Defensive rookies seem like great guys, but I worry about speed ..

[igtmfo]

Pretty amazing interviews with our rookies. They are very well spoken and seem to have a lot of passion. Man I can't remember 'kids' like this being so good in front of cameras ever before, saying the right things and meaning them ... I couldn't be so well spoken at my age, well that's another subject ..

The only worry: that the trade-off this year is that we got guys with college production, good character, captain of their team, etc. ... but their speed may be the thing that keeps them from playing in the NFL ...

Scandrick was always fast, he just had some consistency issues, young guy, etc ... Choice was quick not fast, but he's a RB, not a reactive guy like defensive guys need to be ...

I remember in the 90's we would draft guys like Dana Howard (Butkus Award in 1994) and some other dude I forgot that also got the top NCAA award at his position around the same time .. great players, but problems with pure speed, couldn't run from sideline to sideline in pursuit etc., and never made the team ...

From what I gather from our 4 LBs and 3 DBs, from what I've read in draft reports:

Real good speed at his position: J. Williams
OK/marginal speed for his position: DeAngelo Smith, Mickens
Troublesome speed for his position: Hodge (quick, but not great sideline to sideline)
Bad speed for his position: Hamlin, Brandon Williams (quick first step, but slow otherwise), Victor Butler (4.84 40 time at the combine, he's going to be an OLB? .. impressive personality, but ...)

Can these good dudes, our new buddies, overcome this, with pure instincts, drinking Vitamin Water or anything?

 

[silverbear]

I had also noticed that this year's defensive draft picks didn't have the speed of recent draftees... maybe this is intentional, Watkins and Brown have speed to burn, but they're not real good...

 

[Arch Stanton]

An article on Butlers speed....

Victor Butler lighter, and faster, on Pro Day ... Broncos will take a closer look
Posted by Paul Buker, The Oregonian March 13, 2009 17:42PM
Categories: Football
FRIDAY ... following Pro Day at Oregon State ...

We focus on Victor Butler, who is being worked out individually in the next few days by the Denver Broncos.

OSU's QB gobbling defensive end - who will likely be asked to play outside linebacker in the NFL - had lost eight pounds since the NFL Combine.

He ran a 4.58 40 at OSU, compared to 4.76 at the Combine.

His vertical jump was 32 ½ inches, compared to 33 at the Combine.

Butler's standing broad jump was 10-1 Friday, compared to 9-5 at the Combine.

There were 23 NFL teams represented at the OSU workout.

Vic trained at Athletes Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz. after the Sun Bowl, alongside Oregon's Patrick Chung.

I asked Butler if Chung - a highly-regarded safety prospect - took it easy on him about the Civil War game.

"We tried not to bring that up too much,'' said Butler, who on Friday was enjoying the company of his old teammates and his family.

Butler is represented by Momentum Football out of San Antonio, Tex., and the firm was represented at the Pro Day by Troy Asmus.

Asmus said that Butler understands "the work ahead of him'' to have a career in the NFL and thinks Butler can handle switching positions.

While some NFL draft websites have Butler going in the sixth or seventh round, the Momentum Football folks think he could be gone by Round 4.

Butler said Friday he felt like he "put up some pretty good numbers.''

He said Pro Day was much less stressful than the zoo-like atmosphere at the Combine.

"You didn't have all 32 teams there, no coaches, you were with teammates and guys were cracking jokes,'' said Butler. "I mean, you've been training and preparing (for these workouts) for 3-4 months now, so you're as ready as you're going to be.''

Butler got a charge out of seeing the guys he went to war with again. Some of the players hadn't been around each other since the OSU players went their separate ways after the win over Pitt in the Sun Bowl.

He took care to point out that close friend Slade Norris - the unsung defensive end on the OSU team considering how little attention he has been given before the NFL draft - stands a good chance of being drafted, even if the pre-draft analysis indicates Norris will have to go the free agent route.

"He is a phenomenal athlete,'' said Butler, "and he is an even better person. ... I had a lot of teams ask me about him, teams I won't name. ... I've heard nothing but good things about him (from other NFL teams). I think he's a guy that will help someone win games.''

Butler said his family is probably more excited than he is. "They see you grow up from playing Pop Warner, to high school ball, to college, and now they see your dream coming true,'' said Butler.

And about that position switch?

Moving to outside linebacker doesn't phase him.

"Like I said before, I'd play long snapper if it gets me there (to the NFL),'' he said.

"I love a challenge. I mean, I came to Oregon State with zero experience at defensive end, and that turned out OK. ... I'm not saying I'll jump right into it and be another Ray Lewis, but I think with time I've got a chance to be a really good player.''

