TruBlueCowboy
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Sometimes I feel with all the Bobby Carpenter vs. Manny Lawson hype, we may be missing the boat and not noticing the candidate that may actually be #1 on Bill and Jerry's Xmas list.
http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/PatsBlog/
Kamerion Wimbley Q&A
Kamerion Wimbley, a 6-3, 248-pound defensive end from Florida State is a fast-riser on NFL draft boards.
Fast off the edge with a terrific motor and hard-working attitude, he's seen as an ideal outside linebacker for 3-4 defenses.
He's drawn comparisons to Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware who wound up going 11th overall last year to Dallas and had a solid rookie year despite coming out of little Troy State.
Wimbley is a player who'd fit nicely with New England. If he lasts until the 21st overall pick.
We caught up with him this morning by phone.
Pro-Jo: Have you enjoyed the predraft process?
Kamerion Wimbley: I have. I've had the chance to go different places, meet a lot of different people -- influential people in the NFL, college players. It's been very busy. I really haven't had a chance to take a breath and a breather. But I'd rather be busy than not.
PJ: What's surprised you about the process?
KW: All the people involved and the behind the scenes scouting that makes it work. I never realized the number of coaches, scouts and staff. It's much more like a business, a real company with the managers, executives and staff. Its run just like a regular business and football is the product.
PJ: How do NFL teams compare to Florida State in terms of how they're run?
KW: There are a lot of similarities. Becase of FSU's success in sending players to the league, they set our college program up to be similar. Some of our have been in the NFL and a lot that haven't sent players to the league so they understand that aspect.
PJ: Which teams have you visited?
KW: Cleveland is the only place I went to. I think a lot of teams gathered all their info at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine and at our workouts.
PJ: Do you monitor mock drafts and the rising and falling stock of prospects?
KW: Not so much anymore. Initially I did because I had a lot of ground to make up. (Wimbley suffered a sprained knee near the end of FSU's 2005 season). After I hurt my knee, my stock dropped and I didn't think there was an accurate assessment of my ability. I wanted to see how far I dropped and how much work was ahead of me. But right now (the draft is April 29-30) there's nothing you can do.
PJ: You got good reviews on your work against Virginia's D'Brickashaw Ferguson (the best lineman in the draft). What was it like to play against him?
KW: I don't know if this applies, but if I was an offensive lineman, I would be similar to him. Long arms, explosive, smooth but not overly big. He was definitely a competitor and someone I enjoyed going up against. It was kind of like a chess match.
PJ: Have you played any linebacker and do you feel comfortable dropping into coverage?
KW: I played defensive end the whole time (at FSU) but we dropped sometimes in games and I would cover a back out of the backfield or a receiver sometimes. I feel very comfortable (dropping in coverage). To me, there's not too much difference (playing on the edge) whether my hand is down (like a defensive end) or up.
PJ: After being a defensive end during your college career, do you have mixed emotions about being projected as a linebacker in the pros?
KW: I embrace it. It's a great opportunity for me to do something new. I like new challenges. I heard early on could that I move to linebacker in the league and I liked the fact I was going to be looked at for two positions. It gives you more exposure rather than just being a defensive end. If I go higher as a linebacker than I would as a defensive end, that's fine with me. That's what you want. If I train the whole time as a defensive end and then I move, I'm fine with that.
PJ: You've been called an outstanding worker with exceptional character (by Pro Football Weekly). How important are those traits to you?
KW: The work part, I'll always have that. And that's not hard to maintain. I'm always trying to get better and not be satisfied. I haven't accomplished anything I want to accomplish. In the NFL, you can make the Pro Bowl, win the Super Bowl, be MVP -- you can always have higher goals and there's always something else to accomplish.
As for character, I look back on teammates I had at FSU who've gotten in trouble - great players and athletes who dropped their stock with bad decisions I've realized the importance of taking care of busnienss. Teams have no doubts if you do that, they're not scared to touch you. I try to stress that to guys still in school now, "Don't get in trouble and get arrested."
PJ: Have you seen DeMarcus Ware play?
