Less hyped Rookie LB's (1 Viewer)

[Renegades of Funk]

Wanted to see if anyone has any knowledge of some of the LB's drafted late. I'm looking at who may be the best guys to take a flyer on late in a dynasty draft. Here are the ones I'm trying to find out more info on:Ryan ClaridgeAdam SewardMichael BoleyRian WallaceBomer GrigsbyLance Mitchell (Why did he drop so far in the draft?)Also are there any other late round guys you see as diamonds in the rough?

 

[Nugget]

I'm a fan of Boomer Grigsby. Probably won't be much more than a special teams player to start the year, but with our lack of depth at LB he could make the field quickly due to an injury.

I live in KC, so I may view him thru some red and gold tinted glasses, but I love his attitude and work ethic. He plays hard and all the coaches love him.

Q&A with Boomer on Chiefs home page

Boomer was a finalist for the Buck Buchanon award in 2002, 2003, and 2004.

 

[Bloom]

from my posting in magaw's pinned rookie starter thread:Goo Wallace, ILB, PIT - Goo has the mean streak and motor that we love in steelers LBs. The steelers are not afraid to let more expensive vets walk and promote kids if they show promise - Goo could replace farrior or foote within 2 years if he's a good fit in pittsburghLance Mitchell, MLB, ARI - all he did was lead one of the best Ds in the country. Hayes will shift to WLB to give up to mitchell before you know it. From an IDP standpoint, i would say Mitchell has as much upside as any LB in the draft - he is a do everything MLB.

 

[coolnerd]

Mitchell looked slow when he played this year...Did not seem to recover the quickness from the knee injur, but is worth the risk where the Cards took him. He is a wait and see player for me who has a bigger name than his senior year production warranted.

 

[Bloom]

Mitchell looked slow when he played this year...Did not seem to recover the quickness from the knee injur, but is worth the risk where the Cards took him.

He is a wait and see player for me who has a bigger name than his senior year production warranted.

looked slow because of one year removed from ACL surgery - he got stronger and faster as the year went on, so no reason to think that that trend wont continue. how this guy lasted til the 5th is beyond me.its getting to the point where tommy john surgery and ACL surgery do not limit an athlete's long term upside - FFer and FBers will adjust eventually, but for now a lot of people still want to see them as damaged goods.

 

[Weiner Dog]

Mitchell was a college monster. This cannot denied.However, Mitchell did run a 4.9 prior to the draft. This also cannot be denied.I'm sure more than a handful of starting NFL LB's run slower than a 4.9/40 (Zach Thomas, anyone!?!?). Mitchell, unfortunately, will need to prove his health, instincts, and leadership abilities can outweigh his lack of speed before he'll crack the starting lineup for any NFL squad.

 

[coolnerd]

I no have problem with someone taking him late or as Fa a burying him on a taxi squad. Unfortuantely i get to watch more Oklahoma football than most and did not see the improvement in Mitchell as the season went along...Did you see that bowl game??? (bad example, none of the defense looked good)...Mitchell was not a monster last year. also, the cardinals have LBs that they have invested higher picks in. Blacksock and Dansby(olb) , and Haynes( MLB now, but can play any)are all young. Huff (mlb) is only 25 or 26. He just has a lot to overcome for me to get too excited about. As for him dropping, ILB/MLB seems to be a position where players tend to go a little lower than ranking/production suggests.

 

[grady]

One person I am intrigued with is Rian Wallace.On any other team than a 3-4 team I would say special teamer, but he could play at inside or outside backer in the 3-4.This guy has a mean streak and is always on go. He has a non-stop motor and is very quick laterally.His achille's heel is his pass coverage, where he struggles. With Farrior and Foote locked up for the next couple of years (until their contracts escalate anyway), he probably won't see much time on the inside in the short term. But with an aging Porter and suspect LB depth, I can see Wallace working his way into the lineup at some point.I like his upside, although I wouldn't use anything but a very late pick on this guy.

 

[Bloom]

One person I am intrigued with is Rian Wallace.

On any other team than a 3-4 team I would say special teamer, but he could play at inside or outside backer in the 3-4.

This guy has a mean streak and is always on go. He has a non-stop motor and is very quick laterally.

His achille's heel is his pass coverage, where he struggles.

With Farrior and Foote locked up for the next couple of years (until their contracts escalate anyway), he probably won't see much time on the inside in the short term. But with an aging Porter and suspect LB depth, I can see Wallace working his way into the lineup at some point.

I like his upside, although I wouldn't use anything but a very late pick on this guy.

he's got to go through james harrison on the outside, who is a very good OLB3. i think wallace's future is on the inside, as he has the size and strength to fight through lead blocks.regardless, i like his future. if he fits in on the steelers, he'll be starting by 07.

 

[Renegades of Funk]

A lot of good information guys.What about Adam Seward. Dan Morgan is in the final year of his contract and if his concussions continue I wonder if he'll be signed to a new contract?Anyone know anything about Boley or Claridge.

 

[coolnerd]

On Boley, he is a quickness run around guy. Think Derrick Johnson not as big or as good, but that type of player. he did make plays in both running and passing game and one I thought would go a round or two higher. Grisby, I know a couple guys on another board who loved him as hardnosed football player type will decent athletic ability and better than expected straightline speed. Looks to be a ST develop in a year or two type. Seward I don't have any info that is not from a magazine on him.

 

[grady]

One person I am intrigued with is Rian Wallace.

On any other team than a 3-4 team I would say special teamer, but he could play at inside or outside backer in the 3-4.

This guy has a mean streak and is always on go.  He has a non-stop motor and is very quick laterally.

His achille's heel is his pass coverage, where he struggles. 

With Farrior and Foote locked up for the next couple of years (until their contracts escalate anyway), he probably won't see much time on the inside in the short term.  But with an aging Porter and suspect LB depth, I can see Wallace working his way into the lineup at some point.

I like his upside, although I wouldn't use anything but a very late pick on this guy.

he's got to go through james harrison on the outside, who is a very good OLB3. i think wallace's future is on the inside, as he has the size and strength to fight through lead blocks.regardless, i like his future. if he fits in on the steelers, he'll be starting by 07.

His mean streak is what I like most about him. He has an attitude that he wants to win...period. He punched out a teammate at Temple because he wasn't practicing hard enough. I just love that, and it fits on the Steelers very well.I think his PT is going to depend on Farrior. His base salary jumps from 665K to 2.9M in 2006 and then 3M in 2007. If Farrior doesnt play like a runner-up defensive player of the year in '05 you may see Wallace get his shot after they cut Farrior.

 

[nortobc]

Another deep sleeper to keep an eye on is Lional Turner. He played MLB at LSU last year and was the starting MLB on the national championship team 2 years ago. He is big and strong and has decent pass coverage skills and can play the run.Miami picked him up as a free agent. He obviously knows the system because Saban was his coach at LSU. Zach Thomas has been struggling w/ injuries lately as well. Just someone to keep an eye on.