Butler knows he will never experience the thrill of wearing an Oregon State uniform again, and he's heard that the "fun'' part is over and now it's all business. ... but you know what kind of personality Butler is, and so you won't be surprised to hear that he doesn't buy that "no fun'' stuff for a minute.

It's football, said Butler. "I don't believe the guys in the NFL aren't having fun.''

But he can't help but feel wistful about being an ex-Oregon State player.

"I miss these college guys,'' he said. "I know I'm never going to get to play ball like that again.

"I loved the team I played for - I wouldn't have wanted to play for anybody else, whether it's USC or Florida State - and I love these guys. That's never going to change.''

- PB

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindbeaversbeat/2009/03/victor_butler_lighter_and_fast.html

 

[AdamJT13]

Troublesome speed for his position: Hodge (quick, but not great sideline to sideline)

Hodge went to the combine as a safety and ran a 4.58. That would make Hodge's speed excellent for an inside linebacker. The only linebacker who ran faster than that at the combine was Aaron Curry --

Curry, Aaron 4.56
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . <-------Hodge's 4.58 would go here
Arnoux, Stanley 4.61
McRath, Gerald 4.61
Matthews, Clay 4.67
Phillips, Jason 4.69
Brinkley, Jasper 4.72
Freeman, Marcus 4.74
Cushing, Brian 4.74
Follett, Zack 4.75
Fokou, Moise 4.76
Beckwith, Darry 4.79
McKillop, Scott 4.80
Felder, Anthony 4.81
Sintim, Clint 4.82
Maiava, Kaluka 4.83
McKenzie, Tyrone 4.87
Robinson, Lee 4.87
Laurinaitis, James 4.88
Williams, Worrell 4.90
Maualuga, Rey 4.91
Ivy, Mortty 4.99
Wooten, Morris 5.10

Bad speed for his position: Hamlin, Brandon Williams (quick first step, but slow otherwise), Victor Butler (4.84 40 time at the combine, he's going to be an OLB? .. impressive personality, but ...)

Butler's time at the combine was better than Larry English's, and the Chargers took English in the first round as an OLB. Butler also ran much faster at his pro day than he did at the combine.

 

[jjktkk]

Pretty amazing interviews with our rookies. They are very well spoken and seem to have a lot of passion. Man I can't remember 'kids' like this being so good in front of cameras ever before, saying the right things and meaning them ... I couldn't be so well spoken at my age, well that's another subject ..

The only worry: that the trade-off this year is that we got guys with college production, good character, captain of their team, etc. ... but their speed may be the thing that keeps them from playing in the NFL ...

Scandrick was always fast, he just had some consistency issues, young guy, etc ... Choice was quick not fast, but he's a RB, not a reactive guy like defensive guys need to be ...

I remember in the 90's we would draft guys like Dana Howard (Butkus Award in 1994) and some other dude I forgot that also got the top NCAA award at his position around the same time .. great players, but problems with pure speed, couldn't run from sideline to sideline in pursuit etc., and never made the team ...

From what I gather from our 4 LBs and 3 DBs, from what I've read in draft reports:

Real good speed at his position: J. Williams
OK/marginal speed for his position: DeAngelo Smith, Mickens
Troublesome speed for his position: Hodge (quick, but not great sideline to sideline)
Bad speed for his position: Hamlin, Brandon Williams (quick first step, but slow otherwise), Victor Butler (4.84 40 time at the combine, he's going to be an OLB? .. impressive personality, but ...)

Can these good dudes, our new buddies, overcome this, with pure instincts, drinking Vitamin Water or anything?

BTW the 49ers drafted Dana Howard 94, not the Cowboys. As for this draft, you have to remember these were all lower round picks. None of these players are expected to be a starter this year. Of course having speed is a great asset to have, but IMO Jerry and and the coaching staff want this draft class to contribute on special teams, and work into getting involved in their offense and defense packages respectively. The icing on the cake would be that some of these players can challenge for a starting position in a couple of years. Lack of speed for some these players you mentioned is the reason they were available in the later rounds of the draft.

 

[Paniolo22]

BTW the 49ers drafted Dana Howard 94, not the Cowboys.

Uhh no. The 49ers drafted Dana STUBBLEFIELD, but we had the liberty of drafting the Butkis Award winner, Dana Howard, in the 5th round, if I recall.

 

[silverbear]

Butler's time at the combine was better than Larry English's, and the Chargers took English in the first round as an OLB. Butler also ran much faster at his pro day than he did at the combine.

