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By Mike Wilkening
Feb. 16, 2009
This is the eighth in a series of scouting reports on high-profile free agents, in which we summarize each player's status, analyze his strengths and weaknesses, assess whether or not his team is likely to re-sign him, and determine the risk factor for the team that signs him. These scouting reports will be posted daily through Feb. 27, the start of the free-agent signing period.
News: No team has more coveted unrestricted free agents than the Ravens, who could have three-quarters of their vaunted LB corps — LILB Ray Lewis, ROLB Terrell Suggs and Scott, who starts inside with Lewis — hit the market. Can the Ravens retain all three linebackers? Scott's agent, Harold Lewis, believes that is unlikely — and that his client may have to sign elsewhere.
"All three of the free-agent linebackers would love to stay in Baltimore," Lewis told PFW in February. "They make a phenomenal 1-2-3 punch. But as far as that happening, the Ravens could be handcuffed, and it's very likely Bart will be the odd man out and looking for a new team."
Notes: The 6-2, 240-pound Scott played safety and linebacker at Southern Illinois, notching 352 tackles in three collegiate seasons. The Ravens signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2002, and he became an immediate special-teams contributor before working his way into the lineup on defense in '05. In four seasons as a defensive starter in Baltimore, Scott notched 370 tackles, 18 passes defensed and 16 sacks. His best season came in '06, when he made 103 tackles and registered 9½ sacks and two interceptions. Scott, who will turn 29 on Aug. 18, is entering his eighth NFL season.
Strengths: Scott has very good range for an inside linebacker and has been strong vs. the run and the pass in his time as a starter. He boasts sharp instincts and has benefited from starting four seasons in a defense known for its schematic flexibility and its ability to keep opposing offenses off balance. Scott spent the past seven seasons learning from Ray Lewis and would be a good mentor to a younger inside linebacker. He has not been much of a pass-rush threat the past two seasons, but he showed a real affinity for getting after the quarterback in '06 and also flashed the ability to even rush off the edge in certain packages. He was durable in his time as a starter on defense, playing every game from 2005-08.
Weaknesses: Scott has been more steady than spectacular in each of the past two seasons. What's more, his solo tackle numbers have dropped the past two seasons. His emotions can get the best of him: He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after throwing an official's flag in a '07 loss to New England.
Risk factor: Moderate. A productive member of a sometimes-dominant Ravens defense, Scott could give the ILB corps of a 3-4 defense an immediate boost both as a player and a leader. The risk with Scott is that his production may be inflated from playing in such a strong defense for the last several seasons, but with more and more teams turning to the 3-4 front, he is likely to be paid handsomely in free agency.
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/Free+Agency/2009/scott021609.htm
Feb. 16, 2009
This is the eighth in a series of scouting reports on high-profile free agents, in which we summarize each player's status, analyze his strengths and weaknesses, assess whether or not his team is likely to re-sign him, and determine the risk factor for the team that signs him. These scouting reports will be posted daily through Feb. 27, the start of the free-agent signing period.
News: No team has more coveted unrestricted free agents than the Ravens, who could have three-quarters of their vaunted LB corps — LILB Ray Lewis, ROLB Terrell Suggs and Scott, who starts inside with Lewis — hit the market. Can the Ravens retain all three linebackers? Scott's agent, Harold Lewis, believes that is unlikely — and that his client may have to sign elsewhere.
"All three of the free-agent linebackers would love to stay in Baltimore," Lewis told PFW in February. "They make a phenomenal 1-2-3 punch. But as far as that happening, the Ravens could be handcuffed, and it's very likely Bart will be the odd man out and looking for a new team."
Notes: The 6-2, 240-pound Scott played safety and linebacker at Southern Illinois, notching 352 tackles in three collegiate seasons. The Ravens signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2002, and he became an immediate special-teams contributor before working his way into the lineup on defense in '05. In four seasons as a defensive starter in Baltimore, Scott notched 370 tackles, 18 passes defensed and 16 sacks. His best season came in '06, when he made 103 tackles and registered 9½ sacks and two interceptions. Scott, who will turn 29 on Aug. 18, is entering his eighth NFL season.
Strengths: Scott has very good range for an inside linebacker and has been strong vs. the run and the pass in his time as a starter. He boasts sharp instincts and has benefited from starting four seasons in a defense known for its schematic flexibility and its ability to keep opposing offenses off balance. Scott spent the past seven seasons learning from Ray Lewis and would be a good mentor to a younger inside linebacker. He has not been much of a pass-rush threat the past two seasons, but he showed a real affinity for getting after the quarterback in '06 and also flashed the ability to even rush off the edge in certain packages. He was durable in his time as a starter on defense, playing every game from 2005-08.
Weaknesses: Scott has been more steady than spectacular in each of the past two seasons. What's more, his solo tackle numbers have dropped the past two seasons. His emotions can get the best of him: He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after throwing an official's flag in a '07 loss to New England.
Risk factor: Moderate. A productive member of a sometimes-dominant Ravens defense, Scott could give the ILB corps of a 3-4 defense an immediate boost both as a player and a leader. The risk with Scott is that his production may be inflated from playing in such a strong defense for the last several seasons, but with more and more teams turning to the 3-4 front, he is likely to be paid handsomely in free agency.
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/Free+Agency/2009/scott021609.htm
...IMO
