2014 Draft
Inside Linebackers
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1	CJ Mosley	ILB	26	Alabama	Sr	6020	234	1st
Est. Forty: ...4.68...Prototype WILL/WILB. Has it all - very good speed, big hands, quick feet, pass rush skills..."plays square/wraps tackles"...could get bigger and stronger in upper body...Questionable durability (elbow, shoulder)...Good student...could be a more vocal leaderl...very good FBI...diciplined - plays with "stop the run first" mentality...Take-on skills the weakest part of his game (a bit light in the seat/gets velcro'd to blocks) but he's improving in that area...excellent range vs. run...very good closing burst and COD...reliable (though not lights-out) open field tackler...good range/ball-skills in zone...above average pass rusher... Pro Day - Forty: 4.62 & 4.66...Brandt says he had a quality workout that validated his expected 1st round grade.... Combine (LB20) - Arm: 33 3/8; Hand: 10 3/4; VJ: 35.0; BJ: 118; 3C: 7.30; 20S: 4.40......
4	Shayne Skov	ILB	70	Stanford	rSr	6020	245	2nd
Est. Forty: 5.14...Pure FB player ands my kind of guy - but 5.14 has to raise concerns..."Technique-savvy four-down LB...Plays square/good knee-bend...could play with more discipline and containment...First prospect this year whose pre-combine measurements have been identical to his actual measurements in Indy...A bit short-armed...Have followed him throughout his college career at Stamford - struck me as one of those blue-collar defensive cogs every good defensive team needs...lacks proto speed and elite athleticism...durability a concern (knees)...Impressive energy-level, infectious personality and passion for the game...average across the board - adequate diagnostic skills, plays too high...lunges too frequently...so-so range...but a solid wrap-up tackler with above average closing burst....All he is is a pure football player... Pro Day - Had a gamy hamstring and didn't work out other than bench pressing 28 reps...Another workout is scheduled for Apr. 21... Combine (LB27) - Arm: 30 5/8; Hand: 10.......
6	Chris Borland	ILB	101	Wisconsin	rSr	5110	248	2nd-3rd
Combine Forty: 4.83...Very active but kind of short...Good bulk but below-average speed...sound technician...short (29.25") arms...average durability (hammy, shoulder)...Leader and hard worker...Instinctive vs. run/rarely takes false steps...height hampers ability to track ball..."downhill run stopper who explodes into lead-blocker" - ESPN...lacks top end speed in pursuit but has pretty good range for position...has quick reaction time which compensates for lack of speed...plays with (sometimes too much) reckless abandon...strong wrapup tackler who looks to strip ball in gang tackle situations...moves well enough to play Tampa-2...could improve cover skills...height may be a disadvantage in coverage vs. TE's...uses leverage and initial quicks to best advantage...       Pro Day - Forty: 4.84 & 4.87; VJ" 35"; BJ: 9-8"...Moved well in position drills (better than his times suggest)...good anticipation (a key strength)...hard to pin down when he'll be drafted.   Senior Bowl - Led all defenders with 8 tackles and was a fearless gap-filler...Forced a fumble and had one tackle for a loss...Keep an eye for improvement in his reported forty-time....   Combine (LB04) - Arm: 29 1/4; Hand: 9 7/8; BP: 27; VJ: 31.0; BJ: 114; 3C: 7.18; 20S: 4.27;......
5	Christian Jones	OLB/ILB	93	Florida State	Sr	6030	240	3rd
Combine Forty: 4.74...Tall and lean (especially for an ILB)...Durable...Good initial diagnostic skills...quick 1st step...Football family...Locates ball quickly...recognizes screens and play action...but can get overaggressive and caught out of position...more of a shuffle & shake dude than a downhill shack and shed LB...above average upper body strength and arm length but lacks violence at POA...lacks elite closing burst or pursuit speed (long strider) ...effective wrap-up tackler between the tackles but could be more consistent at this...good in coverage...needs to use hands better, play lower and avoid getting velcro'd to blocks...unpolished pass rusher... Pro Day - 20S: 4.44; 3C: 7.03; BP: 17. Had impressive day and Brandt expects him to be a late 3rd-early 4th round pick... Combine (LB14) - Arm: 33 1/2; Hand: 9 5/8; VJ: 33.5; BJ: 115; ... Senior Bowl - Trapasso rates him among the top 10 performers in Mobile...Played inside and outside for FSU - displayed a variety of pass-rush moves in drills and generally bested the South offensive tackles.......