His time at the combine was mediocre, perhaps it would be more accurate to say acceptable... I like that 4.58 a lot better, though...

 

[cowboyjoe]

I had also noticed that this year's defensive draft picks didn't have the speed of recent draftees... maybe this is intentional, Watkins and Brown have speed to burn, but they're not real good...

its where we drafted bear, most of the top cbs and linebackers were gone;

now i think that mickens has potential, he ran like a 4.44 his sophmore yr, something like that, i read it somewhere; then he got hurt as you know, and ran like a 4.53

brandon williams is still young, he is 20, now he can bulk up some and get alittle faster, and he does have a quick first step, so jury is still out on him

as we know jason williams has the speed, but is very raw

they are trying hodge at inside linebacker which i think is a huge mistake, now what i think hodge can do it this; play the linecker in obvious passing downs, like bill bates didd with the cowboys in his years, but heck, im not a coach or great defensive coordinator like wade phillips, so i sure dont have the knowledge they have

butler i think that the cowboys are thinking, he might be a clone possibly like one of the patriots linebackers, they have about the same speed, now im not saying butler is that kind of player because 2 things are against him right now
1. he is a rookie, has learning huge curve to learn since he hasnt played linebacker too much
2. he hasnt graduated yet, so he is going to miss all of the OTAs, etc, till he graduates in june

 

[cowboyjoe]

An article on Butlers speed....

Victor Butler lighter, and faster, on Pro Day ... Broncos will take a closer look
Posted by Paul Buker, The Oregonian March 13, 2009 17:42PM
Categories: Football
FRIDAY ... following Pro Day at Oregon State ...

We focus on Victor Butler, who is being worked out individually in the next few days by the Denver Broncos.

OSU's QB gobbling defensive end - who will likely be asked to play outside linebacker in the NFL - had lost eight pounds since the NFL Combine.

He ran a 4.58 40 at OSU, compared to 4.76 at the Combine.

His vertical jump was 32 ½ inches, compared to 33 at the Combine.

Butler's standing broad jump was 10-1 Friday, compared to 9-5 at the Combine.

There were 23 NFL teams represented at the OSU workout.

Vic trained at Athletes Performance Institute in Tempe, Ariz. after the Sun Bowl, alongside Oregon's Patrick Chung.

I asked Butler if Chung - a highly-regarded safety prospect - took it easy on him about the Civil War game.

"We tried not to bring that up too much,'' said Butler, who on Friday was enjoying the company of his old teammates and his family.

Butler is represented by Momentum Football out of San Antonio, Tex., and the firm was represented at the Pro Day by Troy Asmus.

Asmus said that Butler understands "the work ahead of him'' to have a career in the NFL and thinks Butler can handle switching positions.

While some NFL draft websites have Butler going in the sixth or seventh round, the Momentum Football folks think he could be gone by Round 4.

Butler said Friday he felt like he "put up some pretty good numbers.''

He said Pro Day was much less stressful than the zoo-like atmosphere at the Combine.

"You didn't have all 32 teams there, no coaches, you were with teammates and guys were cracking jokes,'' said Butler. "I mean, you've been training and preparing (for these workouts) for 3-4 months now, so you're as ready as you're going to be.''

Butler got a charge out of seeing the guys he went to war with again. Some of the players hadn't been around each other since the OSU players went their separate ways after the win over Pitt in the Sun Bowl.

He took care to point out that close friend Slade Norris - the unsung defensive end on the OSU team considering how little attention he has been given before the NFL draft - stands a good chance of being drafted, even if the pre-draft analysis indicates Norris will have to go the free agent route.

"He is a phenomenal athlete,'' said Butler, "and he is an even better person. ... I had a lot of teams ask me about him, teams I won't name. ... I've heard nothing but good things about him (from other NFL teams). I think he's a guy that will help someone win games.''

Butler said his family is probably more excited than he is. "They see you grow up from playing Pop Warner, to high school ball, to college, and now they see your dream coming true,'' said Butler.

And about that position switch?

Moving to outside linebacker doesn't phase him.

"Like I said before, I'd play long snapper if it gets me there (to the NFL),'' he said.

"I love a challenge. I mean, I came to Oregon State with zero experience at defensive end, and that turned out OK. ... I'm not saying I'll jump right into it and be another Ray Lewis, but I think with time I've got a chance to be a really good player.''

Butler knows he will never experience the thrill of wearing an Oregon State uniform again, and he's heard that the "fun'' part is over and now it's all business. ... but you know what kind of personality Butler is, and so you won't be surprised to hear that he doesn't buy that "no fun'' stuff for a minute.

