Weiner Dog
Footballguy
Hannibal Navies was released by the Pack today. This all but guarantees the starting WLB job to Thompson (with Diggs moving to SLB once he's healthy).
Thompson was battling problems with the bottle the past few seasons, but has since entered rehab and (hopefully) cleaned-up his life. While on the field, Thompson has been productive. In '01, he netted 83 tackles despite missing two games. He followed-up his sophomore campaign with a 110 tackle effort in '02. Not too shabby.
Thompson was an early 2nd-round pick in the '00 draft. He "slipped" to the 2nd-round b/c of size (sub-220lbs) and strength issues (only 15 reps at Pro-Day) as a result of hernia surgery. When Ray jumped into the NFL, he was one of the smallest LB's and most likely tipped the scales at 215lbs. Fast forward to '05...he has bulked to 225-230lbs.
Buchsbaum had Thompson ranked as the #7 LB in the '00 draft (behind monsters like Arrington, Urlacher, Bulluck, and J Peterson). Here is Buchsbaum's draft notes on Thompson:
link:
http://archive.profootballweekly.com/conte...greports_lb.asp
OLB RAYNOCH THOMPSON
(6-2 1/2, 215-233, 4.55e) Tennessee
Notes: Weighed 235 pounds and ran a 4.45-second 40 before having hernia surgery late in 1999, but weighed only 220 pounds and ran a 4.74 in an early March workout. Partial qualifier in ’96. Started all but one game in ’97 and ’98 and every game in ’99. Team’s leading tackler in ’98 and ’99. Had 67 tackles and an interception in ’97. Had 89 stops, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks in ’98. Had 87 tackles, three interceptions, three passes broken up and seven tackles for loss in ’99. Had a broken nose, concussion and bruised kidney in ’98 and double-hernia surgery in ’99, when he won All-Southeastern Conference honors and some All-America notice.
Positives: Superb athlete with terrific movement skills. Is very quick, fast and agile and has cat-like movements. Gets quick depth on his pass drops. Has the speed to run with backs and makes plays all over the field. Seems to fly to the ball at times. Very, very tough and does an amazing job of playing through pain and healing quickly. Has a mean streak. Long arms come in very handy, especially vs. the pass.
Negatives: Lacks size, especially in the lower body. Does not take on blocks well and tends to run around them. Plays too upright, which makes him even more vulnerable when teams come right at him and prevents him from getting better leverage by getting low. Plays and hits too big and hard for his body and as a result always seems to have some sort of injury. Despite athleticism seems to have some problems with his balance in space and at times falls down in pass coverage.
Summary: Very athletic but undersized "Will" type ’backer who is not in the mold of Al Wilson but has more athletic ability and is just as instinctive.
Thompson was battling problems with the bottle the past few seasons, but has since entered rehab and (hopefully) cleaned-up his life. While on the field, Thompson has been productive. In '01, he netted 83 tackles despite missing two games. He followed-up his sophomore campaign with a 110 tackle effort in '02. Not too shabby.
Thompson was an early 2nd-round pick in the '00 draft. He "slipped" to the 2nd-round b/c of size (sub-220lbs) and strength issues (only 15 reps at Pro-Day) as a result of hernia surgery. When Ray jumped into the NFL, he was one of the smallest LB's and most likely tipped the scales at 215lbs. Fast forward to '05...he has bulked to 225-230lbs.
Buchsbaum had Thompson ranked as the #7 LB in the '00 draft (behind monsters like Arrington, Urlacher, Bulluck, and J Peterson). Here is Buchsbaum's draft notes on Thompson:
link:
http://archive.profootballweekly.com/conte...greports_lb.asp
OLB RAYNOCH THOMPSON
(6-2 1/2, 215-233, 4.55e) Tennessee
Notes: Weighed 235 pounds and ran a 4.45-second 40 before having hernia surgery late in 1999, but weighed only 220 pounds and ran a 4.74 in an early March workout. Partial qualifier in ’96. Started all but one game in ’97 and ’98 and every game in ’99. Team’s leading tackler in ’98 and ’99. Had 67 tackles and an interception in ’97. Had 89 stops, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks in ’98. Had 87 tackles, three interceptions, three passes broken up and seven tackles for loss in ’99. Had a broken nose, concussion and bruised kidney in ’98 and double-hernia surgery in ’99, when he won All-Southeastern Conference honors and some All-America notice.
Positives: Superb athlete with terrific movement skills. Is very quick, fast and agile and has cat-like movements. Gets quick depth on his pass drops. Has the speed to run with backs and makes plays all over the field. Seems to fly to the ball at times. Very, very tough and does an amazing job of playing through pain and healing quickly. Has a mean streak. Long arms come in very handy, especially vs. the pass.
Negatives: Lacks size, especially in the lower body. Does not take on blocks well and tends to run around them. Plays too upright, which makes him even more vulnerable when teams come right at him and prevents him from getting better leverage by getting low. Plays and hits too big and hard for his body and as a result always seems to have some sort of injury. Despite athleticism seems to have some problems with his balance in space and at times falls down in pass coverage.
Summary: Very athletic but undersized "Will" type ’backer who is not in the mold of Al Wilson but has more athletic ability and is just as instinctive.
