| March 03, 2006 | « Previous Story | HOME | Next Story » | Posted at 04:07 AM |
BillsZone.com takes a look at the players available in the 2006 NFL Draft and how they fill the needs of the Buffalo Bills. This week, we take a look at outside linebackers.
QB- RB - FB - WR- TE - C - G -OT - DT - DE - OLB - ILB - CB - S
A.J Hawk is going to go down as one of the best linebackers in the history of Ohio St. If he's selected by the Buffalo Bills, he will hopefully erase the bitter memories of Tom Cousineau. Hawk is very instinctive OLB that has a high motor. He never takes plays off and is always around the ball. Amazing speed (ran a 4.4 in the 40) and shows determination getting to the ball and is a sure tackler with great leadership ability. When he arrives, Hawk does a great job of breaking down and wrapping up. He is disciplined and stays at home, showing high football I.Q. He is tough to fool and has been used in a variety of ways by the Buckeyes including spying running QBs. He has excellent technique and good quick feet, which provide him good balance before squaring up for tackles on opposing ball carriers. He has the athletic skill to drop back in pass coverage and be very effective doing so, he has the strength, foot quickness and reaction skills to be an effective coverage linebacker at any level. Hawk has a heart of a lion, who exhorts leadership characteristics by his play on the field and his will to win by pursuing ball carriers twenty yards upfield, never giving up on plays.
The biggest knock on Hawk, while not a big thing, is overrunning plays due to being overaggressive. While this isn't a big deal in college, it will take him out of many plays in the NFL. An easy problem to fix however, all he has to do is learn to slow down. He needs to improve his strength and ability to stop and change direction. He played the outside spot at Ohio State, but he has the skills to move into the middle as well. The Bills have a couple of bigger holes on the team other than linebacker- but if he's still on the board at the #8 selection, he will be very hard to pass up.
Chad Greenway is the prototypical linebacker prospect. He's tall, strong, but still has very good speed and athleticism. He's strong enough to take on blockers, but fast enough to play sideline to sideline. He is around the action on every play, and possesses excellent football intelligence. An outstanding athlete with superb speed and a burst. And does an excellent job in coverage. At 6'4 247, Greenway is as big as anyone could hope for in the NFL with the speed of a DB. His speed allows him to effectively cover most tight ends. Greenway is a tough tackler, but he also has soft hands and picked off 3 passes last year and took one for a touchdown. He will struggle to fight off blocks of opposing offensive linemen at times and he isn't very effective as an edge pass rusher. Needs to hit the weights and get stronger, especially in the lower body. A serious knee injury he sustained in 2002 could raise questions about his durability to some teams. He has excellent prototypical size for the position, and has the agility and mobility you look for, but he may be more of a combine warrior than a true football player. However, Greenway is one of the most talented linebacker prospects available which should make him a first round pick in the 2006 NFL draft.
DeMeco Ryans' speed may be average on paper, but he has an incredible burst for a linebacker that let's him close in on his target in a big hurry. While he's been excellent in run support, his strength may be dropping back into coverage, running well with running backs and tight ends. If he was 2 inches taller and .02 seconds faster in the 40 would be a top 10 pick in any NFL draft, very smart, athletic, heady player who will be a perennial pro bowl player in the NFL. Moves well laterally and when coming forward. He is instinctive and his technique is outstanding. He plays with leverage and shows very good balance and body control. Is quicker than fast. Takes excellent angles in pursuit and is a reliable, powerful tackler. While he played strong-side linebacker in college, Ryans' size lends him more to the weak side in the NFL, which means he'll have to spend a chunk of time learning a different position than he's used to. Another concern with this is that DeMeco didn't show a whole lot of pass-rush ability. Will need to improve his overall strength. In order for him to make his presence felt at the next level, Ryans is going to have to pack on some weight. At barely 230lbs, Ryans does not have the bulk or strength to hold up at the point against NFL blockers. He also lacks blazing speed to make up for any size issue he may have. Ryans has the physical tools to develop into a playmaking fulltime starter in the NFL and he is polished enough to contribute immediately as a rookie. Ryans should be the second or third linebacker selected in the 2006 draft.
