Milwaukee Journal Sentinel LBs

[RS12]

1. PAUL DAWSON, TCU
6 foot, 235 pounds, 4.93 in the 40-yard dash

Lowdown: Relentless, terrifying playmaker central to everything TCU did on defense. Finished with 136 tackles (20 for loss) and four interceptions to earn Big 12 defensive player of the year honors. Transferred to TCU from junior college. Awful performance at combine, across the board, had many questioning work ethic. Dawson did rebound with a 4.75 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day. Scouts have questioned his character and commitment. Admitted that "tardiness" was an issue for a stretch in college. Flip on the film and it's hard to question much at all — Dawson was the emotional leader. Models game after Tampa Bay's Lavonte David. Said Dawson, "Of course I feel like I'm a first-round pick. I feel like I am the best linebacker in this draft." A risk worth taking for a strong locker room.

Projection: First round

2. ERIC KENDRICKS, UCLA
6-0, 232, 4.61

Lowdown: Instinctive, read-and-react, three-year starter who eclipsed 100 tackles in each season. Had an innate feel for the game, one step ahead of the offense. Plays downhill. Doesn't wait for the action to develop and come to him five, six yards downfield. Good enough in pass coverage. Under former 49er Jeff Ulbrich, Kendricks studied a lot of Patrick Willis. Says "instincts" separate him from others at the position. "I do a lot of things I can't really explain," Kendricks said. "I just do it naturally." Wasn't much of a blitzer and doesn't attack the backfield quite like Dawson.

Projection: First round

3. BENARDRICK MCKINNEY, MISSISSIPPI STATE
6-4, 246, 4.66

Lowdown: Nobody is built quite like McKinney at the position in the draft. Tall with a 40½-inch vertical, he plays with a very wide radius. A former high school quarterback. Plays with a strong lower body — isn't shoved around by blockers. Totaled 243 tackles and 71/2 sacks in three seasons. "You have to be tough," he said of the temperament needed at the position. "You've got to be a vocal leader because you have to set the fronts, get everybody lined up. You've got to be smart, you've got to know the game, you've got to know your opponent." Gets caught high at times, like Brad Jones did. Was not required to cover much in the Bulldogs' defense, an area McKinney admits he must improve on. A steady, solid, assignment-sure linebacker — replay his game vs. LSU — he might not have the high ceiling of Dawson or Stephone Anthony.

Projection: Second round

4. STEPHONE ANTHONY, CLEMSON
6-3, 243, 4.56

Lowdown: Eye-popping speed and athleticism, Anthony was a dual-sport athlete in high school. He ran the 100 in track, played power forward on the basketball team,

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/pack...-group-of-athletes-b99483157z1-301120071.html

 

[Gaede]

We talk alot about these other guys, but never Anthony. Why not? Everything I've read on him has been very positive.

I like Alexander as well.

 

[reddyuta]

I am still a Dawson fan,i think he will thrive if he stays home with us.he is perfect for our scheme,i think his instincts are better than Sean lee.

 

[ThreeandOut]

The Cowboys were reported to be working out McKinney again, but they sent their DL coaches.

 

[xwalker]

I am still a Dawson fan,i think he will thrive if he stays home with us.he is perfect for our scheme,i think his instincts are better than Sean lee.

There is a good chance somebody gets a real bargain with him; although, there is also a chance that he is a compete bust. It's hard to really know at what point the risk/reward is worth it with these character issues players. Hopefully, the Cowboys got a good mental makeup eval on him; although, he did not come in for a visit.

 

[xwalker]

The Cowboys were reported to be working out McKinney again, but they sent their DL coaches.

This is a player that I might have underrated in my initial assessment. I might have let the draft media influence me too much.

Coverage is the question with him because he is very good in all other facets (run defense, blitzing, etc..). After going back to review him again, I'll concede that his coverage is better than I thought.

Generally, I feel that any LB drafted in the top 2 rounds should have excellent coverage ability. Drafting a 2 down LB that early in the modern pass-happy NFL does not seem like a good idea.

McKinney has some physical similarities to McClain, being extra tall for a 4-3 type LB. We've seen that McClain seems to be good enough in coverage. He got his hands on few passes even when he didn't really have tight coverage just because of his length. It does seem that having a tall LB in coverage, especially the underneath zone, makes the window smaller for the QB to complete a pass over him.

