Willis vs. Timmons

[jpdex12]

I'd be willing to bet that we draft a LB over anything else in the 1st so here is a comparison of the two best IMO

Willis
<TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top height=30><TD class=tablemed>Patrick Willis
ILB (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/position?id=90) | (6'1", 240, 4.62) | MISSISSIPPI (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/school?id=2295)

Scouts Grade: 90

Flags: (D: DURABILITY) Player that can't stay healthy</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablemed cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR vAlign=center height=18><TD>View by: Round (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/round?draftyear=2007) | Player (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/players?draftyear=2007) | NCAA School (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/school?draftyear=2007) | Position (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/position?draftyear=2007) | NFL Team (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/team?draftyear=2007) | Flag (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/alert?draftyear=2007)http://assets.espn.go.com/i/in.gif | All Ranked Players (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/rankedPlayers?draftyear=2007)http://assets.espn.go.com/i/in.gif | NFL Draft History (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/histround?year=2006&draftyear=2007) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---Insider promo---><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=tablesm align=middle bgColor=#ececec colSpan=2><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>You are signed into Insider http://espn.starwave.com/i/in.gif and have access to the exclusive draft content below. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablemed2 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD>Strengths: Possesses good height, adequate bulk and still has room on his frame to improve bulk. He is quick, fluid and agile for his size. Shows very good lateral quickness and initial burst. He takes solid angles in pursuit and does a good job of sifting through traffic. Powerful enough to take on blocks in the phone booth when he's playing with leverage. He explodes through tackles and is reliable in space. A sideline-to-sideline pursuit linebacker. Shows good agility and fluidness in coverage. Gets a deep drop in zone and displays above-average range. Can match up versus most tight ends and running backs one-on-one. Displays good burst and instincts as a blitzer, as well. Is a leader and hard-worker. Loves the game of football, plays through pain and leads by example.

Weaknesses: He lacks elite bulk and may need to add some weight in order to hold up better as an inside linebacker in the NFL. He has a muscular build but he does not possess ideal lower-body thickness. Plays a bit high at times and will let too many defenders get into his body. He is above average in terms of range in coverage, but he can be slow to diagnose at times. He also displays below-average ball skills in coverage. Plays through pain but he has had trouble staying healthy throughout his career and always seems to be battling lingering injuries, some of which include knee, finger, foot and shoulder.

Overall: Willis played in all 13 games in 2003 as a true freshman, making 20 total tackles and one tackle for loss. In 2004, he saw action in 10 of 11 games and finished the year with 70 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble. Willis earned first team All-SEC honors (Associated Press, coaches) after the 2005 season when he started the 10 contests he played in and recorded 128 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, and two forced fumbles. He missed the Wyoming game (9/24) with a knee injury and battled several other injuries including a broken finger, a sprained knee, a foot sprain, and a partially separated AC shoulder joint. Willis also missed spring practice in 2006 after having off-season foot surgery. He returned for the 2006 season and started all 12 games, finishing with 137 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery earning him first team All-American, first team All-SEC, SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors, and the Butkus Award. Willis has flown somewhat under the radar from a national college football perspective but NFL scouts have been clamoring over his pro-potential since he broke through as a fulltime starter in 2004. Willis must continue to add bulk to his frame and there are some understandable concerns regarding his durability. However, he is a power, athletic and aggressive inside linebacker that shouldn't need long to transition into a fulltime starting role in the NFL. He also displays enough versatility and fluidity to stay on the field for all three downs. In our opinion, Willis is the top inside linebacker prospect in this year's class and he warrants consideration late in the first round.


</TD></TR><TR><TD>* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?page=ScoutsInc)

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR class=bg1 align=middle><TD>PLAYER </TD><TD>SCHOOL </TD><TD>HT </TD><TD>WT </TD><TD>40 </TD><TD>LIFTS </TD></TR><TR class=bg2 align=middle><TD>Antwan Barnes </TD><TD>Fla. International </TD><TD>6-0 5/8 </TD><TD>240 </TD><TD>4.44 </TD><TD>31 </TD></TR><TR class=bg3 align=middle><TD>Quincy Black </TD><TD>New Mexico </TD><TD>6-1 5/8 </TD><TD>240 </TD><TD>4.50 </TD><TD>24 </TD></TR><TR class=bg2 align=middle><TD>Justin Durant </TD><TD>Hampton </TD><TD>6-0 7/8 </TD><TD>230 </TD><TD>4.59 </TD><TD>25 </TD></TR><TR class=bg3 align=middle><TD>David Harris </TD><TD>Michigan </TD><TD>6-2¼ </TD><TD>243 </TD><TD>4.57 </TD><TD>23 </TD></TR><TR class=bg2 align=middle><TD>Paul Posluszny </TD><TD>Penn State </TD><TD>6-1 5/8 </TD><TD>238 </TD><TD>4.65 </TD><TD>22 </TD></TR><TR class=bg3 align=middle><TD>Tim Shaw </TD><TD>Penn State </TD><TD>6-1½ </TD><TD>236 </TD><TD>4.49 </TD><TD>26 </TD></TR><TR class=bg2 align=middle><TD>Patrick Willis </TD><TD>Ole Miss </TD><TD>6-1 1/8 </TD><TD>242 </TD><TD>4.50 </TD><TD>22 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Timmons
<TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top height=30><TD class=tablemed>Lawrence Timmons
OLB (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/position?id=89) | (6'3", 232, 4.6) | FLORIDA STATE (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/school?id=2174)

