise after returning to form

Losing weight boosts Brinkely's draft stock

 

[cowboyjoe]

here is the link for the video; i heard that the cowboys are strongly interested in him too in the draft

http://cowboysblog.***BANNED-URL***/archives/2009/04/dallas-cowboys-draft-series-south-caroli.html

 

[JonJon]

Pre-knee injury, there was no doubt he would be a first round pick. He never really recovered from that knee injury though, but if the experts are saying that he has returned to form, this would be an excellent pick in the 3rd round or possibly the fourth.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Pre-knee injury, there was no doubt he would be a first round pick. He never really recovered from that knee injury though, but if the experts are saying that he has returned to form, this would be an excellent pick in the 3rd round or possibly the fourth.

yeah and i hear he is a thumper in tackling and he can cover pretty well too, might be a steal

 

[BAT]

yeah and i hear he is a thumper in tackling and he can cover pretty well too, might be a steal

I hear he can't cover very well at all. His own coach thinks he is likely a 2 down LB at the next level. He impressed w/his 40's but that does not automatically equate to ability to cover.


Wasn't there one scout blurb about "go back and watch the tape" on Brinkley? Think it was in the Fan Zone. Brinkley has had one very good season (over 100 tackles and double digit TFLs), not a consistent producer IMO. He's not going to beat out James for a good long while, if ever. He is not a weak ILB, nickel or dime LB either. I like his physicality, and he has not been in trouble that I know of, high marks for me, but he is not the most instinctive or aware.


Unless Dallas thinks they can covert him to a swing LB (playing ILB and OLB), just don't see the value in taking him prior to the 5th.

 

[cowboyjoe]

bat, you could be right, i havent followed him too much, because i want the cowboys to get sidbury and jason williams. But i did hear the cowboys are warming up to him.

 

[JonJon]

I hear he can't cover very well at all. His own coach thinks he is likely a 2 down LB at the next level. He impressed w/his 40's but that does not automatically equate to ability to cover.


Wasn't there one scout blurb about "go back and watch the tape" on Brinkley? Think it was in the Fan Zone. Brinkley has had one very good season (over 100 tackles and double digit TFLs), not a consistent producer IMO. He's not going to beat out James for a good long while, if ever. He is not a weak ILB, nickel or dime LB either. I like his physicality, and he has not been in trouble that I know of, high marks for me, but he is not the most instinctive or aware.


Unless Dallas thinks they can covert him to a swing LB (playing ILB and OLB), just don't see the value in taking him prior to the 5th.

Correct. He isn't much of a coverage LB, sort of like Bradie James a few years ago, but he is a better tackler and plays the run better. I think he is faster and stronger than James too but probably not as smart. But the reason why he only had one good year was because he blew out his knee. He was well in line to being a first round talent before that. If he regains form, someone will have a solid LB on their squad.