McKinney actually has better measured athleticism than McClain and he's also a little taller. He did weight 8 pounds less, but at 246 he should be plenty big as a 4-3 LB.

I still don't see him as a 1st round option but he seems highly unlikely to be available at #60. NFLDS has him ranked 51.

 

[ThreeandOut]

This is a player that I might have underrated in my initial assessment. I might have let the draft media influence me too much.

Coverage is the question with him because he is very good in all other facets (run defense, blitzing, etc..). After going back to review him again, I'll concede that his coverage is better than I thought.

Generally, I feel that any LB drafted in the top 2 rounds should have excellent coverage ability. Drafting a 2 down LB that early in the modern pass-happy NFL does not seem like a good idea.

McKinney has some physical similarities to McClain, being extra tall for a 4-3 type LB. We've seen that McClain seems to be good enough in coverage. He got his hands on few passes even when he didn't really have tight coverage just because of his length. It does seem that having a tall LB in coverage, especially the underneath zone, makes the window smaller for the QB to complete a pass over him.

McKinney actually has better measured athleticism than McClain and he's also a little taller. He did weight 8 pounds less, but at 246 he should be plenty big as a 4-3 LB.

I still don't see him as a 1st round option but he seems highly unlikely to be available at #60. NFLDS has him ranked 51.

If the D line coaches are looking at him, then they may not be too worried about coverage. He may be rushing the passer.

 

[xwalker]

If the D line coaches are looking at him, then they may not be too worried about coverage. He may be rushing the passer.

I'm curious about the pass rushing aspect. Marinelli has not traditional had LB focus much on pass rushing. He did try having Wilber rush on occasion as the SLB but it was not a big focus. I can't confirm the reports about the OTTO position. From what I've seen that all originated from one source (the BTB website). I have not heard any mention of it by the Cowboys media guys.

My guess that that they probably think he can do what McClain does.

 

[reddyuta]

If this OTTO thing is really true then he might be perfect for that position but I got to wonder why they moved him from DE to LB .

 

[NeonDeion21]

I've watched a lot of Dawson. I feel pretty confident that he will never be anything close to L.David. His small frame and slow 40 time really shows up on tape to me.

 

[xwalker]

If this OTTO thing is really true then he might be perfect for that position but I got to wonder why they moved him from DE to LB .

I'm skeptical about the OTTO report. All of those reports seem to stem from the same source, the BTB fan/blogger website. I thought the Cowboys media guys might comment on it one way or the other, but I have not seen anything from them. That website has predicted some things in the past that didn't come true, IIRC.

Having said that, it would make sense in the day of "multiple" defenses that the easier way to add a modern element to Marinelli's defense would be to use a LB as a pass rusher. Von Miller was a LB in Denver's 4-3 and he was a super pass rusher. He generally played SLB in the base and DE in the Nickel. It would be a good way to use some of the tweener pass rushers that normally only get drafted by 3-4 teams.

 

[Risen Star]

I've been talking about Anthony. I think he's the best ILB in this draft.

 

[RS12]

I've been talking about Anthony. I think he's the best ILB in this draft.

So do a lot of other teams based on what I am reading. Doubt he would get past SF second round.

 

[Gaede]

I've been talking about Anthony. I think he's the best ILB in this draft.

A lot of ppl are saying this as well. A lot of the other MLBs just have too many question marks

 

[speedkilz88]

I'm skeptical about the OTTO report. All of those reports seem to stem from the same source, the BTB fan/blogger website. I thought the Cowboys media guys might comment on it one way or the other, but I have not seen anything from them. That website has predicted some things in the past that didn't come true, IIRC.

Having said that, it would make sense in the day of "multiple" defenses that the easier way to add a modern element to Marinelli's defense would be to use a LB as a pass rusher. Von Miller was a LB in Denver's 4-3 and he was a super pass rusher. He generally played SLB in the base and DE in the Nickel. It would be a good way to use some of the tweener pass rushers that normally only get drafted by 3-4 teams.

I mentioned this before but Broaddus has said that they may experiment with it. But McKinney is big enough for end. I don't see him being drafted to play MLB.