Bobby Carpenter has a good combination of size and athleticism for a linebacker. He has excellent instincts and a real nose for the football. He plays hard and has a non-stop motor. He is a strong player who does a good job of shedding blocks and getting to the ball carrier Does a nice job of filling against the run, flies to the ball and makes plays sideline-to-sideline. He has the ability to run down backs and receivers. His speed allows him to cover tight ends and running backs coming out of the backfield and he possesses good ball skills. Has developed into an effective pass rusher. Has good speed and closing burst to the QB. Showed an improved array of pass rush moves as a senior.. Takes solid angles and will wrap up in space. Lacks explosive upper body strength. Plays a bit too high versus the run and can will lose his leverage when taking on blocks. Needs to improve his technique when stacking versus the run. Allows blockers to get into his body too often. Is big but lacks ideal lower body strength. He can have trouble when isolated in space. He has the talent that really can blossom at the next level, if he were to be unleashed to use his athletic skills more freely and instinctively, there is no limit to his success. Has continued to improve with each year of experience and still has a good deal of untapped potential if he can improve his technique. Carpenter is a good value as an early second-round pick in the 2006 draft, but will probably be off the board when the Bills select in round 2.
Is a speedy and athletic WLB prospect. Plays with great tenacity and aggressiveness. High motor LB with a mean-streak. Shows very good natural instincts and a nose for the ball. Is a sideline-to-sideline run defender. Shows good initial quickness and closing burst in pursuit. Is a powerful tackler, especially for his size. Will make the big hit and jar the ball loose from the RB or WR. Has a natural feel for the linebacking position and is almost always in the right spot to make the play. Very good in pursuit and plugging holes. Excellent at play recognition and has the body and athletic ability to not only cover tight ends but can cover slot receivers as well. He is far better in coverage than he is rushing the passer. Lacks an array of pass rush moves and struggles to get off of blocks once reached as a blitzer. Is undersized. He will need to add bulk and lower body strength in order to match up better in the NFL. However, his speed, athletic ability, instincts and explosive tackling skills are difficult to ignore. Sims would fit best on an NFL team that emphasizes speed over size on defense (Colts, Buccaneers, Bears, etc.). He may be forced to move to strong safety in the NFL. Regardless, Sims projects as a second round – maybe slip to the third round- pick in the 2006 draft.
Thomas Howard has rare speed, comparable to that of may wide recievers. He is the physical and emotional leader of the defense. His athleticism surpasses that of his more ballyhooed rivals like A.J Hawk and Chad Greenway. Howard combines the size and strength of a prototypical linebacker with the speed of a defensive back. He is a versatile player who has started at both weak and strong side linebacker, playing both positions at a high level. He has been a very durable player without a single injury during his time at UTEP. He is an extremely hard hitter and a fundamentally sound tackler. Is an excellent pass rusher on the blitz. Very productive, and a team leader and hard worker with top intangibles Howard is still raw. He often relies merely on his athleticism to make plays. That will fly at the college level against non-power teams, but he could look like a lost puppy at the NFL level. Gets by on his athleticism and lacks great instincts, which are essential for a linebacker. His instincts must improve. Can do a better job as a tackler. Struggles when taking on bigger blockers. He has a tendency to overrun plays every now and then. He also needs to improve his coverage ability to become a more complete linebacker at the professional level. Depending on the combines, a team may jump on his physical attributes and grab him later on day 1.