Scouts Grade: 93

Flags: (Y: YOUNG PLAYER) Need more film evaluation</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablemed cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR vAlign=center height=18><TD>View by: Round (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/round?draftyear=2007) | Player (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/players?draftyear=2007) | NCAA School (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/school?draftyear=2007) | Position (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/position?draftyear=2007) | NFL Team (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/team?draftyear=2007) | Flag (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/alert?draftyear=2007)http://assets.espn.go.com/i/in.gif | All Ranked Players (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/rankedPlayers?draftyear=2007)http://assets.espn.go.com/i/in.gif | NFL Draft History (http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/histround?year=2006&draftyear=2007) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---Insider promo---><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=tablesm align=middle bgColor=#ececec colSpan=2><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>You are signed into Insider http://espn.starwave.com/i/in.gif and have access to the exclusive draft content below. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablemed2 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD>Strengths: A tremendously gifted natural athlete. He possesses adequate size and the frame to get bigger. Displays fluid hips and good change-of-direction skills. He is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker versus the run. Displays excellent closing burst and is a big hitter for his size. He possesses outstanding initial quickness and is a huge threat when turned loose off the edge as a pass rusher. He has a knack for shooting the correct gap and blowing up plays in the backfield. Displays very good range in coverage when he diagnoses the play quickly enough. Also possesses the speed and athleticism to match up one-on-one versus the NFL's premier running backs in coverage.

Weaknesses: Still lacks ideal playing experience. Must improve his recognition skills and do a better job of diagnosing plays. He needs to improve his hand usage in order to get off blocks quicker. Must improve his strength in order to match up better in the phone booth. He lacks ideal awareness in coverage. He will get caught peeking in the backfield and takes too many false steps.

Overall: Timmons appeared in all 12 games as a true freshman during the 2004 season, registering 12 total tackles and one tackle for loss. In 2005, he played in all 13 contests as the team's No. 2 strong-side outside linebacker, a third-down rush-end, and on special teams, tallying 36 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Timmons then started all 13 games in 2006 and recorded 79 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, and two blocked kicks to earn honorable mention All-ACC accolades from the media. Timmons possesses an outstanding combination of size, speed and athleticism. The early-entry prospect could have used another season in college to polish his skills and improve his strength. However, Timmons should quickly develop into a playmaking starter at "WILL" linebacker in the NFL and he is entirely too talented to slip out of the first round in the 2007 draft.


</TD></TR><TR><TD>* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?page=ScoutsInc)
Timmons runs a 4.6 40
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Tatonka]

anyone know anything about tim shaw? why isnt he projected higher?

[jamze132]

I would be happy with either one.

[Don't Panic]

I agree... these are the two LBs to choose from. It all comes down to what OBD feels is best to do with Crowell. If they decide to return him to his original position of MLB, then Timmons is your man. I know they say he's undeveloped, but everything I've read about him gives the impression he will be a very solid pro. That may mean splitting time with Ellison at first (assuming Spikes is still around... more incentive to keep him if you ask me). If, however, OBD feels Crowell at MLB is a poor fit, then Willis is your man. I'd like t0o talk about trading down, but there's little point in that considering Marv's past...

[Tatonka]

the top two guys listed on the chart are definately not the only two to choose from.

how many people even heard of ellison before last years draft?

crowell was a 3rd round draft pick as wel.

tko went 16 overall i believe, but he is the exception.

there are alot more good lbs in the nfl that didnt go early.

[Don't Panic]

there are alot more good lbs in the nfl that didnt go early.

Good point, but the best do tend to go early, and if we are thinking about not reatianing Spikes, then we are going to need a top-notch guy to come in and contribute right away.

[patmoran2006]

Timmons is a project by every account I've read on him.

[Tatonka]

Good point, but the best do tend to go early, and if we are thinking about not reatianing Spikes, then we are going to need a top-notch guy to come in and contribute right away.

you mean like adalius thomas, zach thomas, london fletcher, shawn phillips, ect..

i would definately not say the "best" go early. it is just like any other position.

for every spikes and ray lewis, there are average guys that went too high.

[Don't Panic]

you mean like adalius thomas, zach thomas, london fletcher, shawn phillips, ect..

i would definately not say the "best" go early. it is just like any other position.

for every spikes and ray lewis, there are average guys that went too high.

Once again, good point. There can be talent found in the later rounds at LB, especially for our scheme. That being said, I would feel a lot more comfortable with a 1st round LB in here next year, especially if Spikes is gone.

[Mr. Pink]

you mean like adalius thomas, zach thomas, london fletcher, shawn phillips, ect..

i would definately not say the "best" go early. it is just like any other position.

for every spikes and ray lewis, there are average guys that went too high.


The same can be said with every position though. You get some good ones early, you get some duds...It's about a 50-50 proposition in Day 1 of the draft.

Now in day 2 it's more like a 10-90 proposition from stud to dud. That's why teams take their biggest needs or bpa in day 1. Because there's a higher success rate of that player panning out.

[jpdex12]

the top two guys listed on the chart are definately not the only two to choose from.

how many people even heard of ellison before last years draft?

crowell was a 3rd round draft pick as wel.

tko went 16 overall i believe, but he is the exception.

there are alot more good lbs in the nfl that didnt go early.

No doubt that they aren't the only ones but I bet our coaches didn't even know Ellison would be capable of starting for us last year. They saw talent and picked him up for future use. It's not everyday that you grab a man in the 6th and have him starting that year. If you want a LB to start and have success in his first year then you go with a top flight LB just as teams did with Vilma and Simms and Ryans. Therefore if we expect a starter at LB in his first year then you better grab one of the top ones.