It's football, said Butler. "I don't believe the guys in the NFL aren't having fun.''

But he can't help but feel wistful about being an ex-Oregon State player.

"I miss these college guys,'' he said. "I know I'm never going to get to play ball like that again.

"I loved the team I played for - I wouldn't have wanted to play for anybody else, whether it's USC or Florida State - and I love these guys. That's never going to change.''

- PB

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindbeaversbeat/2009/03/victor_butler_lighter_and_fast.html

arch super post, i didnt know that, he ran that fast;

 

[cowboyjoe]

Hodge went to the combine as a safety and ran a 4.58. That would make Hodge's speed excellent for an inside linebacker. The only linebacker who ran faster than that at the combine was Aaron Curry --

Curry, Aaron 4.56
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . <-------Hodge's 4.58 would go here
Arnoux, Stanley 4.61
McRath, Gerald 4.61
Matthews, Clay 4.67
Phillips, Jason 4.69
Brinkley, Jasper 4.72
Freeman, Marcus 4.74
Cushing, Brian 4.74
Follett, Zack 4.75
Fokou, Moise 4.76
Beckwith, Darry 4.79
McKillop, Scott 4.80
Felder, Anthony 4.81
Sintim, Clint 4.82
Maiava, Kaluka 4.83
McKenzie, Tyrone 4.87
Robinson, Lee 4.87
Laurinaitis, James 4.88
Williams, Worrell 4.90
Maualuga, Rey 4.91
Ivy, Mortty 4.99
Wooten, Morris 5.10




Butler's time at the combine was better than Larry English's, and the Chargers took English in the first round as an OLB. Butler also ran much faster at his pro day than he did at the combine.

adam, understand what your saying about hodge, adam, my only concern about hodge is that he is relatively small and not big for an inside linebacker

now i do think this adam, the cowboys are getting hodge ready to play linebacker inside on obvious passing downs, this is the best wayy to get hodge ready

read what phillips says, hodge is excellent in space, that to me means hodge will be used later in obvious passing downs; this way they are getting him ready to play coverage linebacker and way to do that is get him ready now at inside linebacker,

as you know, the cowboys say they plan to move jason williams who has bigger size and faster at inside linebacker, so cowboys are covering themselves with hodge

 

[Oh_Canada]

adam, understand what your saying about hodge, adam, my only concern about hodge is that he is relatively small and not big for an inside linebacker

Hodge is just as heavy as Thomas and Burnett and he hasn't even had a complete offseason with Joe J yet.

 

[Randy White]

BTW the 49ers drafted Dana Howard 94, not the Cowboys

Nope..

Cowboys drafted Howard in the now infamous 1995 draft.

 

[Teague31]

smith had average speed for a corner but the move the safety makes him abover average. same for hodge and his move from S to LB.

 

[silverbear]

its where we drafted bear, most of the top cbs and linebackers were gone;

Naw, buddy, there was still plenty of speed to be had at both positions at the point at which they drafted the LBs and DBs that they chose...

That doesn't mean I'm down on the picks, if they have good instincts they're fast enough to make it in the NFL... and as Courtney Brown and Pat Watkins proved, all the speed in the world doesn't help much if you're dumber than a box of rocks...

 

[RS12]

Speed is all well and good, but worry about them making plays and performing at an NFL level. There are reasons why these guys fell to where they did, and why alot of people in general said this was a weak draft for overall talent for all teams.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Jacque Reeves was a track guy and had no awareness skills for corner.

Alexander Wright was fast, fast, fast but didn't run good routes and couldn't hang on to the football.

People get hung-up too much on 40 times.

Michael Irvin
Emmitt Smith
Everson Walls
Michael Downs

It's not all about speed.

 

[burmafrd]

and then there is of course our all time speed guy who made one play while he was with the Cowboys= Randal Williams

 

[masomenos]

and then there is of course our all time speed guy who made one play while he was with the Cowboys= Randal Williams

Wasn't Randal Williams the one who recovered an outside kick and ran it back for a TD, all in 3 seconds? Seems like it was against Philly.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

It's a legitimate concern IMO, which is one reason while everyone wanted Unger, I was hoping we'd look at Connor Barwin.

But like everyone said, speed alone doesn't make you any good, as several guys on our team show.

And you have to remember that this whole draft class pretty much stunk. Not many great athletes or prospects at any area of this draft.

 

[theogt]

We drafted the fasted kicker in the draft, right? Right?