PFW 4/12 take on Manny Lawson

[dbair1967]

This is from todays PFR Draft Inner Circle:

: Which player would you say is the fastest riser on draft boards right now?

A: North Carolina State DE-OLB Manny Lawson has been shooting up the charts since posting freakish workout numbers at the Combine. He should be a top-20 pick based on feedback from NFL teams, with a lot of interest coming from teams employing 3-4 defenses. Does his tape agree with that high of a grade? No. He doesn’t instinctively find the ball and will get knocked off the ball seven or eight yards trying to anchor vs. the run. There are some scouts who believe he is no more than a straight-linish speed rusher with a track background. However, he is very smart, with an engineering background and a 28 Wonderlic score. He’s assignment-perfect playing the option and is capable of learning.

North Carolina State coaches have said they tried standing him up and he struggled to grasp the LB position, but keep in mind that information is coming from the same group of coaches who posted a 6-5 record with five potential first-day defenders, including three potential first-rounders on the defensive line. I would be surprised if Chuck Amato and his staff last another year with the mass exodus of juniors from the program, who left in part because of frustration with the coaching staff. So the quality of that information needs to be evaluated carefully and put in proper context and likely will not affect Lawson one bit.

 

[Rack]

Another person pointing out that Lawson doesn't have great instincts.

 

[tm1119]

We might as well forget about him cause he is not going to fall to us.

 

[junk]

I think he is better suited to the weak side than the strong side. If this is the route Dallas decided to go, I'd be for moving Ware to the strong side.

Perfect against the option though......great.

 

[bobbie brewskie]

this calls for a signature edit, looks like the man in Racks sig is taking my #24 spot, here we go. sorry to see the law go, his name woulda fit so well with our defense. but carpenters talent fits better and thats what matters .

 

[baj1dallas]

sounds like a good pick on a trade down..

 

[DiscipleofTuna]

I think that your SOLB may be more key in the 34 than the weak side for the reason of coverage. Ware is free to tee off on qbs where in some schemes, it is necessary for the SOLB to cover. Fujita was miserable in that role. Lawson I think is more suited to Wares spot. I like Ware over Lawson in that spot however. Lets get our OLB in 2.

 

[Stash]

My stance?

If you want a linebacker.

Draft a linebacker.

Bobby Carpenter is a linebacker.

 

[Alexander]

I think he is better suited to the weak side than the strong side. If this is the route Dallas decided to go, I'd be for moving Ware to the strong side.

Perfect against the option though......great.

That's risky.

I don't think Ware is ready for the coverage responsibilities over there either.

That is taking something that is not broken and creating another problem.

Things would be so much simpler if we just took a linebacker who has actually played the position to balance out Ware's weakness. Demarcus is best rushing, we all know this. Moving him to the strongside to accomodate Lawson is risky and a bit pointless.

I don't know if Lawson has no instincts or not. I do know he has some experience. We have to trust our scouts and coaches to make the right decision.

But I will say this, I think Ware is a better pass rusher than Lawson, so moving him shouldn't be an option. Either Lawson, Wimberly or whomever can play the strongside or we should just pass and take a player who can, like Ernie Sims, DeMeco Ryans, Thomas Howard or Bobby Carpenter.

 

[Alexander]

My stance?

If you want a linebacker.

Draft a linebacker.

Bobby Carpenter is a linebacker.

But that is too simple. We could just take Ryans, Thomas Howard or Carpenter. Forget that, let's be cute and try to have our cake and eat it too with a pass rusher who we project to outside linebacker.

I think sometimes, you over think things. I know Ryans, Howard or Carpenter can rush the passer well enough when they are sent on a blitz. We also know all three play the run well. I don't see the issue.

 

[junk]

That's risky.

I don't think Ware is ready for the coverage responsibilities over there either.

That is taking something that is not broken and creating another problem.

Things would be so much simpler if we just took a linebacker who has actually played the position to balance out Ware's weakness. Demarcus is best rushing, we all know this. Moving him to the strongside to accomodate Lawson is risky and a bit pointless.

I don't know if Lawson has no instincts or not. I do know he has some experience. We have to trust our scouts and coaches to make the right decision.

But I will say this, I think Ware is a better pass rusher than Lawson, so moving him shouldn't be an option. Either Lawson, Wimberly or whomever can play the strongside or we should just pass and take a player who can, like Ernie Sims, DeMeco Ryans, Thomas Howard or Bobby Carpenter.

