cstu
Footballguy
A lot of these guys are 'tweeners who aren't ranked very high because they don't have a true position on most teams and played DE in college. However, the 3-4 teams are looking at some great values. Look for some of these guys to get taken earlier than expected on draft day by the 3-4 teams.2
Updated with Pro Day results in {}
Draft day steals:
(1.13 #13 Browns) OLB Kamerion Wimbley (6-4, 248, 4.61, 10'9" jump, 38.5" vert)
Like McClover, he will be a steal for a team that needs a 3-4 OLB. May already be too highly ranked to be a true steal, but if he slips to day two he will be.
{Wimbley (6-4, 251) did only the short shuttle (4.42) and the vertical jump (39 inches), and kept the rest of his numbers from the Combine.}
(1.22 #22 49ers) OLB Manny Lawson (6-5, 241, 4.43, 10'4" jump, 39.5" vert, 23 reps, 4.18 20S)
He's a steal if he slips to the Cowboys at #18 as expected. As a good of a 3-4 OLB prospect as Merriman was last year.
{Lawson (6-5, 238) did position drills only and rested on his Combine numbers.}
(2.6 #38 Raiders) ILB Thomas Howard (6-2, 230, 4.42, 10'4" jump)
Incredible measurables, needs to work on making less mistakes and tackling but he has the tools. 2nd round steal.
{Howard, who performed at the Combine, did not work out. He measured 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds.}
(3.7, #71 Eagles) DE/OLB Chris Gocong (6-2, 263, 4.70, 10'3" jump, 38.5" vert, 28 reps, 4.08 20S)
Won Buck Buchanon Award for best defensive player in Division I-AA - same award one by teammate and Falcons' 3rd round pick Jordan Peck last year. Insane talent who is going to be overlooked having played in I-AA. Biggest question mark is whether he is big enough for 4-3 DE or fast enough for 3-4 OLB. 2nd day steal.
{Gocong stood on his performance from the Combine and just did a 42-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-5 long jump, both a little better than he did in Indianapolis. Four different teams will be sending defensive coordinators to work him out in the next month to see if he can switch from defensive lineman to a 3-4 linebacker.}
(3.13 #77 Rams) ILB/SS Jon Alston (6-1, 223, 4.4, 11' jump, 40" vert)
Very athletic and will probably play ILB or safety due to size. Great pick in the 3rd round or later.
{Alston (6-0 3/8, 227) stood on everything he did at the Combine. He has numerous workouts scheduled with DB coaches between now and the draft.}
(3.16, #80 Jaguars) OLB Clint Ingram (6-2, 244, 4.58, 41" vert)
2nd day steal. Athletic play-maker who needs to work on consistency.
{Ingram (6-1¾, 245) had a 9-foot-6 broad jump and a 4.27 short shuttle.}
(4.13 #110 Browns) ILB Leon Williams (6-3, 245, 4.58)
Talented player who has had to deal with unfair Ray Lewis/Vilma comparisions. Another day steal for a lucky team.
{Williams' shuttle times were 4.08 (short) and 11.68 (long). He also ran 7.08 in the cone drill, had a 34-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-8½ broad jump.}
(5.9 #142 Cardinals) ILB/SS Brandon Johnson (6-5, 228, 4.44)
Too small for OLB, but has the frame to put on weight. Could also convert to safety. Great late pick who could turn out to be a steal because of his 'tweener status.
(5.27 #159 Bears) OLB Mark Anderson (6-4, 254, 4.61, 10'7" jump, 42" vert, 4.22 20S)
Off the chart talent like Manny Lawson, but bigger and better suited to the 3-4. Could be the steal of the draft.
{Anderson did position drills only. Everything else he performed at the Combine.}
(7.5 #213 Jaguars) OLB James Wyche (6-5, 262, 4.63)
Ideal 3-4 OLB. Needs work but worth developing by a 3-4 team.
{Wyche (6-5, 262) ran his 40s in 4.68 and 4.64. Had a 10-foot broad jump. Stood on the rest of his numbers from the Combine.}
(7.11 #219 Ravens) DE/OLB Ryan LaCasse (6-2, 267, 4.54)
Has incredible speed for his size, but is mainly a speed rusher at DE. Could bulk up and be a force or convert to 3-4 OLB. Way off the draft charts and should be a late round steal.
{LaCasse (6-2½, 254) ran his 40s in 4.57 and 4.57. Had a 9-foot-11 broad jump, 4.28 short shuttle, and 7.01 three-cone drill.}
(7.29 #237 Panthers) OLB Stanley McClover (6-2, 253, 4.61, 39" vert)
Another in a long line of college DE's who will slide because they only fit in the NFL as 3-4 OLB's. Has the talent to be a situational pass rusher in that role and could become a full-time 3-4 OLB if he can work on pass coverage - has the speed to do it.
{McClover (6-2 1/8, 258) ran his 40s in 4.63 and 4.71 seconds. He stood on everything else he did at the Combine.}
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(Undrafted FA - Steelers) DE/OLB Mike Kudla (6-1.5, 265, 4.70, 37" vert, 45 reps)
VERY strong, but stock may be too high after tying the combine bench press record. Strong enough to play DE but under-sized. Played LB coming into college and may be able to convert to 3-4 OLB. Good day two pick.