15+	Jack Tyler	ILB	196+	Virginia Tech	Sr	5116	228	3rd
Est. Forty: 4.81...Undersized...top-end speed not thrilling...OK durability (back problems in 2010)...Hard worker...Reads keys and diagnoses quickly...blitzing instincts and timing are impressive...tougher than he is aggressive but undersized when taking on blockers...lacks elite sideline to sideline range....quicker than fast...can wrap up and bring down ball-carriers...adequate but not heavy hitter...will occasionally dive and whiff...good range in underneath zone coverage...active hands and burst coming off edge...can be exposed in man coverage Pro Day - Hadn't been invited to combine...Admitted to being a bit starstruck...Says he ran a 4.7 forty (slower than the 4.5's he said he'd been riunning but fasterr than the 4.81 where the draft guides had him...says he'd almost rather be undrafted (because it gives him more leverage re salary...
15	Yawin Smallwood	ILB	196	UConn	rJr	6020	246	3rd-4th
Combine Forty: 5.01...A bit light; slower than taped speed (Combine speed significantly slower than pre-Combine est.)...Sideline to sideline range...big hitter with nose for ball....Durable...Humble player/hard worker...played outside prior to 2011...Generally has good instincts/ball-location but will be a tad late in recognizing play-action...better run instincts than in coverage...doesn't shy away from contact but not big or strong enough to take on O-linemen...above-average burst on the chase but range is less than elite...Effective wrap-up tackler,,,,some pop but not a true heavy hitter...Will lunge and whiff when he takes poor angles...decent in coverage and off edge but lacks ability to counter when his first move is defeated...needs work on hand-usage and knee-bend... Pro Day - Nursed a sore hammy...Buffalo Bills writer Dan Hope says her looked good in positional drills with a fluid backpedal, hip-flipping and COD...did have a few drops and sloppy catches. Disappointed by 5.01 forty time but believes the tape shows he plays faster than his timed speed...Talked mostly with reps of Tennessee and Atlanta... Combine (LB28) - Arm: 31 3/4; Hand: 9 1/2; BP: 18; VJ: 36.5; BJ: 108;.......
2	Lamin Barrow	OLB/ILB	144	LSU	rSr	6010	237	4th-5th
Combine Forty: 4.64...Graded as an OLB but built like a WILL...Fairly durable...Very mature...Hungry...Difficult background...Natural leader...3-year old daughter...Instincts and recognition his strongest traits...takes on blocks with explosion...needs work on coverage skills and leverage...can struggle to anchor vs. bigger OL's...very good motor/fast enough to reach sideline in pursuit...not a huge hitter but technically sound/plays with good pad level...special teams coverage experience....can hold up as every-down LB...biggest concern is lack of big play production - poor initial burst and lateral quicks undermine his pass rush skills... Pro Day - 20S: 4.31; stood on rest of his combine numbers...worked out by the Saints' LB coach and described as a "very good athlete"...... Combine (LB03) - Arm: 33 3/8; Hand: 10 3/8; BP: 22; VJ: 35.0; BJ: 123; 3C: 7.24; 20S: 4.35;......
7	Max Bullough	ILB	106	Michigan State	Sr	6030	249	5th
Combine Forty: 4.78..Although ESPN doesn't mention it, I recall Mayock or McShay alluding to some sort of red flag (Missed Rose Bowl for undisclosed reasons. He appears to have Top 5 talent but ranked somewhat lower than that by the experts)...Good triangle numbers...Durable...Elected Team Captain in 2012...(Michigan State) football family...Above average instincts and diagnostics...Can hold ground but needs to be more consistent (especially with pad level)...sideline-to-sideline range...good at shedding blocks...wrap-up tackler in underneath zone with the speed to get deep enough in Tampa-2...will sometimes lunge and whiff in open field situattions...lacks great ball skills...developing as a hand-fighter....coverage skills a liability right now...arms are a trifle short... Pro Day - Forty: 4.70 & 4.76; 20S: 4.29; 3C: 7.08...Brandt says his 3-cone is impressive for a 248 lb guy...Looked good in positional drills (More athletic and flexible than frame suggests according to Brandt)...... Combine (LB08) - Arm: 31; Hand: 9 3/8; BP: 30; VJ: 31.0; BJ: 112; 3C: 7.22; 20S: 4.30;.......
