The Devalued Five

[CowboyMort]

I thought this was good enough to share as well.

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/40393/60/the-devalued-five

Alabama DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw
After his Pro Day workouts, the word on Upshaw was he lacks exceptional athletic qualities. That is certainly true and is evident during games, but Upshaw's foundation is persistence, power, and technical skill. Rather than consistently beating heavier footed offensive linemen around the edge, Upshaw chose to engage with leverage to force blockers off balance, where he releases with strength to relentlessly pursue the ball carrier. Just as effective as an edge speed rush is when pass rushers plant their outside foot to work back inside and take an aggressive angle to the quarterback. This is one of Upshaw's trademark moves. Usually I question the balance of prospects who constantly play with their shoulders over their toes, but Upshaw brings controlled aggressiveness and is always moving forward. He needs to raise his head on contact and will consistently rely on a jolting first punch to gain that instant leverage, but not many are as reliable in terms of motor and production. Upshaw fits as a defensive end in a four man front or a designated upfield strong side outside linebacker in a three man front.

 

[RS12]

5. Nevada LB James - Michael Johnson
Johnson is the most prototypical inside linebacker in this draft, even when considering Luke Kuechly. The Nevada product fills running lanes with force, taking on blockers with the appropriate shoulder and immediately fights through contact. That is where Johnson shines, his goal is not to win that initial engagement, instead focusing on relentlessly getting to the ball carrier. He makes quick decisions and crashes the line without hesitation. In coverage, Johnson has fluid hips in short zones. His footwork may get jittery at times, but Johnson is a very reliable tackler that loves contact and cleans up piles. Many linebackers get caught in the grasp of offensive linemen at the second level, but Johnson keeps separation without avoiding contact, then adjusts his angle to aggressively get to the ball. I love how confidently Johnson plays the position. He has earned a late second-round grade, but will likely be a third or fourth round selection. Wherever he is drafted, Johnson should make an impact in his career as an early starter.

Cowboys were supposedly interested in him earlier.