Updated with Pro Day results in {}
Draft day steals:
(1.13 #13 Browns) OLB Kamerion Wimbley (6-4, 248, 4.61, 10'9" jump, 38.5" vert)
Like McClover, he will be a steal for a team that needs a 3-4 OLB. May already be too highly ranked to be a true steal, but if he slips to day two he will be.
{Wimbley (6-4, 251) did only the short shuttle (4.42) and the vertical jump (39 inches), and kept the rest of his numbers from the Combine.}
(1.22 #22 49ers) OLB Manny Lawson (6-5, 241, 4.43, 10'4" jump, 39.5" vert, 23 reps, 4.18 20S)
He's a steal if he slips to the Cowboys at #18 as expected. As a good of a 3-4 OLB prospect as Merriman was last year.
{Lawson (6-5, 238) did position drills only and rested on his Combine numbers.}
(2.6 #38 Raiders) ILB Thomas Howard (6-2, 230, 4.42, 10'4" jump)
Incredible measurables, needs to work on making less mistakes and tackling but he has the tools. 2nd round steal.
{Howard, who performed at the Combine, did not work out. He measured 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds.}
(3.7, #71 Eagles) DE/OLB Chris Gocong (6-2, 263, 4.70, 10'3" jump, 38.5" vert, 28 reps, 4.08 20S)
Won Buck Buchanon Award for best defensive player in Division I-AA - same award one by teammate and Falcons' 3rd round pick Jordan Peck last year. Insane talent who is going to be overlooked having played in I-AA. Biggest question mark is whether he is big enough for 4-3 DE or fast enough for 3-4 OLB. 2nd day steal.
{Gocong stood on his performance from the Combine and just did a 42-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-5 long jump, both a little better than he did in Indianapolis. Four different teams will be sending defensive coordinators to work him out in the next month to see if he can switch from defensive lineman to a 3-4 linebacker.}
(3.13 #77 Rams) ILB/SS Jon Alston (6-1, 223, 4.4, 11' jump, 40" vert)
Very athletic and will probably play ILB or safety due to size. Great pick in the 3rd round or later.
{Alston (6-0 3/8, 227) stood on everything he did at the Combine. He has numerous workouts scheduled with DB coaches between now and the draft.}
(3.16, #80 Jaguars) OLB Clint Ingram (6-2, 244, 4.58, 41" vert)
2nd day steal. Athletic play-maker who needs to work on consistency.
{Ingram (6-1¾, 245) had a 9-foot-6 broad jump and a 4.27 short shuttle.}
(4.13 #110 Browns) ILB Leon Williams (6-3, 245, 4.58)
Talented player who has had to deal with unfair Ray Lewis/Vilma comparisions. Another day steal for a lucky team.
{Williams' shuttle times were 4.08 (short) and 11.68 (long). He also ran 7.08 in the cone drill, had a 34-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-8½ broad jump.}
(5.9 #142 Cardinals) ILB/SS Brandon Johnson (6-5, 228, 4.44)
Too small for OLB, but has the frame to put on weight. Could also convert to safety. Great late pick who could turn out to be a steal because of his 'tweener status.
(5.27 #159 Bears) OLB Mark Anderson (6-4, 254, 4.61, 10'7" jump, 42" vert, 4.22 20S)
Off the chart talent like Manny Lawson, but bigger and better suited to the 3-4. Could be the steal of the draft.
{Anderson did position drills only. Everything else he performed at the Combine.}
(7.5 #213 Jaguars) OLB James Wyche (6-5, 262, 4.63)
Ideal 3-4 OLB. Needs work but worth developing by a 3-4 team.
{Wyche (6-5, 262) ran his 40s in 4.68 and 4.64. Had a 10-foot broad jump. Stood on the rest of his numbers from the Combine.}
(7.11 #219 Ravens) DE/OLB Ryan LaCasse (6-2, 267, 4.54)
Has incredible speed for his size, but is mainly a speed rusher at DE. Could bulk up and be a force or convert to 3-4 OLB. Way off the draft charts and should be a late round steal.
{LaCasse (6-2½, 254) ran his 40s in 4.57 and 4.57. Had a 9-foot-11 broad jump, 4.28 short shuttle, and 7.01 three-cone drill.}
(7.29 #237 Panthers) OLB Stanley McClover (6-2, 253, 4.61, 39" vert)
Another in a long line of college DE's who will slide because they only fit in the NFL as 3-4 OLB's. Has the talent to be a situational pass rusher in that role and could become a full-time 3-4 OLB if he can work on pass coverage - has the speed to do it.
{McClover (6-2 1/8, 258) ran his 40s in 4.63 and 4.71 seconds. He stood on everything else he did at the Combine.}
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(Undrafted FA - Steelers) DE/OLB Mike Kudla (6-1.5, 265, 4.70, 37" vert, 45 reps)
VERY strong, but stock may be too high after tying the combine bench press record. Strong enough to play DE but under-sized. Played LB coming into college and may be able to convert to 3-4 OLB. Good day two pick.
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I just had fun posting that here. Sorry.