8	Andrew Jackson	ILB	114	Western Kentucky	Sr	6010	254	5th-6th
Est. Forty: 4.80...Thick, stocky build but less than average speed....Durable...USA Today describes as a "productive downfield thumper."...Quiet and reserved personality...loves game of football...more soldier than general...work-ethic should be evaluated deeper...above average play-making instincts vs. run...average instincts and play-making skills in coverage...Thick with strong anchor...Natural leverage and powerful punch taking on blockers...average range...nimble...but lacks extra gear...powerful knock-back tackler who excels between the tackles...Strong finisher and big hitter...adequate in underneath zone but lacks playmaking upside...limitations in man-coverage ...underrated as potential blitzer but probably projects as a 2-down specialist... Pro Day - Participated but not written up to our knowledge.... Combine (LB13) - Arm: 32 1/2; Hand: 9 1/2.....
9	DeDe Lattimore	ILB	119	South Florida	rSr	6000	237	6th-7th
Est. Forty: 4.90...South Florida's MVP...Unofficial pro day forty time (4.58) a huge improvement...Physical, downhill ILB...Smart/will shoulder block a defender back into a running lane...height and short arms his biggest challenge... Pro Day - Forty: 4.58; BP: 20...says that "some characteristics can't be measured (i.e. strength, knowledge, playmaking skills, finishing, toughness, relentless will to win)."...May spend Draft Night at a hotel room by himself......
10	Jeremiah George	ILB	163	Iowa State	Sr	5110	234	7th
Combine Forty: 4.91..(Improved to 4.66 on pro day) USA describes him as "an explosive ball of muscle"...will look to strip the ball when tackling...undersized with short arms...risks getting engulfed by longer armed OT's... Pro Day - Forty: 4.66 & 4.68; VJ: 38"; BJ: 10-9"; Brandt says he had a good positional workout but will need to get bigger to play in the NFL (weighed 6 pounds lighter thsn at the combine)....... Combine (LB10) - Arm: 31 7/8; Hand: 9 1/4; BP: 28; VJ: 33.0; BJ: 116......
3	Avery Williamson	ILB	47	Kentucky	Sr	6010	246	7th-FA
Combine Forty: 4.66...Combine speed an improvement over pre-combine ests..Nose for ball...tackling machine...needs to work on hand placement and strength... Pro Day - Stood on combine numbers but did 15 BP reps...Position drills indicate he's better suited to play 4-3 MLB than as an OLB..Projects to be drafted in 6th or 7th round....... Combine (LB34) - Arm: 32 3/4; Hand: 9 1/2; BP: 25; VJ: 30.5; BJ: 120; 3C: 7.11; 20S: 4.07;.....
11	James Morrris	ILB	168	Iowa	Sr	6010	241	7th-FA
Combine Forty: 4.80...Instinctive/mentally and physically tough...must become stronger... Pro Day - (Unofficial electronic) Forty: 4.60 & 4.59; 20S: 4.30 .... Combine (LB19) - Arm: 30 1/4; Hand: 9 1/8; BP: 18; VJ: 34.5; BJ: 117; 3C: 6.94; 20S: 4.36;.....
13	Glenn Carson	ILB	189	Penn State	rSr	6030	235	7th-FA
Est. Forty: 4.90...Smart with natural diagnostic instings and quick reaction skills..Needs to work on hands/hips coordination and coverage skills... Pro Day - Forty - 4.75; 20S: 4.30; 3C: 7.30; VJ: 35"; BJ: 9-10"; BP: 32 reps. Brandt sees him as a 7th rounder/UDFA........
12	Preston Brown	ILB	179	Louisville	Sr	6010	251	7th-FA
Combine Forty: 4.86...According to USA Today - "A physical face-up hitter" who times his blitzes well....Two down backer who needs to work on coverage... Pro Day - Forty: 4.84 & 4.88 on slow turf; VJ: 34.5"; BJ: 9-5"; 20S: 4.39; 3C: 7.13; BP: 26 reps. Brandt says he had a really good workout and will be a good MLB in the pros...but may not have the cover skills to be a 3-down LB..... Combine (LB07) - Arm: 33 1/2; Hand: 10 1/4; BP: 23; VJ: 33.0; BJ: 116; 3C: 6.98; 20S: 4.26;......
14	Greg Blair	ILB	194	Cincinnati	rSr	6010	252	7th-FA
Est. Forty: 4.88...A tad short...has to watch weight...Big and physical - "constricts running lanes"...speed, agility, COD and shedding skills are just "adequate"...Above-average diagnostic skills but lacks elite instincts...average vs. play action....Can absorb and stand up lead-blockers in the hole...better than average at eluding blockers..."bowling ball who bounces off blocks" - ESPN...heavy hitter who limits yards after contact but lacks foot-speed to corrall elusive runners...not explosive or fast enough to stay with RB's in man-coverage...matches up better with TE's and H-Backs...can make plays in coverage...adequate pass rusher... Pro day - No numbers published but he says he thought he had a successful workout.......