Linebackers in the draft

[CCBoy]

This LB group is another really talented position in ’18. The top three guys are absolute studs and the next seven on my list aren’t far off. A couple guys listed will be coming off injuries and will be interesting to see where these guys end up going, but based solely off of tape I’ve watched when healthy this group is one of the better position groups of this draft class.

Linebacker

1. Roquan Smith | Junior | 6’1″ 225lbs | Georgia
2. Rashaan Evans | Senior | 6’3″ 234lbs | Alabama
3. Tremaine Edmunds | Junior | 6’5″ 235lbs | Virginia Tech
4. Malik Jefferson | Junior | 6’3″ 240lbs | Texas
5. Leighton Vander Esch | Junior | 6’4″ 240lbs | Boise State
6. Cameron Smith | Junior | 6’2″ 250lbs | USC
7. Kendall Joseph | Junior | 6’0″ 225lbs | Clemson
8. Shaun Dion Hamilton | Senior | 6’0″ 235lbs | Alabama
9. Jack Cichy | Senior | 6’2″ 235lbs | Wisconsin
10. Micah Kiser | Senior | 6’2″ 240lbs | Virginia

1. 
   http://profootballtalkline.com/nfl/...ositional-rankings-2018-nfl-draft-class.html/

 

[Bigdog]

What about Jewel from Iowa? Just wondering because I read where he is a 3 down lb but I did not see any of his games.

 

[The Dark Bishop]

This is the hardest position to plan for. Lee is a god sent. Sadly he is fragile. Doesn't matter the position you put him in. His ability to call the play is just as valuable as himself playing. Let's say Roquan is as good as a player as Lee. Awesome, then we get the same quality of play, but do we get the same last minute position calling by the Defensive Captain? Lee at 32 yrs of age(next season) is only going to get more brittle. That is not a knock on him, just a fact of life. He has the brains and heart of a lion but limitations of most people his size with the wear and tear he has endured..

With that said we have a great player in Hitchens. Say what you will, but not only can he play all 3 positions, but also do at least 2 of them at a starter mentality. While the Will is his best position, that is where Lee is. Lately he has done rather well at the MLB position. Many have seen Jaylen Smith really get better in the last few games at MLB but he is still limited with his injury and his position versatility. I truly hope we find a way to keep Hitchens. He is a jack of all trades but not sure if he can master one or not. Regardless a great player to have.

We can all agree we need LBs in a bad way. But let's say Roquan is available. Is 225 lbs gonna cut it at any of our LB positions? If not for the training, on paper, I would think he is a great Strong Safety. Has the weight and coverage ability. A weakness on tackling TE's and power backs. Sorry I am liking Jefferson in the 2nd round if we can pull it.

 

[stilltheguru88]

Malik Jefferson sucks imo.

 

[The Dark Bishop]

Malik Jefferson sucks imo.

While Jefferson is far from Lee, I think his unique skill set matches best with Smith. Eventually he have to start looking at Smith as part of our backbone, not a third or forth wheel. We need to find 3 players to run our LB scheme. Then another 3 or four as backups.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

The wildcard of this group is Micah Kiser.....he's currently only grading out as 3th-4th rounder but the kid led the ACC in tackles last three years. The last player to do that is Panthers starting MLBer.........

 

[rkell87]

Malik Jefferson sucks imo.

I'm telling you dude he's a Ferrari with a crap driver. When he gets professional coaching he'll be a starter in this league.

 

[John813]

What about Jewel from Iowa? Just wondering because I read where he is a 3 down lb but I did not see any of his games.

I like his game. Always around the ball.
IIRC saw 2 games this past season while flipping through games.
https://dearoldgold.com/2017/11/22/projecting-josey-jewell-nfl/
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...ell-the-outlaw-from-iowa-with-a-heart-of-gold
He won't wow anyone at the combine but has the smarts to find the ball carrier without that elite god given physical ability.

Nick DeLuca is someone I haven't read much of this year compared to last.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I’m really hoping we can bring Hitch back though it’s probably unlikely.

We need an influx of talent at the position and start planning for our future. Jaylon is a question mark at best; Damien Wilson hasn’t turned the corner; and we have a vacancy with Durant gone.

 

[slick325]

Roquan Smith's performance last night in the Rose Bowl ensured there is no way the 'Boys land him without moving up. Kid is a stud!

