Manny Lawson (1 Viewer)

[RavensUNFL]

Or does he just need to find the right system? 1st round pick and really has done nothing since being drafted. In 3 years he has more games missed (16) then he has sacks (6), not a great start to a pro career.

This is one of his scouting reports:

POSITIVES: Tremendous athlete watching his draft stock soar. Plays with good pad level, is rarely off his feet and makes plays in every direction of the field. Fast off the edge, terrific in pursuit and runs ball carriers down from the backside. Effectively used in space on zone blitzes. Reads the action and stays with assignments. Hard-hitting and plays with an aggressive style.

NEGATIVES: Undersized out of a three-point stance and can be engulfed by large blockers. Occasionally takes wide angles to avoid linemen altogether.

 

[PatsWillWin]

He's sick in Madden '08. He has like 90 speed, I just send him on a blitz every play.

Hope this helps!

 

[Jene Bramel]

Always worth watching a guy like this, but I don't think there's much upside (except in very sack oriented scoring systems) with him. Maybe in 2010 as a contract year player.

 

[5Rings]

Project as a rookie, missed 07 with serious injury, prior to injury had really made big strides in camp in conversion from DE (played across from Mario at NCState) to OLB.

He's really progressed into a solid player with the athletic ability to do more. Nolan loved to use Lawson in coverage on TEs, so he didn't get much of a chance to rush the passer. I thought he was one of the most improved players on the team under Singletary.

He reminds me of Julian Peterson-lite. I don't know if he'll ever be a fantasy starter, but he's worth rostering this year. Singletary and McG have said pass rush is the #1 priority, and if they can't sign or draft a guy, Lawson is the one guy on the roster who does have the ability to rush the passer if he gets the chance. This is a big make or break year for Lawson.

 

[RavensUNFL]

Thanks Jene and 5Rings, appreciate the feedback.

JetsWillWin, I appreciate the tip for Madden.

 

[RavensUNFL]

Saw this on Roto today:

49ers OLB Manny Lawson "definitely was not at 100 percent" all last season, according to the Sacramento Bee.

Lawson, a first-round pick in 2006, was a strong pass rusher in college but hasn't been in the pros. His 2007 ACL tear limited his explosion last year. Getting Lawson to blitz more effectively is key to the 49ers' 2009 success.

Source: Sacramento Bee

 

[5Rings]

From Matt Barrow's Q&A (the sacbee blogger that rotowold snipped)

... Don't give up on Lawson. He definitely was not 100 percent this past season. I remember him in the summer of 2007 being an entirely different player. He looked like he was sprung from a slingshot on every snap. If he returns to that form - and the 49ers are expecting he will - no one will be talking about him moving to another spot. The best 3-4 defenses always are deep in outside linebackers. If the 49ers have: Parys Harlason, a healthy Lawson, an Ahmad Brooks whom Mike Singletary snaps into focus and a rookie, well, that seems to be a pretty good group.