KW: I have never seen him play but a guy named Brian McFadden (a former FSU corner who's now with Pittsburgh) came back from the Senior Bowl last year and told me I'd be the next DeMarcus Ware because of my ability to play in space and my size. I guess he was right from what I've heard.
http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/PatsBlog/
Kamerion Wimbley Q&A
Kamerion Wimbley, a 6-3, 248-pound defensive end from Florida State is a fast-riser on NFL draft boards.
Fast off the edge with a terrific motor and hard-working attitude, he's seen as an ideal outside linebacker for 3-4 defenses.
He's drawn comparisons to Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware who wound up going 11th overall last year to Dallas and had a solid rookie year despite coming out of little Troy State.
Wimbley is a player who'd fit nicely with New England. If he lasts until the 21st overall pick.
We caught up with him this morning by phone.
Pro-Jo: Have you enjoyed the predraft process?
Kamerion Wimbley: I have. I've had the chance to go different places, meet a lot of different people -- influential people in the NFL, college players. It's been very busy. I really haven't had a chance to take a breath and a breather. But I'd rather be busy than not.
PJ: What's surprised you about the process?
KW: All the people involved and the behind the scenes scouting that makes it work. I never realized the number of coaches, scouts and staff. It's much more like a business, a real company with the managers, executives and staff. Its run just like a regular business and football is the product.
PJ: How do NFL teams compare to Florida State in terms of how they're run?
KW: There are a lot of similarities. Becase of FSU's success in sending players to the league, they set our college program up to be similar. Some of our have been in the NFL and a lot that haven't sent players to the league so they understand that aspect.
PJ: Which teams have you visited?
KW: Cleveland is the only place I went to. I think a lot of teams gathered all their info at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine and at our workouts.
PJ: Do you monitor mock drafts and the rising and falling stock of prospects?
KW: Not so much anymore. Initially I did because I had a lot of ground to make up. (Wimbley suffered a sprained knee near the end of FSU's 2005 season). After I hurt my knee, my stock dropped and I didn't think there was an accurate assessment of my ability. I wanted to see how far I dropped and how much work was ahead of me. But right now (the draft is April 29-30) there's nothing you can do.
PJ: You got good reviews on your work against Virginia's D'Brickashaw Ferguson (the best lineman in the draft). What was it like to play against him?
KW: I don't know if this applies, but if I was an offensive lineman, I would be similar to him. Long arms, explosive, smooth but not overly big. He was definitely a competitor and someone I enjoyed going up against. It was kind of like a chess match.
PJ: Have you played any linebacker and do you feel comfortable dropping into coverage?
KW: I played defensive end the whole time (at FSU) but we dropped sometimes in games and I would cover a back out of the backfield or a receiver sometimes. I feel very comfortable (dropping in coverage). To me, there's not too much difference (playing on the edge) whether my hand is down (like a defensive end) or up.
PJ: After being a defensive end during your college career, do you have mixed emotions about being projected as a linebacker in the pros?
KW: I embrace it. It's a great opportunity for me to do something new. I like new challenges. I heard early on could that I move to linebacker in the league and I liked the fact I was going to be looked at for two positions. It gives you more exposure rather than just being a defensive end. If I go higher as a linebacker than I would as a defensive end, that's fine with me. That's what you want. If I train the whole time as a defensive end and then I move, I'm fine with that.
PJ: You've been called an outstanding worker with exceptional character (by Pro Football Weekly). How important are those traits to you?
KW: The work part, I'll always have that. And that's not hard to maintain. I'm always trying to get better and not be satisfied. I haven't accomplished anything I want to accomplish. In the NFL, you can make the Pro Bowl, win the Super Bowl, be MVP -- you can always have higher goals and there's always something else to accomplish.
As for character, I look back on teammates I had at FSU who've gotten in trouble - great players and athletes who dropped their stock with bad decisions I've realized the importance of taking care of busnienss. Teams have no doubts if you do that, they're not scared to touch you. I try to stress that to guys still in school now, "Don't get in trouble and get arrested."
PJ: Have you seen DeMarcus Ware play?
KW: I have never seen him play but a guy named Brian McFadden (a former FSU corner who's now with Pittsburgh) came back from the Senior Bowl last year and told me I'd be the next DeMarcus Ware because of my ability to play in space and my size. I guess he was right from what I've heard.