I tend to agree, but if the team is trying to go the DE convert route with a guy like Lawson, then I think moving Ware would be the best bet.

I know I heard BP complain about Ware not knowing what he was doing and wait until next year on several occasions. I doubt he'd want to start that process all over.

There isn't a LB in the draft I'd rather have than Carpenter, but it is interesting to discuss some different scenarios.

 

[Alexander]

I tend to agree, but if the team is trying to go the DE convert route with a guy like Lawson, then I think moving Ware would be the best bet.

I know I heard BP complain about Ware not knowing what he was doing and wait until next year on several occasions. I doubt he'd want to start that process all over.

There isn't a LB in the draft I'd rather have than Carpenter, but it is interesting to discuss some different scenarios.

I would be fine with any of the others in a trade down situation. Particularly Howard. I think he is a borderline first round pick who won't go in the first, but will eventually play like it. He is a very squared away young man.

The only thing about Carpenter is that he could be a product of the system and very overrated, much like Greenway. I am not saying he is, but I just have a feeling he is getting much too much praise on these boards. He is the best fit, but he might not be the best player in terms of overall talent versus athleticism.

 

[Avery]

I would be fine with any of the others in a trade down situation. Particularly Howard. I think he is a borderline first round pick who won't go in the first, but will eventually play like it. He is a very squared away young man.

The only thing about Carpenter is that he could be a product of the system and very overrated, much like Greenway. I am not saying he is, but I just have a feeling he is getting much too much praise on these boards. He is the best fit, but he might not be the best player in terms of overall talent versus athleticism.

System is everything. System is why Warren Moon is in the hall of fame.

I'll take someone who will flourish in a system vs. talent anyday. Seems to have worked for the Pats.

 

[cboyd]

I agree with Alexander, if Bobby Carpentar is all that, he would be a guy mentioned as someone rising in the draft, nobody has mentioned Carpernter as a top 18 guy.

 

[Avery]

Be honest: how many of you actually heard of Manny Lawson before the combines?

 

[Alexander]

I agree with Alexander, if Bobby Carpentar is all that, he would be a guy mentioned as someone rising in the draft, nobody has mentioned Carpernter as a top 18 guy.

That's the key. Carpenter has stayed about the same.

I am sure the injury has much to do with it, but with Greenway and Ryans both slipping far from where they were projected in January, he could have moved up in a big way. He hasn't.

 

[Stash]

I think Carpenter is what he is, for lack of a better term. He doesn't "Wow" you with incredible atheticism, he's simply consistant. He's very good in all phases of outside linebacker play, but not "blow you away" spectacular in any one area.

He might not be the "flashy" pick that some need the first rounder to be, but he'll be a solid playmaker in the Cowboys' defense.

 

[Rack]

I agree with Alexander, if Bobby Carpentar is all that, he would be a guy mentioned as someone rising in the draft, nobody has mentioned Carpernter as a top 18 guy.

That's some pretty twisted logic.


If you're only gonna go by what "Others" say then don't bother trying to join the debate.

I am sure the injury has much to do with it, but with Greenway and Ryans both slipping far from where they were projected in January, he could have moved up in a big way. He hasn't.

He could of slipped a long ways too due to that injury, but he hasn't.


And you're also going by what others say. Those guys are never, and have never been, 100% right. Not even close.

They had us taking a FS with a serious injury just a week ago. We all know BP woudn't draft Jason Allen in the first, why didn't these so-called Experts know that?

I think Carpenter is what he is, for lack of a better term. He doesn't "Wow" you with incredible atheticism, he's simply consistant. He's very good in all phases of outside linebacker play, but not "blow you away" spectacular in any one area.

I agree, but I do think he's the best LB in the draft vs the run. And he's a solid/good pass rusher.

 

[cboyd]

I have seen Carpentar play, and I have seen Lawson and Wimbley play also, I think Carpentar is that, just OK, or do you want someone that will terroize defenses, someone who is quick with a pass rush, and also someone who also has the size to stop the run. You have that in Wimbley and Lawson, YOU have just OK in Carpentar. Give me the playmaker not the OK guy.

 

[Rack]

I have seen Carpentar play, and I have seen Lawson and Wimbley play also, I think Carpentar is that, just OK, or do you want someone that will terroize defenses, someone who is quick with a pass rush, and also someone who also has the size to stop the run. You have that in Wimbley and Lawson, YOU have just OK in Carpentar. Give me the playmaker not the OK guy.

Sorry, don't agree with you. Carpenter isn't just "ok".