Spencer Havner is a versatile linebacker who has started both inside and outside during his time at UCLA. He was a four-year starter for the Bruins and has as much experience as any linebacker in the nation. Havner is one of the most active linebackers available for the draft. Whether he is playing in space, covering a back one on one, or mixing it up inside, he is involved in every play. He won't relax if it doesn't look like he is going to make a play; he makes sure he is involved in everything. Havner excels at making tackles in the open field. His combo of size, speed, and strength allows him to play any linebacker spot. Is tall, well-built and fast. Has a good build for the SLB position and still has room on his frame to get bigger and stronger. He is instinctive and aggressive. Shows a nose for the football and always seems to be in on the action. He has proven to be an excellent leader and was voted team captain by his teammates in each of the past two seasons. He isn't the most athletic linebacker in the draft, but he is a hard worker who is constantly studying and trying to improve his game. Shoulder and knee injuries create serious durability concerns. Lacks ideal athletic ability. Is high-cut and a bit stiff. He has good size but lacks upper body strength. Does a poor job of taking on blocks and takes too long to disengage. Is an inconsistent tackler who fails to wrap up in space too often. Versatility and ability to play special teams will make him a desired depth player. He should be a first day pick in April.
Roger McIntosh is a great physical specimen who loves the game. He has good physical attributes, but needs to truly understand the nuances of the defensive position. McIntosh plays with a great intensity and drive. He has good size and speed. Outstanding athletic ability with great speed and quickness with a burst to close. Can make plays sideline-to-sideline due to his range. Playmaker who is always around the action and a good tackler. Does a good job of slipping blocks and pursuing. He is a sideline-to-sideline run supporter who also makes a lot of plays in the backfield. Has a knack for making stops behind the line of scrimmage. Lacks ideal overall strength and plays with too narrow of a base. Does not show explosive upper-body power, either. He does not like to take on blocks and will occasionally take himself out of position by running around blockers. McIntosh can be inconsistent at times and even lost his starting job at outside linebacker last year. He over pursues at times and needs more experience. McIntosh doesn't have the best anticipation, but that's something that can be taught. Takes too long to disengage and must improve his hand usage. Still has room to improve in terms of his recognition skills in coverage.
Nicholson is the complete package at linebacker. He shows the ability to drop into coverage, rush the passer, and stuff the run. He has the ability to quickly diagnose plays and flow towards the action. Is a natural ball-hawk and playmaker at the WLB position. He is always around the ball making plays. Nicholson has very good athleticism and excellent quickness in short areas to adjust to the ball carrier. He is a fine open field tackler. Breaks down in space and wraps up. Shows good burst and timing as a blitzer. Has been very productive when turned loose as an edge rusher. On the field, Nicholson could stand to pack on a few more pounds. He is on the light side, and the added bulk and strength will allow him to handle at the point of attack better. As it stands now, he can be neutralized and taken out of plays at times. Also lacks ideal top-end speed for the WLB position. Gets away with it at the collegiate level but won't be as effective pursuing the run and will have more matchup limitations in both man and zone coverage. Character is a massive concern. Off the field he has been arrested twice, though one of the charges was dropped as part of his plea to a DUI charge. Also was suspended by the team for the 2005-'06 Orange Bowl and questioned by police after a 19-year-old woman accused him of sexually assaulting her. Could have been a second round pick with a lot of potential but will fall to day two. Could be a steal, or could be a team cancer. Marv Levy will avoid this guy at all cost.
Is an instinctive, quick and aggressive WLB. At his best when protected. Shows very good initial quickness, balance and body control. Does a good job of reading QB's eyes and plays with good discipline in zone. Shows some versatility as a possible WLB and/or ILB in the NFL. Shows adequate range in zone coverage. Also has the right mental makeup and tackling skills to excel on special teams in the NFL. A young prospect; will be just 21 years old when drafted. Also has been durable. Tulloch is short and lacks ideal bulk. Will get engulfed by bigger blockers at the POA. Needs to be in space to be effective. Lacks elite speed and will struggle to overcome his lack of size in the NFL as easily as he did in college. Must improve his lower body strength and hand usage in order to more effectively get off of blocks. Lack of ideal size and top-end speed will limit him in terms of some man-to-man matchups in coverage at the next level.
QB- RB - FB - WR- TE - C - G -OT - DT - DE - OLB - ILB - CB - S