 

[btcutter]

LB is a glaring weakness in this D. They are subject to most contacts and often 1/3 of your starters will be out few weeks out of the years if not longer. It's almost imperative that this team has 4 potential starter quality LBs assuming our FO is counting Jaylon as one of the starters. If we do not resign Hitchens then drafting a LBs in the 1st two rounds is a MUST.

 

[CCBoy]

I’m really hoping we can bring Hitch back though it’s probably unlikely.

We need an influx of talent at the position and start planning for our future. Jaylon is a question mark at best; Damien Wilson hasn’t turned the corner; and we have a vacancy with Durant gone.

Lee, Smith, and Hitchens are solid...and the group would need a 'future' player that can contribute now, and in a middle/strong side talent zone.

 

[CCBoy]

LB is a glaring weakness in this D. They are subject to most contacts and often 1/3 of your starters will be out few weeks out of the years if not longer. It's almost imperative that this team has 4 potential starter quality LBs assuming our FO is counting Jaylon as one of the starters. If we do not resign Hitchens then drafting a LBs in the 1st two rounds is a MUST.

Myself, I feel Hitchens is a must sign, player...

 

[Sydla]

I was told LB is "good" and actually "strong" if we bring Hitchens back.

 

[funkytown]

Bring back Hitchens. Hope Jaylon has a full to 90% recovery. Pray Lee stays healthy. I'm ok with grabbing a LB in the 2nd or 3rd if we cant get Smith in the 1st. Maybe we can get lucky and hit on a Bobby Wagner/ Kendricks type player.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Roquan Smith's performance last night in the Rose Bowl ensured there is no way the 'Boys land him without moving up. Kid is a stud!

I watched a lot of the game yesterday and didn't notice anything special about Roquan Smith. He had one good hit/stop at the goal line to keep the player from scoring. He got beat for a TD pass. He looks really small out there on the field. I didn't see a 1st round talent in him yesterday. Maybe it is just me. Seems like the announcers mentioned that he didn't have a good 1st half.

We'll see what he does against Alabama.

 

[Sydla]

Bring back Hitchens. Hope Jaylon has a full to 90% recovery. Pray Lee stays healthy. I'm ok with grabbing a LB in the 2nd or 3rd if we cant get Smith in the 1st. Maybe we can get lucky and hit on a Bobby Wagner/ Kendricks type player.

See, as much as I love R. Smith, I can't take that risk. I still have to get a real LB in here in FA.

Hitchens is a situational LB. You don't know what you have in J. Smith. Lee is an injury risk.

You need to bring in a vet LB here. It doesn't have to be a legit stud. It could be a mid-level guy like a Z. Brown like I mentioned above or maybe even a guy like Bowman.

But if they think they are good at LB and can then just draft a couple and it will be fine, that's shortsighted thinking that we saw explode in our face with the secondary this past season where it took almost 10 or so games before the rookies in the secondary started to gel and play better.

 

[slick325]

I watched a lot of the game yesterday and didn't notice anything special about Roquan Smith. He had one good hit/stop at the goal line to keep the player from scoring. He got beat for a TD pass. He looks really small out there on the field. I didn't see a 1st round talent in him yesterday. Maybe it is just me. Seems like the announcers mentioned that he didn't have a good 1st half.

We'll see what he does against Alabama.

He didn't have a good 1st half. However, he was around the ball a lot in the 2nd half. Which is a Sean Lee like trait. Also, what I really like about him is that when he hits you, you stop moving forward. That is despite his weight. He packs some pop.

Regarding his coverage skills, they can be improved but he wasn't looking completely lost in space either. On the TD he made the mistake a lot of players make in terms of looking at the QB too early and losing track of your man. Always be on the person you're checking lead shoulder THEN feel where they are and turn your head. With NFL coaching that will improve in my opinion.

 

[bodi]

I'd take either

1.Roquan Smith | Junior | 6’1″ 225lbs | Georgia
2.Rashaan Evans | Senior | 6’3″ 234lbs | Alabama
round 1

round 2 Darius Leonard | South Carolina State

round 4

10.Micah Kiser | Senior | 6’2″ 240lbs | Virginia

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Malik Jefferson sucks imo.

I don't know that he sucks. Could be better in the pros.

However a couple of weeks ago I read (wish I remember who it was...might have been Dane Brugler)...say that while studying tape of Malik, he realized how big the gap was between him and and Roquan was...basically saying Roquan was waay better at this point.